10 Proven Dog Training Tips to Prepare Your Dog for Your New Baby

1. Start with the Basics: Refresh Training Concepts

Before your baby arrives, review essential concepts like relaxing on "place," and giving you space ("Go"). Understanding these concepts can help you manage your dog's behavior and energy around the baby. Associating calmness and respecting the baby's space will set the stage for good behavior.

2. Introduce Baby Sounds Gradually

Newborns can be noisy with various sounds, from coos to screams. To help your dog acclimate, play recordings of baby noises at a low volume. Increase the volume gradually over a few weeks, allowing your dog to adjust to the sounds that will soon become part of your daily routine. Pro tip: play the recordings during calm activities such as relaxing on their bed or a structured walk around your neighborhood. Practice walking your dogs with the stroller playing sounds from the stroller seat.

3. Set Boundaries with Baby Items

As you gather baby essentials like cribs and strollers, let your dog explore these items to get comfortable with novel items, but set clear boundaries. For instance, train your dog to stay out of the nursery or not to chew on toys. Setting clear boundaries before the baby's arrival strengthens your relationship with your dog and ensures safety.

4. Create a Safe Space for Your Dog

Your dog may feel anxious with all the changes happening in the household. Designate a safe space for your dog where they can retreat when things get overwhelming. Crate training is an excellent way to create a safe, familiar retreat for your dog and helps reduce anxiety during the busy transition to parenthood.

5. Change Up the Routine

In the months leading to your baby's arrival, adjust your dog's everyday routine to prepare them for changes. This could mean varying daily walks, meal times, and play sessions. By introducing these shifts gradually, your dog will adapt more smoothly when the baby joins the family. For example, if your dog is used to walks at 10 AM, try practicing 'place' at 10 AM and moving the walk to 10:30 or 11 AM.

6. Use Baby-Scented Items

Familiarizing your dog with your baby's scent can create positive associations. Consider bringing home a baby blanket or a piece of clothing before your little one arrives. Let your dog calmly sniff these items. Do not let them play with any baby items.

7. Practice Parenting Techniques

While it might sound unusual, you can practice parenting behaviors by holding a similarly weighted object to mimic a newborn. Carry a doll wrapped in your baby's blanket and practice walking, stopping, sitting and rocking movements while your dog calmly coexists with you on their place bed. This way, your dog will understand that they need to be calm around the baby.

8. Exposure around Children

Safely exposing your dog around well-behaved children from a distance before the baby arrives can make a huge difference. For example, you can have your dog practice relaxing and waiting close to a park. This keeps a safe distance while letting your dog get used to the abrupt and varying movements and noises children make while playing.

9. Keep Calm and Neutral on Baby's Arrival

On the day you bring your baby home, foster a calm atmosphere. Have a family member or friend supervise your dog while you care for the baby. If no extra hands are available, use your crate as your assistant. This will create a calm and neutral association with baby and avoid any negative or stressful interactions.

10. Never Leave Your Baby and Dog Alone Together

Safety should always be your top priority. Never leave them alone together. Always supervise, as this will reinforce your dog's understanding of respecting the baby. The bond between your dog and baby can be incredibly strong when nurtured correctly.

Embrace the Journey Ahead

Preparing your dog for a new baby can seem challenging. However, with early action and thoughtful approaches, you can create a stress-free transition. Focus on training, making gradual changes, and fostering a positive environment.

Having dogs around babies and children is a serious responsibility and should never be taken lightly, no matter the breed, age or temperament of the dog. Please put safety as a number one priority and seek quality, professional help if you are ever unsure of how to safely arrange your environment. If you have a dog who demonstrates behavioral concerns such as aggression, fearfulness, anxiety, instability, or unpredictable behavior, please seek quality, professional help right away.