How to Prepare Your Dog for a New Baby

Bringing home a new baby is one of life’s biggest and happiest milestones, and it also means big changes for your dog.Your pup will suddenly face new sights, sounds, smells, and routines. With the right preparation, you can help your dog feel secure and behave safely around your growing family.

In this post we’ll walk you through when and how to prepare your dog, what specific training to focus on, and practical tips you can use before the baby arrives and after the baby comes home.

Quick Guide: 5 Tips to Get Your Dog Ready for a Baby

We know this is an exciting–and busy–time in your life. If you don’t have the time to read all the way through, here are the key things to focus on when preparing your dog for life with a new baby.

1. Start early: Begin preparing your dog before the baby arrives — update routines, practice new rules, and introduce baby sounds and scents gradually.

2. Teach key training cues: Work on important skills like “Go,” “Drop it,” and “Out,” so your dog knows how to respond calmly when things get busy.

3. Create safe spaces: Use crate training, tethering, or a designated spot to help your dog relax and stay included without getting in the way.

4. Plan the first introduction: Keep the first meeting calm and controlled. Use a leash, go slowly, and reward your dog for polite, relaxed behavior.

5. Keep up the good habits: Once the baby is home, maintain daily exercise, one-on-one time, and continued training. Always supervise baby and dog interactions and reinforce positive associations.

Why Preparation Matters

When a baby shows up, your dog’s world changes: less one-on-one time, new noises (crying, gurgles), new smells (baby lotions, diaper changes), and sometimes new rules (no jumping on laps, no going in the nursery). According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), these changes can be overwhelming for many dogs if they aren’t given a chance to adjust ahead of time.

By preparing your dog ahead of time, you improve safety, reduce stress, and increase the chance your dog and baby will get along well from the start.

How to Start Preparing Before the Baby Arrives

Prepare your dog for the new baby by focusing on two key areas: training for safe interaction and acclimating your dog to the many new experiences ahead.

1. Gradually Adjust Routines

Prepare your dog for the new schedule before the baby arrives. This could look like:

• Feeding or walking your dog at different times once the baby arrives, gradually shift those times now.
• Reducing attention a little (shorter cuddle sessions, fewer toys) so the arrival of the baby doesn’t feel like the world changed overnight.

2. Set Boundaries and Rooms Ahead of Time

Decide what rules you’ll have once your baby is home, and begin enforcing them:

• If the nursery will be off-limits to the dog, install baby gates or a barrier now so your dog can get used to the space.
• If you’re planning to remove your dog from certain furniture (bed, couch) once the baby arrives, begin that change now so it’s not a surprise.
• Let your dog thoroughly inspect baby gear (crib, stroller, swing) ahead of time so those items aren’t totally new later.

3. Introduce Baby-Related Items & Sounds

Get your dog ready for the baby by slowly introducing new sights, sounds, and smells. Make sure to connect these new experiences with treats and praise so your dog builds a positive association.

• Let your dog smell a blanket or clothing item that has the baby’s scent (if you already have it) so it becomes familiar.
• Play baby sounds or recordings (crying, cooing) at low volume while doing something your dog enjoys (treats, play) so the sounds become positive.
• Walk your dog while pushing an empty stroller so your dog becomes comfortable with it.

Important Training Skills to Teach Before Baby Arrives

The following cues and behaviors are especially useful for a dog who’ll be sharing the home with a baby. Work on these consistently, as having them in place ahead of time gives you a huge advantage once the baby is home.

Cue: “Go” or “Go Away”

Teach your dog to move away from a specific area (for example when the baby crawls or reaches toward the dog).

How to train it:

• Show a treat, say “Go” or “Go away,” toss the treat a few feet away.
• Repeat until your dog understands the cue means “move away.”
• Gradually increase the distance or require more than a single step before you reward.
• Use this cue when you want your dog out of the way — for example when the baby is on the floor or crawling.

Cue: “Out” and “Drop it”

These are vital for safety and boundary setting around baby toys, baby items, or when your dog picks something up you don’t want them to have (e.g., baby’s toy, clothing, diaper).

• “Drop it”: Practice giving a treat after your dog lets go of the object. Make it fun and rewarding.
• “Out”: Teach your dog to move away from something or relinquish something they’ve grabbed (toy, baby item).

Crate Training

Crate training can be an invaluable tool in preparing your dog for a new baby. It gives your dog a safe and predictable spot where they can have their personal space, especially during those busy moments like diaper changes, feeding times, or when you simply need to set the baby down for a few minutes.

• Introduce the crate gradually and make it an inviting space with soft bedding, favorite toys, and occasional treats so that it becomes a place your dog chooses to go.
• Never use the crate as a form of punishment, as this will create negative associations.
• Give consistent positive reinforcement when your dog goes to their crate.

If you don’t have a crate, consider having a designated “safe zone” in your home. This could look like tethering your dog with a short leash to a fixed anchor in a quiet area, or setting up a playpen or gated off-room.

The First Meeting: Bringing Baby Home

Once your baby is home, you’ll want to manage the intro carefully so your dog feels comfortable, not threatened. This could look like:

• Keeping your dog on leash for the first few meetings. Use treats to reward calm behavior around the baby.
• Allowing your dog to sniff (if appropriate) the baby’s feet or hand while you hold the baby.
• Using treats and positive reinforcement to reward calm behavior around the baby.

At the end of the day, never force an interaction. Let the dog approach at their pace, and if your dog seems anxious, give them space. 

After Baby Arrives: Everyday Life & Long-Term Habits

Once the baby is home, it’s all about finding balance. Your dog is adjusting to a new routine just like you are, so consistency and patience are key. The goal isn’t perfection right away, it’s helping your dog understand what’s expected while keeping them feeling included and loved. 

• Keep one-on-one time with your dog each day (even if short) so your dog still gets attention and doesn’t feel completely sidelined.
• Continue using the cues you trained.
• Monitor for resource guarding. Your dog may feel insecure around the baby and their things (food, toys). Use training to teach your dog that people or a child approaching means rewards.
• Always supervise baby and dog interactions. Even the friendliest dog can get startled, and babies are unpredictable.
• Maintain your dog’s exercise, mental stimulation, and routine as much as possible. A well-exercised dog is a calmer dog.
• Be patient. It takes time for your dog and baby to build their relationship and adjust to the new family dynamics.

With steady training and supervision, your dog can become a calm, confident part of your growing family.

Need Help Getting Started?

If you’re expecting a baby and want to make sure your dog is ready, Golden Compass Canine Training can help. Our trainers work with families to create safe, effective plans to integrate dogs and babies smoothly. Whether your dog needs help with crate work, resource guarding, polite behaviors, or just building confidence around children, we’re here.

👉 Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.