James Cook University researchers have found dogs often get the cold shoulder when a baby joins the family, but mums-to-be can learn how to minimise the impact on Rover.
Dr Jessica Oliva is a senior lecturer in psychology at JCU. She said research on how the transition to parenthood affects attachment to the family dog is scarce.
"Obviously there are implications for the welfare of the animal, but there is also the goal of avoiding the guilt many people feel later about neglecting their pet at this time," said Dr Oliva.
The team surveyed 191 women aged 18–44, of whom 93 were childless dog owners and 98 dog owners who had become mothers within the past two years.
"We found significant differences. The parent group were more likely than the childless group to avoid emotional intimacy with the pet and had less of a desire to be close to them," said Dr Oliva.
She said in-depth questioning revealed new mothers suffer from a lack of time and energy to give their dog attention, and the role of the dog in the family may be re-appraised to accommodate the new family member.
"While both groups reported a mutually close relationship with their dogs and viewed them as 'like a child,' some new mothers used these descriptors only in the past tense," said Dr Oliva.
She said there is a solution, as most expectant mothers in Australia have access to pre-natal classes.
"This would be an opportune moment for them to receive education about role transitions in general and the influence of role transitions on pet attachment.
"Taking the dog for some behavioural training before the arrival of the baby could make the transition easier for both mother and dog and ease the burden of guilt that comes from implementing more rules and/or neglecting the dog in order to keep the baby safe," said Dr Oliva.
