without plugging your ears. Many dogs will bark when you are in front of their cage. Beware of these dogs, which will continue to bark long after you have walked past them. Perhaps this is a sign that these dogs find it difficult to calm down. Such a dog will behave too noisily, and it will be unpleasant to live with it. The dog you want may bark at you in greeting but calm down as you move on.

The ideal dog, raised with children, will eagerly rush forward to the front of the cage, but will calm down very quickly once you pass by. During each visit to the shelter, you will probably find two or three of these dogs.

Then have your child (or children) come up to the cages and speak to the dogs in a calm and friendly tone. Just remember: you can not stick your hand or fingers into the cells! Is the dog interested in the child and friendly? It's just wonderful! If the dog backs away from the child and does not want to greet him, this is a bad sign.

By now, you may have mentally marked a couple of animals for yourself. Ask the shelter workers if it is possible to take them out of the cages one by one. In most cases, dogs go berserk the first time they are released from confinement. This is to be expected and often does not reflect the true nature of the dog. Talk to your dog in a soft voice, scratch the back of his neck and also under his lower jaw. If the dog becomes a little calmer after that, this is a good sign. But don't expect her to act like she knows you well - that doesn't happen!

Once you find a dog that is friendly to toddlers, doesn't bark too much, and calms down when given the chance, take him into your home. If it makes it easier for you, ask to be kept at the shelter for a few more hours. During this time, you will buy for her a kennel, food (the same as she was fed before, please!), toys, bowls, brushes and other accessories that you will need as a dog owner. In this case, by the time you bring the dog home, you will already have everything prepared. Do not be surprised if the dog is depressed for the first few days. No matter where you got your adult dog, a new home is a big change in her life. Give her time. Take her to the vet as soon as possible to make sure the dog is free of parasites, ear infections, and other illnesses. If the dog has not yet been neutered, do so immediately.

Start teaching obedience to your dog right away. Do it in a fun and confident way. A clear routine is the best medicine for a newly adopted dog. A strict routine will not only help establish a bond between you and the dog, but will also let the dog know that all is well and that he is being led by a knowledgeable person.

After that, enjoy the pleasures that a dog gives a person. But we don't need to talk about that, do we?

Chapter 2
…Before the baby was born
“The more changes you make before the baby arrives, the fewer problems you will have. afterwards."

Tessa, the gorgeous golden retriever, is too lively and not easy to live with. She is so unceremonious and charming and the owners, who are about to become parents, love her to the point of madness. Although they are bothered by her habit of eating all sorts of strange objects, such as pebbles and disposable razors, they are "not at heart" to control her more strictly. Tessa is always a mess. I warned them: “Decide now what behavior is right for you and what is not, otherwise you will have problems later!” And they really had problems.

Tessa, who needs attention, petting, kept jumping on them looking for petting, but now they had a baby in their arms. Her "cute" habit of unexpectedly grabbing clothes with her teeth, as she always did, has now become dangerous, because she grabs the baby's blanket! As soon as the dog has even the slightest opportunity, he runs in the crib and starts barking.

Before having a child in the family, think about how your life will change. Imagine how the dog will behave towards the baby. If you foresee possible problems, deal with it immediately. Certain behaviors do not disappear on their own, but you can change them with reasonable management.

What changes must occur before the birth of a child
Plan your schedule
A clear daily routine is extremely favorable for dogs. Before a baby arrives, set a reasonable schedule for your dog and then stick to it relentlessly. This schedule includes time for walking, playing, eating, and anything else you can think of. For example, you may wish to shift the time for long walks and exercise, as well as for games from early morning (when you feel tired), to the evening hours.

The best preventive measures are exercise. In advance, even before the decisive day, arrange with your friend to help you with the dog for the first time after the baby arrives in the house. If you are lucky enough to have a jogger living near you, ask him to bring your dog with him. Perhaps your teenage neighbor will be happy to choose another hour to walk the dog.

If you start asking in advance, then almost every quarter you can find such enthusiasts.

You may not need help at all. Maybe the birth will be easy, without any complications, and the baby will sleep for eight hours every night from the very day you bring him home. But for the first few months after your baby is born, the last thing you want to do is get up and walk your dog at 6 a.m., just twenty minutes after your son finally falls asleep.

All of these preparations are very beneficial for your dog, but we really recommend all of these for your own peace of mind. It is unlikely that a dog that lives according to a set daily schedule and has sufficient exercise will experience feelings of competition, anxiety and demand your attention. In today's world, where few stresses can be controlled, at least you can regulate this source of stress, and this will give you the necessary breathing space.

Make the dog earn his bread
If a dog is allowed to do whatever it wants, it often results in bad behavior. After all, all her bills are paid, her needs are met, and adult human beings fawn over her all day for no apparent reason. Such treatment leads the dog to think that you live solely to serve him. Start training your dog to perform certain duties. If your dog wants attention, make him sit down first. Say this command once, then place one hand on the dog's neck and the other hand on the back of the dog's body and gently move it into a sitting position. Tell her how cute she is and stop there. After that, do not pay any attention to it until the next command. This will teach her to think that she can get everything good only for obedience to you. Think of it like a canine version of the words "please" and "thank you."

Change the right to use furniture
Soon your baby will be napping on the couch or lying on the bed. To avoid trouble, teach your dog to stay on the floor until he is called to the couch or bed with a clear command like "up!". If your lover of jumping on the sofa jumped up there without an invitation, drive her away with the “away” command. If she persists, do not remove her collar and leash. When she jump on the sofa, command "away!" and make her leave the couch with sharp short jerks on the leash. As soon as the dog is on the floor, praise him for being so smart. If you allow her to jump on the sofa, then first make her sit down on command, and then invite her upstairs by slapping the sofa with your palm and clearly commanding: “Okay, upstairs!” When the dog completes the command, praise it. Soon the dog will politely wait for your invitation before settling comfortably on the couch.

Watch what you say
Your dog understands you literally. Throughout his life, he heard the words "What a good boy!", which he said in the most affectionate tone possible. All his life, when these words were spoken, he came up to be stroked or scratched behind the ear. You taught him that these words are intended only for him, for him alone.

And now you have a child. You lean over the face of a newborn and coo: "How is the good mother's boy?" And suddenly, a furry muzzle appears between you and the baby. Meek brown eyes seem to say: “I'm here! Do you want to caress me?" You push him away and say, "Don't be jealous!" But he's not jealous at all. He's just confused. He had responded to words he had been taught to think were for him alone.

To avoid such embarrassing situations, come up with some new key phrases that are intended for your dog and only him. Here, for example, is one universal and quite acceptable phrase: “What a good dog!” We hope that you are unlikely to use such words in relation to your child. If you pick up a few of these