Preparing Your Pet for Baby: Training Tips, Body Language & Postpartum Grace with Mckenna Neale

Bringing a new baby home is one of the biggest transitions your family will ever navigate — and that includes every member of your household, including your four-legged ones. In this episode, Emily sits down with McKenna Neale, certified veterinary technician, behavioral specialist, and fellow new mom, to talk about everything you need to know about preparing your pets for a new baby.Mckenna shares her own experience as a pit bull mom who delivered her daughter a month early and had to scramble to find care for her dog — and how that shaped the advice she now gives families every day through her work at Dove Lewis Emergency Medicine and the Oregon Humane Society.In this episode, we cover:Whether animals can actually sense pregnancy (and what the science says about their incredible sense of smell)Simple, low-effort ways to begin preparing your pet during pregnancy — starting as early as you wantWhy playing YouTube baby sounds might be the most underrated thing you can do right nowThe "place" command and other foundational training tips that will save your sanity postpartumHow to think about your home environment before baby arrives — baby gates, playpens, sleeping arrangements, and moreWhat a safe, low-stress baby introduction looks like for dogs (including McKenna's own story)Cat-specific guidance for a species that plays by entirely different rulesThe body language cues most pet owners completely miss — licking, whale eye, whisker position, tail tension, and moreThe emotional reality of postpartum pet relationships, including the grief of feeling disconnected from an animal you loveHow babies raised around pets benefit developmentally and immunologicallyThe beauty of watching your child and your pet grow up togetherResources mentioned:Oregon Humane Society community classes: oregonhumane.orgRover gift cards (registry idea!)Frozen Kongs and licky mats for enrichmentYouTube baby sounds for desensitization trainingConnect with Mckenna: Mckenna generously said you are welcome to email her any questions and she will try to send you in the right direction! Email her here: [email protected] HostEmily Spaeth is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and founder of Be Well Baby in Portland, Oregon. With extensive NICU experience and training in craniosacral therapy, she leads a team providing home-based health care for families navigating the tricky parts of pregnancy and postpartum. She also hosts the Beyond Birth Blueprint, an online birth and postpartum educational community available to families across the country—so no matter where you are, you have access to support, resources, and connection. Emily is also a mother of three and passionate about helping families move from surviving to thriving.Our mission is to fundamentally shift healthcare could look like for pregnancy, postpartum, and babies. Please help us spread the word by leaving a review! Every review matters!