Preparing Your Dog for a New Baby

Prepare your dog for a new baby during the pregnancy, not after the birth. The ASPCA suggests introducing new sights, sounds and smells about four months before the due date and changing routines one to two months before, so that once the baby arrives, the baby is the only big change. Brush up the skills you’ll lean on (settle, wait, leave it, drop it, go to your spot), set up baby gates and nursery rules, plan a calm first meeting, and never leave the baby alone with the dog.

Gradual changes and clear rules give your dog the best chance to take a new baby in stride.

Four months out: sights, sounds and smells

The ASPCA suggests starting about four months before the birth:

• Baby sounds. Play recordings of babies crying and cooing very quietly while giving treats, in sessions of 5–10 minutes several times a day, and raise the volume gradually.
• Baby scents. Start using the baby lotion or powder you plan to use, so the smells are familiar.
• Baby gear. Bring in the crib, swing, stroller and changing table one or two items at a time, and let your dog investigate calmly.

VCA suggests rehearsing daily routines with a blanket-wrapped doll, a stroller and diaper changes, rewarding your dog for staying calm.

One to two months out: change the routine now

VCA advises using the pregnancy to phase in changes to your dog’s schedule, sleeping area, play, exercise and attention, so they’re settled, and sustainable, before the baby comes. The ASPCA suggests starting routine changes one to two months before the birth, and warns against piling on extra attention beforehand; giving attention at random times works better than a sudden drop-off later.

Decide in advance whether your dog can enter the nursery, and install baby gates. VCA suggests keeping the dog out of the nursery during naps and at night.

Training that pays off

The ASPCA lists the cues worth polishing: sit, down, stay, wait at doors, settle, leave it, drop it, go to your spot, a “move away” cue, and touching your hand on cue. VCA suggests fixing any existing behavior problems before the baby arrives and practising daily in different places, without ever linking sit or stay to punishment.

Practise a calm settle on a mat while you sit and “feed” a doll, so the routine is familiar before the real thing.

Coming home and the first meeting

• Scent first. Bring home a blanket or piece of clothing the baby has used, for your dog to sniff before the meeting (ASPCA; Humane World for Animals; VCA).
• Greet the parent first. VCA suggests the returning parent greets the dog first, without the baby.
• The meeting. Two adults: one handles the dog, seated and on leash, and one holds the baby. VCA suggests letting the dog sniff from about 2–3 feet away, without licking at first, keeping it brief and repeating it. The ASPCA suggests a short but loose leash, a brief sniff, then a sit or down and a reward.
• Keep life familiar. Humane World for Animals advises that after homecoming, the only big change should be the baby.

Supervision rules

• Never leave a baby or young child alone with any dog, even a gentle family pet, even for a moment (VCA). Separate them whenever the adult leaves the room.
• When you can’t supervise, use a crate, a closed door or a tall baby gate (ASPCA).
• VCA notes that many attacks on infants happen in the first hours or days, or when a dog meets a baby unexpectedly without supervision.

Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center notes that children are bitten most often, and a CDC analysis of US emergency-department data found the highest rate of dog bite injuries among children aged 5–9.

Signs your dog is stressed

Humane World for Animals lists yawning when not tired, moving away, freezing, growling, whining and flattened ears. Never punish growling or other warnings; the ASPCA points out they’re how your dog tells you it’s uncomfortable. Give your dog space, a quiet retreat, and calm time with you away from the baby. The free dog body language chart helps you spot the early signals.

When to get help before the birth

VCA advises seeing a board-certified veterinary behaviorist before the baby arrives if your dog has ever shown aggression toward children or adults, or predatory behavior such as chasing and killing small animals. If your dog guards food or toys, start working on it now; food-bowl guarding explains the safe approach. And if aggression appears after the baby comes, VCA suggests keeping the dog leashed, muzzled or crated around small children until a behaviorist has seen it.