What To Expect When You’re Expecting: Baby Training For Your Dog 

Earlier this year, I saw more and more dog owners getting ready to become parents. While the joy of a new baby was there, there was also worry regarding the relationship between their dog and their new baby. “What if my dog becomes protective and aggressive over the baby?” one client asked me at her initial in-home consultation. I’ve also had people wonder if there would be aggression problems toward the baby also, which is a HUGE deal and could result in a broken family if it reaches such a serious point.

Dog Training Atlanta

Bruno here is in training because his owners are expecting a daughter around Thanksgiving this year. He’s now getting ready to be a well-behaved and well-adjusted dog when the new baby arrives!

Because of all this, I started my expecting parents training program called Cribs and Canines, which works towards preparing the dog for the arrival of a new baby in the home. This article touches upon that program, but mainly focuses on how your new baby might affect your dog’s behavior, and what you can do to try to prevent from any unfortunate behavioral problems or incidents from happening.

Naturally, every dog is different and could have different reactions to a new baby in the home. Some dogs might be perfectly fine and there’s hardly a change or problem at all with the dog. But whether we like it or not, the arrival of a new baby is going to bring some changes into the household. It’ll be a major change for you as both a parent and a dog owner, thus this will also impact your dog’s normal routines and lifestyles. Your dog may take to these changes just fine, but there’s also a good chance your dog may need help adjusting to these changes. These changes can include anxiety because they do not know how to deal with the divided attention or disrupted scheduling. Dogs can also become possessive of the baby, which the protective behavior might seem fine, but it is important to nip any aggression in the bud. This includes aggression OVER and TOWARD the baby, the latter which can occur if not careful. Parents must be careful with how their infants and dogs interact, as there is a responsibility we must take to prevent any aggression from taking place between the two.

Here’s a few tips on making sure your dog gets acclimated to the new baby, and demonstrates good behavior for the little tyke:

  • If your dog has regular exercise/walk routines, it would be very helpful to maintain this, as exercise and mental stimulation calms a dog and promotes good behavior. With a new baby, this might change drastically, but maybe it doesn’t have to! Establish “shifts” between you and your partner so that the baby is taken care of, and also the dog can get the exercise they need. If you are a single parent, consider asking a relative to maybe come in a few times a week to help walk the dog. There are also dog daycare options which could be extremely helpful, but if you’re on a budget I am sure there is a sweet, responsible teenager in your neighborhood that wouldn’t mind making an extra buck to walk your dog for an hour!
  • If your dog has a crate or a “place”, use it judiciously when you have to, as the baby is going to eat up a lot of your time. However, make sure that these spots are POSITIVE associations for your dog and that you never use it as punishment or too excessively. The crate is a great management tool and if you do not have time to focus on your dog because of your baby, then consider commanding your dog to relax in the crate until you ARE able to give them attention. With a “place”, make sure your dog understands that this is an area that they stay in until further notice, and also where they are calm and behaved. Use this the same way as a crate: as management. For both spots, it’s a good idea to have bones or calming toys so that your dog can be preoccupied and relaxed, rather than bored and restless.
  • Make sure your dog is very good at responding to commands, even with some distractions (if this is a struggle for you and your dog, contact us immediately as this will play a HUGE role into the success between your dog and your baby!). If your dog cannot stay in “place” when you want to pick up your baby or allow the baby to crawl on the floor, then you need to go back to the basics and get your dog reliable on their commands, and desensitized to certain situations that would include the baby. If you think the fundamentals needs to be revisited for your dog and he/she also needs to be introduced to certain baby-specific situations, check out the Cribs and Canines program we offer and see if it sounds right for you!
  • Try walking your dog while you have the baby in the stroller, but again, this should only be practiced if your dog is reliable with heeling and being able to maintain calm heeling even among distractions. If your dog is though, this is a great way for the dog and baby to be together without having up close encounters. It’s a nice, subtle desensitization technique for the dog. Unless your Super Mom/Dad and your dog is Super Pup, it might be easier to have your partner or a relative to either push the baby’s cart or walk the dog.
  • If you feel comfortable having your dog and baby interact closely, then try but always be ready to step in if things seem off. You should know your dog’s body language and signals, and if the readings point to anxiety, nervousness, or fear, remove the baby from the situation. Your dog may not be ready for this close interaction, so don’t push it too much. Also, make sure your baby is not fussy at the time your dog is supposed to greet them. Have the baby calm and relaxed beforehand so that he/she doesn’t accidentally startle or upset your dog from sudden movements or excitement.
  • If your baby outgrows some clothes or has a blanket you are willing to spare, have the dog smell these so they learn the baby’s scent. This can create a comforting association for the dog. If the dog attempts to destroy the clothes or blanket, discourage and correct this behavior. These (and ultimately the baby) should be associated with calmness, not destruction or major excitability.

And these are just a few handful things to keep in mind when it comes to building the relationship between your dog and new baby. If you think some professional training to get your dog comfortable and desensitized to your baby is needed, call us at 800-649-7297 and ask about our Cribs and Canines expecting parents training program! This program is applicable to those who are currently expecting or who already have a baby in the home. Any questions about this and whether it would be a good fit for you, your dog and your baby, write us at training@peachtreedogtraining.com