How to Introduce your Dog to Your New Baby

So you’re preggers? Congrats! As well as other things like reevaluating your finances, getting a nursery ready, picking out clothes, reading how to guides on how to properly groom your new born baby, you also need to find a way to introduce your first baby to your new human baby. This article will give you some guidance in helping the two become best of friends. Before we start off I would like to point out that dogs have an amazing sense of smell. They can actually smell emotions – no I’m not kidding. So before you even try to break the news to him he’ll know something is up? Maybe mercury is in retrograde? I guess we’ll never know. 

Show him who’s boss? 

Nine months is a long time. In these nine months it is important to establish rules with your dog. It is a great time to smooth out bad habits and any issues you may have. Between prepping for the baby, work and life in general you can sometimes be left with no time to do this properly. If needed, I suggest you call a trainer as this is a crucial step in developing a dynamic between the baby and your dog. After reading this article take a look through our website, we offer extensive training services to help your newborn come home to a chill dog. 

Mi Casa Es Su Casa

I know pregnancy is hard. Between the morning sickness and excitement, these nine months can be an emotional rollercoaster ride. Be aware that like babies, dogs mimic and reflect your energy. When you’re happy they’re happy, when you’re anxious they too are anxious. Remember they can smell emotion – weirdos…

Claim your babies scent 

Before bringing home your little bub from the hospital it is important to bring home something where they left their scent. A bib or a blanket will do. This is crucial as you are now putting theory into practice and setting clear expectations and boundaries with your dog. Try and get your dog to sniff the blanket or bib from a distance. Create the dynamic of this is mine and I have to give you permission to get near it. 

Out of bounds

Like the previous step, allow your dog to walk into your child’s nursery to sniff around before the child gets home (with your supervision). I wouldn’t recommend you allow your dog to walk in and out of the nursery as he pleases when your baby comes home. Create an invisible barrier around your nursery. 

New Kid On The Block

Before bringing your bundle of joy home, take your dog out on a long walk. It is important to get your dog really tired before meeting the baby. As soon as you enter the house, your dog will know that scent. When holding your baby, it is important to be in a calm state. The dog should be able to smell the baby but at a respectable distance. Don’t bring the baby too close to the dog. Over time the dog will get closer and closer to the baby. It is important to establish your baby as another leader of the pack. 

Teach your baby

Every interaction you dog and baby have must be supervised by you or your partner. It is important to also teach you baby not to pull or yank at your dog. There must be mutual respect between dog and child 

Don’t forget the dog

It is also important to take your dog on their daily walks. This will help your dog feel comfortable with your new family member 

Your Child’s Safety Comes First

If after setting clear boundaries and seeking professional assistance, you are still anxious with your dog being around your baby, I would recommend speaking to your vet and or trainer to get additional training assistance. This goes both ways as the dog too knows your anxious, allowing your child to grow up in a safe and happy environment and your dog to feel little to no anxiety. 

We hope these steps help and we wish you all the very best with your pregnancy.