Dog & Baby: The Newborn Stage

Bringing a newborn baby home is an exciting and joyous occasion, but it also requires careful consideration and planning when you have a dog. In this blog post, we will discuss essential steps to ensure a safe relationship between your dog and your newborn.

1. Keep Your Dog Off the Bed and Couches:

When you have a newborn, you will spend a lot of time on the couch and the bed, resting, feeding, and cuddling with your baby. It is important to create strong boundaries for your dog by keeping your dog off the bed and couches while you have a newborn in the home. This precautionary measure helps to prevent any accidental contact or rough play that could harm the baby. Remember, your dog may not have been around a baby before and may not understand their fragility. They need time to acclimate to the sight and sound of your baby at a slow pace. Supervise your dog 100% of the time and never leave your baby unattended near your dog, even for a moment.

2. Set Up Separate Areas:

You are going to need a place to set your baby down, and a place to put your dog where it can’t get to your baby. This is so that you can do quick tasks like make a bottle, make a lunch, refill a water bottle, or answer the door. To provide a sense of security for both your dog and your baby, it is useful to set up separate areas using baby gates or playpens. These "safe zones" allow you to carry out caregiving routines such as breastfeeding, tummy time, or diapering without worrying about your dog jumping on or accidentally walking on the baby. To make the safe zone a positive place for your dog, provide them with a yummy enrichment toy or a bully stick while they are in that area.

3. Reward Your Dog for Being Away:

When a new baby arrives, your dog may find it challenging to adjust to the reduced access to your personal space. To proactively address this, start building value in commands like "Place" or using the crate, which helps your dog to be away from you. Throw treats away from you to establish the concept of "away from mom/dad." This will help your dog understand that being away from you is rewarding and can lead them to choose farther spots away from you over time.

Integrating a new baby into a household with a dog requires careful planning and consideration to ensure the safety and well-being of both. Remember, always supervise interactions between your dog and baby, decide where you want your dog to be and set clear boundaries, and provide positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior. With time, patience, and proper training, your dog and baby can form a safe, healthy, and loving coexistence.