What to Know About Preparing Your Dog for Baby

Adding a baby to your family is a big transition for everyone, including your dog. Babies need a lot of attention and come with a lot of new noises, smells and stuff. Overnight, your dog (who may be like your first baby) will need to share you and their space, and your pup will have to adjust to your new routine which inevitably leaves less time for them. But there are a few things you’ll want to do ahead of baby’s arrival to prepare your furbaby for their new BFF.

Here are some tips to make the transition a little bit easier:

How to Prepare Your Dog for a New Baby

• Brush up on training: You’ll want to make sure your dog has some basic training and can follow simple commands before baby arrives. A few useful commands to have in your toolbox when you have a new baby around are: sit, stay, lay down, no licking, quiet—you get the gist. You can teach your dog yourself or find a professional depending on how much training your dog needs.
• Create a designated “baby-free” zone: Even the sweetest, most well-mannered dogs can display food aggression. You’ll want to make sure your pup has their own designated safe space for them to eat (and sleep) that is inaccessible to baby.
• Set off-limits areas: Will the nursery be a dog-free zone? Kitchen? Maybe the couch? Decide which areas you want your dog to stay out of and allow a lot of time to practice these new boundaries together.
• Get them familiar with baby items: Adding a baby to your family means you’ll be acquiring quite a bit of new gear around the house. Set up any baby items ahead of time so your dog can acclimate.