A Baby’s Best Friend:

Bringing Your Newborn Baby Home to Your Dog.

An Injury Prevention Guide for New Parents

For many families, home includes a beloved dog. New babies in the home can be exciting but also stressful for dogs. While your dog might be the most loyal, gentle dog, they are still an animal. They might need time to adjust to the major life change of a new baby. With preparation, supervision, and safety planning, dogs can adapt to life with a baby.

Preparation Begins Before the Baby is Born

It’s best to start preparing your dog for the baby during your pregnancy. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends teaching basic skills. These include “sit,” “stay,” “leave it,” and “off” as early as possible¹. When your hands are full with a newborn, these skills will be important. Try to teach your dog not to jump, mouth, guard toys or food, or becomes overly excited when greeting people. This can be taught with positive reinforcement of good behavior.

It’s also important to make sure your dog is healthy and up to date on vaccines before the baby is born. Try to schedule a veterinary visit before bringing your baby home. You can also talk to your vet about any behavior concerns you might have².

It is best to introduce baby-related changes slowly^2,3.

Set up the nursery in advance. Allow your dog to explore the new smells and set up while calmly establishing boundaries.
Practice walking with your dog and a stroller before the baby is born. This will allow your dog to become familiar with the experience.
Familiarity can also reduce stress. The AKC suggests playing recordings of baby cries at low volume while rewarding calm behavior¹.
Introducing baby lotions and new equipment early prevents sensory overload later.

Dogs thrive on routine. Routines help decrease anxiety. Try to make their schedule similar to their life after the baby arrives. This includes walk times, feeding schedules, and attention pattern^2,3.

The First Meeting: Keep It Calm and Controlled

The day your baby comes home is an emotional day for everyone. This includes your dog. Try to have your dog get some exercise before they meet your baby. This will decrease their energy level¹. If possible, greet your dog first before they meet your baby.

Here are some steps you can follow for your dog to meet your baby for the first time:

Keep your dog on a leash or a secure collar.
Have another adult present.
Allow brief sniffing.
Don’t force your dog to interact with your baby.
Speak calmly and lovingly to your dog.
Monitoring your dog’s body language closely.

Introductions should be slow and positive. Always watch for signs of stress or overstimulation².

You can reward calm behavior with positive words and/or treats. This allows your dog to have a good association with your baby³.

If your baby cries and your dog startles, remain calm and keep a positive attitude. Dogs can read human emotion. Anxious human reactions can cause stress for the dogs.

The Golden Rule of Injury Prevention

Never leave a baby and a dog alone together — even for a moment ^1-3. This is for the safety of both your baby and dog(s).

This applies to all breeds and personalities. Even well-trained, kind dogs can react unpredictably to sudden crying, jerky movements, or accidental grabbing. At least one adult should be fully supervising every interaction between the baby and dog. If an adult cannot watch the baby with the dog, they should be placed in separate rooms. Baby gates, closed doors, or crates can create physical barriers³. Make sure the crate is a positive and safe space for your dog. Try to limit crate time, continue to have quality time with your dog, and give them needed exercise⁴.

Recognize Early Warning Signs

Reading your dog’s body language can help prevent injuries. Your dog might show they are stressed with early signs like stiff posture, intense staring, lip licking, yawning, turning away, or growling^1-3. If you see this, give your dog some space. These signs can turn into something dangerous like snapping or lunging. This should prompt immediate separation of the baby and the dog. You might want to talk with a qualified professional like a dog trainer if this happens². Recognizing stress early allows you to intervene before a situation escalates.

Maintain Structure and Positive Associations

After the birth of a baby, the family dog usually gets less attention. The AKC recommends maintaining as much consistency as possible with your dog’s routine¹. Predictable walking and feeding times reduce anxiety. This provides safe, appropriate attention to your dog, so they do not associate the baby with loss³. Reward calm behavior around the baby. Provide enrichment toys or long-lasting chews for the dog during baby’s feeding times.

As Your Baby Grows, Risks Change

Newborns quickly become rolling, crawling, and grabbing infants. Teach your babies gentle touch from the beginning³. They should also be taught to never pull a dog’s ear or tail and not to climb on your dog³. Dogs should be separated during feeding times to prevent food-related incidents. Supervision should continue into the first few years of life¹. Toddlers are unpredictable, and even the most tolerant dogs have limits!

A Safer Start for Your Family

Bringing your newborn home to your dog is a joyful moment — but it is also a transition that requires planning.

Preparation before birth, calm introductions, positive reinforcement, supervision, attention to body language, and use of appropriate physical barriers reduces risk of injury^1-3. Injury prevention is not about fear — it is about awareness. With thoughtful preparation and safety strategies, your home can remain a safe place for both your newborn and your dog.

For more information on safety of bringing Your newborn baby home to your dog, you can also call the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, a program of Jackson Hospital and University of Miami funded by the Children’s Trust at 305-243-9080 or visit www.injuryfree.org.

American Kennel Club. (s.f.). Introducing a dog to a new baby. www.akc.org
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). (s.f.). Dogs and babies. healthtopics.vetmed.ucdavis.edu
University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. (s.f.). Bringing home baby. www.aspca.org
Ortiz, D. D., & LPhysician.Physician). Dog and cat bites: Rapid evidence review. American Family Physician, 108(5), 501–505.