What happens when your fur baby meets your new human baby?

A newborn takes over your life. That’s agreed. So it’s no wonder siblings, husbands and even dogs get jealous.

The RSPCA has some simple guidelines for dog owners when it comes to bringing home your new baby.

“Start by ensuring that your dog is well trained (ie. will sit, stay, lie and come on command).”

“When you first bring your baby home try not to upset your dog’s routine too much.

“Continue to greet your pet and reward them for their good behaviour.  You may wish to save their favourite toys for the day you bring your baby home as a way of distracting them,” said the RSPCA.

My brother thinks coming into my bed and waking me up is fun. It’s not.

A photo posted by tobywigglebottom (@tobywigglebottom) on Apr 18, 2016 at 3:15pm PDT

 This dog has been made an honourary ‘brother’ . Image via Instagram.

The animal welfare organisation suggests that preparations can begin in the last few months of pregnancy by carrying a doll around the house – in order to get your dog used to the idea of sharing your attention.

“Allow the excitement of your new arrival to quieten down before gradually introducing them to one another.”

“Always make sure your dog is being well behaved (ie sitting and staying rather than jumping up and pawing) during introductions and remember to reward them for good behaviour.”

Involving the baby and the dog in activities – like going on walks  – could help your pet to relate positive experiences with your newborn, say the RSPCA.

“Introducing your dog to your new baby will be a gradual process requiring patience and consistency but it will be well worth it.”

The RSPCA warns that you should never leave your baby and dog together unsupervised –  even if you trust your dog.

“As your child grows up you will have to continue to supervise interactions with your dog since many attacks occur against children that do not realise that they are irritating or threatening animals.”

[????] Sometimes my brother wakes up before midnight and we need to read him a story so he goes back to bed.

A video posted by tobywigglebottom (@tobywigglebottom) on Apr 26, 2016 at 5:57am PDT

This dog gets involved with storytime.

Kidsafe say young children are are risk from being bitten because they can  aggravate dogs.

Around 10,440 people each year attend hospital emergency departments in Australia for dog bite injuries, according to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.

The hospital suggests that only adults should feed the family dog, care should be taken while playing with dogs and children should be taught never to approach a sleeping dog.

But it’s not all gloom, there are plenty of websites with advice on choosing the right pet.

And it’s been reported that having a dog can help children develop social skills and self esteem.