You’ve mastered dog parenting, now it’s time for the human kind. Introducing a new member to the pack does not have to be a stressful experience. By providing a slow and steady introduction, the result can be enriching for both your dog and your child. Here are a few quick tips to make the initiation process as smooth as possible for everyone involved:

Preparing Your Pet:

Introduce your dog to all the baby supplies and scents. Rub baby lotion or baby powder on your hands so that your dog will associate a positive connection with the scent. 

Set up the nursery early. Let your dog explore the new setting and get accustomed to any new furniture or baby items that may frighten him. 

Praise your your pet regularly. To avoid any potential anxiety, give your dog some extra praise when they are around new items such as baby tables and cribs. 

Establish the ground rules early. Do not allow your dog to jump or sleep on any of the baby furniture. Pets tend to avoid sticky surfaces, so if your pet views the new furniture as a napping place, consider a double sided-adhesive to make the new items undesirable.

Introduce changes in your dog’s routine early. These include play sessions, walks, feedings, grooming, sleeping, and other daily schedule shifts. Dogs need some quality time with your undivided attention for a short period of time every day. Plan ahead to determine the best time for this so that you can maintain the new schedule when the baby comes home.

When the Baby Arrives:

After arriving home from the hospital, greet your dog in a quiet room so you can reconnect and bond. After you’ve had a few minutes of undivided attention with your dog, you can let everyone else, including the baby, in the house.

Let your dog investigate by placing an item that smells like the baby, such as a receiving blanket or article of clothing, in a quiet place for him to smell and get acclimated with the item.

Don’t let your dog feel forgotten about. Praise your dog and give him attention when the baby is in the room. Baby naptime is the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time, just the two of you. 

If you would like information from an Anti-Cruelty Behavior Specialist regarding this behavior topic, please call 312-645-8253 or email behavior@anticruelty.org.

Recent Articles

Back to Top
Chewing

Chewing is a normal dog behavior. However, it doesn’t have to be a destructive behavior. Redirecting your dog’s chewing onto appropriate items prevents your most prized possessions from suffering the wrath of your chewing pup. 

Puppies especially have an urge to chew. As responsible pet owners, it’s our job to

Modifying Marking Behavior

Many dogs mark places that are new and unfamiliar to them. Marking behavior can be modified if you start training early. When introducing your dog to your home, be prepared. Here are a couple tricks for a marking-quick-fix.

First Things First…

Spay or neuter your dog as soon as possible. The longer a

Understanding Submissive and Excitement Wetting

Coming home to your dog’s overwhelming happiness and excitement is one of the greatest parts of pet-ownership. However, sometimes those wiggles and squirms can turn into a puddle on the floor. Your furry friend may have successfully mastered housetraining but still cannot control his or her bladder in certain

Improper Attention Seeking in Dogs

Dogs are social animals that enjoy our company. They are also pretty smart. Put those two facts together, and suddenly you have a dog that quickly learns how to make you heed his call. Responding to your dog’s pleas for attention isn’t always a bad thing. For instance, you should take your dog outside to eliminate