How to Safely Introduce Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby: A Complete Guide

A Step-By-Step Guide to Introducing Your Dog to Your Baby

Having a baby is very exciting but life-changing. But for dog owners, it can also be a source of anxiety over how to make sure their furry pal and the new baby learn to live peacefully together. Dogs are often a beloved family member, so it’s only natural that you want them to develop a bond with your newborn. But integrating a dog into an infant’s life for the first time takes a lot of careful thought and preparation. The slightly lengthier answer; this is about creating a safe and comfortable environment where your baby and dog can truly thrive together.

To help manage this transition as smoothly as possible, we at PetIndiaOnline are here to lend a helping paw. In this article, we’ll walk you through the introduction process and share important tips for making sure your dog and baby get along.

Introduce Your Dog to Upcoming Baby

Introducing your dog to your newborn begins long before you bring your baby home. Arm him with knowledge: In the same way that you prepare yourself for the big changes that are coming with the arrival of a new baby, you’ll need to prep your pup too. Here’s how to prepare your dog for this new family member:

Adjust the Routine Early

Dogs are creatures of habit, and changes to their routine can be stressful. Start getting your pup on a new schedule well before your baby is born. If you need to adjust their feeding time, bathroom breaks or exercise routine, do so gradually. This will help your dog get used to the new routine early, so he doesn’t worry when the baby arrives.

Start inserting baby gear

Introduce your dog to all the baby gear, including baby clothes, toys, and sounds. They will learn to acclimate to the crying and cooing noises of the babies by playing recordings of baby cries and cooing noises in the home to desensitize the dog to the new noises in the home. Gradually introducing baby lotion scents or soft toys will help your dog get used to the smells and sights that will be a part of your life when a newborn arrives.

Establish Boundaries

You also should create clear boundaries in your home. Identify spaces in your home where your dog is allowed to roam and where they are not, such as the baby’s nursery. Teach your dog to leave baby objects, such as the crib or changing table, alone. (That helps reduce confusion when the baby arrives.)

Reinforce Basic Commands

So, before the new baby comes home, reinforce obedience training with your dog. Ensure that they respond to basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” “leave it” and “no.” These commands will be important in controlling your dog’s behavior when your baby arrives. Take care to reinforce good behavior with positive reinforcement.

Introduce Your Baby’s Smell to Your Dog

Taking this positioning a step further, you can prepare your pup for the new human by introducing him to the baby’s scent before the baby comes home. If you are birthing at a hospital, have a family member take home a blanket or a clothing article that smells like your baby. Allow your pup to sniff the item and reward calm and positive behavior.

Allowing your dog to get acquainted with the new addition’s smell beforehand gives them a chance to adjust to this addition to the home before the overwhelming stimulus of first sight.

The First Introduction: Homecoming Day

The first day you take your baby home is thrilling, and also a lot. When you introduce your dog to your baby it should be a calm part of control. Take these steps to ensure your first meeting goes well:

Remain Calm and Confident

Dogs are extremely sensitive to your emotions, so remain calm and confident while introducing your dog to your baby. If you’re anxious or too excited your dog can sense these feelings and become anxious as well. The less frantic you are, the more your dog will chill.

Allow the Dog to Receive You First

When you walk in the door for the first time, let your dog give you a quick hello and settle back down. This gives your dog a chance to laptop to you before they meet the new baby. Before introducing the baby, it’s vital to reconnect with your bond.

Gradual Integration of Baby and Dog

When you feel prepared, you can introduce the dog to the baby. Keep the dog leashed up and have them observe the baby from a distance. You can let the dog sniff your air to get them used to the baby’s scent. As time goes on, you can slowly close the distance between your dog and the baby — just make sure to read their body language for any signs of discomfort or stress.

If your pup appears anxious or just a little over stimulated, just go slow and let them ease into the situation. Be sure to reward your dog for remaining calm through this process.

Teach all you Georgia peaches (that I drank out of a bowl) how to treat your Atlanta peach

Once the first introduction is made, it is crucial to monitor all interactions between your dog and your baby. [Related: Should I Get a Dog Before Having Children?] Even if your dog is a good one, babies are unpredictable and their movements could frighten or excite your dog. Be close enough to step in if you have to.

Here are a few key tips for supervising dog-baby interactions

Do not leave them unattended

Do not leave your dog and baby alone together—under any circumstances, even for a second. Babies have soft, sensitive skin, and their sudden movements could elicit responses from your dog. They may also inadvertently also topple over or step on babies while playing or exploring.

Teaching Your Dog to be Gentle

Your dog should learn how to act when there’s a baby nearby. Some dogs are gentle by nature but others might need some help. Reward calm and gentle behavior around the baby with positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise. Try to steer clear of getting the toddler too high and wound up with overly excited or boisterous play, as this can be overstimulating for a baby.

Give Your Dog a Safe Space

Similar to babies, dogs also need their space. Give your dog a quiet space they can go if they need a break from the baby. This will provide them an area to relax and feel secure, decreasing the likelihood of stress stimulus behavior.

This is a long-term approach, but you want to start by teaching your dog that babies are a positive thing.

The key to fostering a positive relationship between your dog and baby is building positive associations. When the dog is calm and gentle around the baby, reward with verbal praise, treats or a favorite toy. It bolsters the notion that proximity to the baby is a good thing.

Make sure the baby becomes part of your dog’s daily life, including walking together with the baby in a stroller. This way your dog knows the baby is its part of the world and that it’s not something to be afraid of.

Identify Stress Triggers and Cope with Them

Adjusting to a new human brother or sister can cause your dog to feel stressed or overwhelmed. If you know that it is known from other experience and experience, the swimming experience will also be you, then you will follow up to recognize stress signals and do something about lowering your dog’s anxiety. Among dogs, signs of stress can be excessive panting, drooling, pacing or attempts to escape the area.

If your dog becomes stressed, step back and allow your dog space to relax. Don’t push interactions, and don’t force your dog into places he may be too overstimulated to handle. Seek advice from a veterinarian or professional dog trainer if you need help on specific ways to help your dog adjust.

The Infant Stages of Interaction with the Helper Gradually Increase

Once your baby is a little older, you can progressively increase your time with both dog and baby together. Start with brief, even-tempered visits and then let dogs hang out longer together as they relax around one another.

When your baby begins crawling or walking, they’ll be even more curious about the dog. This is when your dog should become even more patient and tolerant. Supervise all interactions, and give your dog as many breaks as necessary.

Respect Your Dog’s Boundaries

While you are respectful of your baby’s needs and boundaries, you need to do the same for your dog. If your dog appears uncomfortable or attempts to move away when the baby is near, allow your dog to give your dog the space they need. If you do not allow the meeting to take its own natural course and encourage the interaction with the baby too early, there is a good chance your dog is going to associate that with something negative, thus causing an obstacle in the bonding process.

Conclusion

Introducing your dog to your newborn is done step by step and involves a lot of work, preparation and of course supervision. Now, with these steps to take, and having a better understanding of your dog, you can assure your baby and your dog have a positive and safe relationship. Over time, your dog and baby can enjoy a loving friendship that will deepen as both of them grow.

Our firm at PetIndiaOnline stands for the safety and growth of children and pets in our homes. To learn more about pet care, training, and safety from experts, check out our site and make sure your dog’s relationship with your baby is as smooth and harmonious as possible.