Guide to a Happy and Healthy Pet After You Bring Home a Baby

I tell everyone that our dog is our first baby, and it’s true! Pepper recently turned two years old and we’ve had her since she was a new puppy. She was our baby and the first addition to our little family. When I had our baby, I was so afraid of how Pepper would feel and react. I wanted to make sure that she still felt loved, had playtime, and most importantly had her needs met.

I recently discovered the beauty of online shopping and having fast deliveries and man has it been great! Hill’sScience Diet dog food is such a great option for your pup because not only does it have no preservatives, artificial flavoring, or coloring; but also their a part of Amazon’s subscription service!

​With my busier new schedule, I’ve tried to make it a priority that she still gets the love and attention she deserves. If you are a busy pet owner as well, this one’s for you!

Introduce your dog to your baby on their terms, but with your leadership. When we first brought her home, we greeted Pepper and loved on her while keeping our baby in her car seat. We sat the seat down and let Pepper approach it slowly. She gets anxious easily, so we didn’t want to overwhelm her. She took her time and sniffed everything out and took to her well. She keeps her distance because Pepper feels like this whole baby crying thing is not for her, but likes to come up and sniff her still. 

The way to my dog’s heart is food. Seriously, anytime she hears that food hitting her bowl she acts like she’s never seen food before! Ha ha Because she loves food so much, I wanted to make sure she got the best of the best. Science Diet is awesome because there are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Starting with a good dog food is key to not only keeping your pet happy, but keeping you happy too! This dog food supports a healthy immune system with a clinically proven blend of antioxidants with Vitamins C and E. This may seem like an irrelevant point but just as us humans need vitamins, so do our pups.

Playtime is so essential, especially now that they aren’t your only area of focus. Pepper and I used to play all day everyday, but now with a baby that has a lot of needs, it’s just not possible. So, I’ve learned to carve out time to play with Pepper. This doesn’t always have to be strictly one on one time, and you can get creative. I put my baby in a carrier and head outside to throw the ball (her favorite activity) or her toys. Even though I can’t go run around with her, she’s still getting exercise and playtime.

Including your pet is a great way to keep them happy. I take my baby on walks with the stroller and bring Pepper along. It’s good to get out of the house and she loves to explore, and sniff, everything! Keeping them included in tasks they are able to be a part of keeps them a part of the family and have that stimulation. When our baby is up in the middle of the night and needs a car ride around the block, Pepper is more than welcome to tag along and come with.

Now I’ll get real with y’all, it is so hard to make sure all of her needs are met. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to make late night store runs to get more dog food for her because I simply forget or don’t have the time. If you have mom brain like I do, or are too busy to make those tripsAmazon Subscribe and Save is the answer. You can easily subscribe toScience Diet dog food and have it delivered automatically, however often and much you want. #gamechanger You set up the free regular delivery times AND you save up to 15% each time and more. This dog food is Vet’s #1 choice to feed their own pets and easily my #1 for the great convenience of it being delivered to my door step!

Focus on your dog’s behavior. If your dog seems sad, you may need to give them more attention. Watch out for aggression cues and try to be proactive. Some dogs are just naturally aggressive towards children, and others are born out of jealousy. Keeping your pup happy and well loved will hopefully curb envy, but never ignore a dog’s cues to their attitude. Also, your dog may become depressed and not eat as much which could result in a trip to the Vet. Keeping a close eye on your pooch is never a bad idea, you know them better than anyone!

I know if Pepper could speak, she would agree 100% that spoiling your dog is beneficial! Take them to a trip to the store and buy a treat, give them that extra belly rub, and maybe even give in and let them lay on the couch (totally guilty!). Keeping your pet happy, especially as you are all adjusting to this new life, is definitely possible. Don’t feel frustrated or stressed about keeping everyone alive. Your pet loves you and will adjust, too. I love that I have one less thing to worry about with knowing Science Diet is made with natural, high quality ingredients; and I just have to open my door to get it. If you are wanting to get it a go, it’s 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Here is to a happy and healthy pup, fur parents can enjoy convenience without sacrificing quality time with family!