How to Prepare Your Dog to Accept a New Baby in the Home

Don't toss your four-legged pal out into the streets (figuratively or literally) simply because you are expecting a baby. Your dog can live peacefully with your baby, and your child can even benefit from growing up with a pet. Dogs can help teach your child how to be gentle and how to take responsibility for something. They can be a constant source of companionship for all members of your family. If your heart breaks at the thought of giving up your dog because of baby's arrival, dedicate yourself to preventing jealousy and preparing your dog to welcome the new baby home.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush up on your dog's basic obedience skills. Practice the sit, down, stay and come commands daily. You will feel more comfortable when your dog is around the baby if you have some control over its behavior. Now is the time to teach it other new skills such as "go away" and "settle" as well. Hire a professional trainer to help teach your dog the things it needs to know before baby arrives.

    • 2

      Introduce your dog to the sights, smells and sounds of a baby before you bring an infant home. Play recordings of a baby crying, let the dog investigate the crib as you set it up and occasionally use baby oil or powder on yourself to get your pet used to the scent. Allow the animal a moment to investigate any time you bring a new baby item into the home. Always reward the dog during these experiences so that it learn that these things are positive.

    • 3

      Change your dog's routine now if you can predict how it will change when the baby comes home. If your dog always takes a walk at the same time of day, try mixing it up and going randomly instead. Feed your dog earlier or later in the evening. Try to determine how your schedule (and consequently your dog's) will change after you have the baby and make the adjustments at least a month or two in advance.

    • 4

      Establish new rules for your dog a month or more in advance. The more time your dog has to adjust to new rules before baby arrives, the easier it will accept them. Decide what your dog will and will not be allowed to do when the baby comes home and start enforcing those rules immediately. For example, if you want the baby's room to be off limits, tell your dog to sit and stay at the door now and restrict access by closing the door when you aren't in the room.

    • 5

      Adjust the amount of attention you give to your dog in advance. Resist the urge to spoil your dog with extra love and attention in the weeks before the baby arrives. This will only create jealousy when you suddenly pay more attention to the baby. Schedule walks and playtimes throughout the day, but if you plan on cutting these back after the baby arrives, do so early to get your dog used to spending more time on its own. During these times, provide chews or puzzle toys, such as Kongs, for your dog to entertain itself with.