How To Prepare Your Dog for a New Baby: Everything a Pet Parent Should Know

Welcoming a new baby is exciting, but also a little stressful. Preparing a dog for a baby adds more to think about.

With all the changes coming, starting to get ready early will give pet parents time to reduce stress for their canine family members.

Some changes will be baby-specific, like smells, sounds, and accessories.

Other changes include routine, rules, and schedule. The day-to-day will look different for everyone.

Understanding what your dog needs, how the rules will change, and how to help them learn will create a plan for success. 

Let’s look at how to prepare your dog for a new baby.

Involve Your Dog

Dogs having positive experiences with babies will be easier to involve.

A novice dog can get used to a new little one just as smoothly with some planning and guidelines.

Fearful and anxious dogs may have trouble adjusting. If there are any concerns or questions, contact a certified behavior professional for help.   

First, decide on the new house rules. Ask yourself:

• Will the dog be allowed in the nursery?

• Will sleeping arrangements or access to furniture change?

• Will exercise or enrichment be different?

Once these decisions are made, it’s time to get started.

Involving your dog in the process and making sure they have what they need after the baby arrives home are critical steps.

Dogs that are socially alone or miss out on exercise and other play will have more stress and anxiety, which they could easily connect with the baby.

If your pup will be allowed in the nursery, bring them in and teach them to go to a mat, lie down, and relax. This will let them be in the room while being out of the way.

If not, put in a baby gate and get them used to waiting outside while you change and feed the baby.

Let your pup smell and explore new items.

Having them around while swings and cribs are being built lets them see all the new things in pieces first, making them less scary. Be sure to offer them treats with each new experience.

Fear of some things may be unavoidable.

A normal fear response may include backing up and even a short growl. This should be followed by a willingness to explore.

If your dog is hiding, refusing to enter a room, or doing anything that seems extreme, seek out the help of a certified behavior professional immediately.

Create a Safe Environment for Your Dog and Your Baby

To set up safe spaces, you will need some gates and exercise pens (used for dividing larger openings) to create an area for the dog to relax.

This is where your dog can eat, have treats, and have downtime.

This will also be an off-limits area for your baby.

It won’t be normal for most dogs to be separated from their pet parents, and that can be stressful. Start getting them used to being in their relaxation area by placing them in their area with a bed, toys, and chewable items.

Offer some treats and walk away. Return and pause near the area but don’t interact.

Repeat this while tracking and building up time.

Combine conditioning them to be comfortable in their space with mat training as described below.

This will allow you to ask your dog to go into their area and lie down on a rug or training mat and settle down.

Focus On Training

Key skills for a dog to learn before the baby comes:

• “Stay”

• “Come”

• “Go to your mat” (or bed)

• Walking nicely on a leash

These skills help pet parents tell their dogs how to move or not. It’s important to get your dog to understand verbal cues in case your hands are full.

For example, you want to walk downstairs, baby in one arm and nursing pillow in the other. Asking them to wait at the top of the stairs and then to come when you get to the bottom will provide a safe trip.

Mat work is another lifesaver for new families. It can be used while you make meals, feed the baby, or change diapers or whenever you need your dog to relax in a single spot.

Making sure your dog walks nicely on a leash is great for family walks. Teach the dog how to walk on a leash without too much pulling. Next, practice with an empty stroller.

For cases of reactivity—barking, lunging, and pulling when seeing people or dogs—professional behavior support will be needed.

Once the baby arrives, there won’t be much time or energy for training. Behaviors like alert barking will be hard to fix. Simple management strategies can reduce barking without training.

Playing calming music will cover up other noises. Putting privacy film on windows or doors will hide visual triggers.

Try New Routines With Your Dog

Test new routines to avoid surprises.

Practice early morning feedings, diaper changes, and playing musical swings and toys. Use a recording of a baby crying and play it for a short time randomly.

You may also use a realistic crying doll will let you practice picking up, carrying, and changing a baby in front of your dog. Start slow, trying not to disrupt your dog’s sleep too much in the beginning.

Pay less attention to your dog during times that will soon be baby-focused—mealtimes and bedtime routines are good examples.

Allowing your dog to experience the changes over time will lower the shock that may come with these changes.

Wellness Checks

Physical issues can affect your dog’s ability to cope with stress.

These include:

• Allergies

• Illness

• Mobility problems

• Digestive conditions/upset

Be sure your dog has been seen by a vet.

Make sure all of your pup’s vaccinations are up to date and be sure your dog is pain-free.

Familiarize Your Dog With Baby Items, Sounds, and Smells

There will be new and odd things to smell, see, and hear with a baby in the house. For naturally curious, confident dogs, new things may get no more than a casual interest.

For others, they may result in fear and stress.

Break things down to manageable levels. Make loud things quieter, big things smaller, and fast things slower before showing them to your dog. For example, if you are playing recorded sounds of a baby crying, start at a low volume and work your way up to a louder cry using the method below:

Present the new item or noise and begin to feed your dog something special, like their favorite treat.

Remove the new item or stop the sound, and then stop feeding. Be sure to select a treat that your dog really loves and fits within their dietary needs.

Repeating these kinds of pairings helps dogs build positive associations with new items.

Fearful or anxious dogs may have more intense responses like retreating, hiding, panting, or shaking. If this occurs, seek the help of a certified behavior consultant, applied behaviorist, or behavior veterinarian.

Go Slowly With Introductions

Introductions between your baby and dog can be tricky. Let’s look at a few guidelines to keep in mind.

Before bringing your baby home, have someone bring your dog some baby items for sniffing and feed some treats.

Take your dog for a walk or a play date to burn some energy.

Once home, have someone hold the baby so you can greet the dog first. Have treats ready, their training mat available, and all pens and gates already in place. To prevent jumping, toss treats on the floor.

Let them check things out by giving your dog something of your baby’s for sniffing. This could be a hat or blanket. Greetings should only happen if the dog is calm. The dog should be relaxed, and show a casual interest.

Dogs who look scared or anxious or who are whining, pacing, or hyper-focused on the baby may need some extra time or possibly professional guidance to work through their emotions.

Do not to punish, correct, or push a dog that is nervous or anxious. Keep them separate but not alone.

Preparing your dog for a baby is well worth the time and effort.

Helping them get through this life change and learn helpful skills before the baby arrives will help everyone relax and enjoy their new family member.