Guidelines for a Dog Near a Baby

When bringing a baby home from the hospital, several decisions must be made to prepare the home and family for the new addition, such as sleeping arrangements, child care and clothing. The baby will also surely meet his new family members, including grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and the family dog. To encourage smooth interaction in the new family dynamic for both the baby and the dog, there are a few guidelines to follow before and after the birth.

  1. Basic Obedience

    • Review basic obedience skills with your dog, such as "sit," "down" and "stay." These obedience skills should have been taught when your dog was a puppy; if your dog doesn't obey the commands as he should, a refresher course is needed. This step needs to take place before the baby's birth.

    Introduce Objects

    • Introduce the dog to items the baby will use, such as towels and clothing. When the nursery is set up, bring the dog into the room so it can get used to things in the room. Another idea is to place a teddy bear or doll in the crib, high chair and car seat so that the dog can get used to a baby-sized object being in the places where the baby is most likely to be.

    Introduce the Baby

    • When bringing a baby home, don't immediately place the baby directly in front of the dog. Take the time to greet the dog; especially since you may not have seen it for a few days. Introduce the baby by taking a blanket with baby's scent and putting it in front of the dog, allowing him to smell it. Then show the baby to the dog. Use calm motions and words. If the dog behaves, praise it verbally and with treats.

    Supervision

    • In all interactions, an adult should supervise a baby and dog together. This is true even if the dog always behaves around the baby. A dog should never be left alone with a newborn, infant, toddler or young child.

    Other

    • A newborn doesn't generally move around a lot, so a dog may not necessarily be distracted by the baby at first. Problems may arise when the baby begins to crawl and walk. Toddlers at this stage can upset the dog by poking and pulling at it, which can lead even the most mild-mannered dog to bite. This can be avoided by separating the baby and dog in addition to constant supervision.