I remember one of the first things I thought about when I found out I was pregnant the first time. It was, Oh my God, what if my dog doesn't like my baby?

For many dog owners, our dogs are our babies. They take over our world much in the same way a baby does. We eventually get into a routine of feeding, exercise, and naps, but it's an adjustment. Our dog becomes accustomed to being the center of attention. They greet us in the morning for breakfast, enjoy daily strolls in the park, look forward to evening snuggles after dinner, and get set in their own ways. Nothing throws a wrench into a dog's routine like a new baby!

There are many things that soon-to-be parents can do in order to prepare their pup for the arrival of a newborn baby. The following are practical strategies and practices you can implement now to prepare your dog for the lifestyle changes that are about to occur. In this situation, it's much better to be proactive as opposed to reactive!

Related: This Is Why Dogs Get Clingier Towards Mom's Due Date

If your dog is accustomed to going for a walk during a specific time of day, now's the time to switch up the routine. With a new baby at home, daily consistent walks may not happen. But if they do, there's no way of knowing when the best time will be to pack your newborn into the stroller and head out. Try your best to maintain your pups daily walks, but start the process of varying the times.

Social dogs may benefit from starting a doggie daycare program. It's impossible to expect that you'll provide the same level of attention to your dog now that a very needy newborn has entered the picture. Setting up a schedule where you drop your dog off at a high-quality doggie daycare gives you a break, as well as giving your dog a chance to play with other dogs. Your pup may come home so exhausted that you don't feel as guilty about being so tired yourself.

Your dog's privileges may change once the new baby arrives. If you're going to no longer allow your dog up on the furniture, you need to implement that change now. If your dog is a jumper and tends to smoother you the moment you entire the house, you need to invest in training to change this behavior now. If you have a vocal dog, you need to start considering if their barking at each person walking by is going to be allowed when you're trying to get your baby to nap. Start searching for a recommended bark collar, or invest in proper training so that your dog understands the new rules before the baby comes.

This next tip may actually help you or your spouse too, if neither of you has had much experience with a baby before. Play the sound of a crying baby for your dog in short increments. I personally tried this technique with my German Shepard Husky mix, and I'm glad I did! The first 10 times, my dog howled to that very sound. After lots of reinforcement and exposure to the noise, she eventually stopped. By the time I brought my son home from the hospital and he started crying, my dog knew to leave the room because she didn't like the sound and knew not to howl.

Much like you would if preparing a young child for the arrival of a new sibling, include your pup in the "preparation process". While setting up the changing table, allow your dog to smell the baby lotion, powder, baby wash, etc. Let them sniff onesies, the new crib, and even the baby's bathtub. If you're planning to use a soothing sound machine in the nursery, play the sounds for your pup to hear. Exposure to these new smells and sounds makes it easier for your dog to adjust.

Another trick I tried with my first baby was giving my husband one of his baby hats and swaddling blankets from the hospital. During one of his trips home to shower and catch some sleep before returning to the hospital, he would let our dog sniff and lick these items that actually had our baby's scent on them. We figured that familiarizing our dog with the baby's actual scent couldn't hurt.

When we all pulled up to our house for the first time as a family of three, I had my husband stay in the car with our son so I could greet our dog first. She hadn't seen me in almost three days, and I knew her excitement would be through the roof. Taking five minutes to give her kisses, let her smell me, rub her ears, and just spend a moment with her made her much more at ease when my husband brought our little boy home for the first time.

Many families go through this exact same experience. It can be nerve-racking for sure, but try out these suggestions, stay consistent, and keep your expectations reasonable. Most dogs are highly sensitive and intuitive animals. Therefore, it's important to never forget about their needs.

The best thing you can do is prepare your pup, continue to offer as much attention as you can spare, and be patient. This is an adjustment for everyone- you, your spouse, your baby, and your dog. Give yourself and your dog some grace. It'll take some time- but speaking from personal experience, my dog and my son are best friends! So it can be done in time.

Next: Heartwarming Video Of Baby Cuddling Pet Dog Goes Viral

Sources: aspca.org, ParentsParents, pets.webmd.com