Introducing the dog to your baby can be somewhat scary for new parents. Before the baby is born, start by allowing your dog to be in the baby’s room, but only at the doorway. You can do this by taking your dog to the baby’s bedroom door and telling it to stay. If your dog is not very good at the “stay” command, then you will have to back him up with your body to the door. Be sure to practice this activity in ample time before the baby is born to help reduce the stress for you and your dog when the infant arrives. Anyone in your family who is old enough to do so should participate in this exercise.
Before introducing your new baby to your dog, it is best to introduce something the baby has recently worn. Getting your dog used to the smell of your baby will ultimately help the introduction. When you bring the baby home, make sure that the first thing you do is introduce the dog. To help this introduction, be sure that the dog has had a long exhausting run before, as an over-exuberant dog is not ideal in this moment.
Allow your dog to smell the baby’s blanket until they lose interest. Then proceed to allow your dog to smell the baby’s feet. If all goes well and you have not detected any aggression or strange behavior, allow the dog to smell the baby all over.
Once the initial introduction is finished, establish barriers for your dog around your baby and in the areas of the house that you are frequently in. This is accomplished in the same way that you kept them out of the baby’s room. I would suggest a five-foot radius around the area—this way the dog is not excluded.
Make sure you maintain these boundaries until you feel comfortable with the dog’s behavior around the baby. Many dogs are great with babies, and many are not. Over time, watch for specific changes in your dog’s behavior when the baby starts doing something new, such as crawling or walking.
Using your instincts is important. If you think your dog is acting differently, they probably are. During these moments, it would be good to take the baby and the dog for a walk, or simply ask your dog to lie down at the doorway of the room you are in. Be sure never to close the door on your dog. It is important to recognize that your dog is part of your family, but is also the lowest member in the order of the “pack”. This order now includes your baby. Initially, you will have to establish that the baby is also the leader. When the baby is older, he or she will do that on their own.
By practicing a few simple activities before your baby is born and establishing boundaries after, introducing your dog to your new baby can be a less stressful activity for everyone. However, if these techniques do not work, or if you are nervous about your dog and your baby together, a professional dog trainer can help provide you with additional techniques and assurance.
