A baby changes everything in a home: the routines, the noises, the smells, the attention you give to each person. Your dog will live through these changes too. The earlier you prepare them, during pregnancy, the more smoothly the arrival goes.
During pregnancy: change bit by bit
Adjust the routine in advance
Think about your future daily life with a newborn: who will take the dog out, at what time, for how long. Put this new rhythm in place a few weeks before the birth. That way, the dog does not link these changes with the baby's arrival.
If the attention you give them is going to decrease, reduce it gently starting now. Keep a few moments just for them, even short ones, that you can maintain after the birth.
Revisit the basics of training
A few simple commands will serve you well: "sit", "down", "stay", "go to your bed", "lead". Work on them in short sessions, with treats and praise. A dog who goes and settles in their bed when asked makes life much easier with a baby in your arms.
Get them used to new things
- Equipment: set up the cot, the bouncer and the changing table a few weeks in advance. Let the dog sniff them, then teach them to stay at a distance.
- Noises: play them recordings of a baby crying, at first at very low volume, while they eat or play. Raise the volume very gradually, only if they stay relaxed.
- Smells: start using the creams and soap meant for the baby now.
- The pram: walk them beside the empty pram, so that they learn to walk calmly next to it.
- Handling: a growing child grabs ears and tails. Get your dog used now to being touched gently on the ears, paws and back, rewarding them. This never replaces supervision.
Define the zones
Decide which rooms will stay open to the dog. If the baby's room will be closed to them, close it now, or put up a gate. Also check where their bed is: it should stay in a living area, away from busy routes and far from the baby's things. Our guide to where to put your dog's bed helps you find the right corner.
If you have to move it, do so several weeks before the birth, and make the new corner pleasant from the start. A comfortable bed their size helps: you will find some in our dog collection.
Before you come home from the maternity unit
Arrange who will look after or walk the dog during your stay. If possible, have a cloth that has touched the baby brought home, and let the dog smell it calmly, rewarding them.
The day you arrive
The parent who does not have the baby in their arms goes in first and greets the dog, who is often very excited after your absence. Once things are calm, introduce the baby, with the dog on the lead if needed, at a distance that lets them sniff without touching. Reward every calm behaviour. Do not force anything: a dog who prefers to move away has the right to.
The weeks that follow
- Never alone together: never leave the baby and the dog in a room without an adult, even with a very gentle dog, even for a few seconds. If you leave the room, the dog or the baby comes with you, or a gate separates them.
- Link the baby with positive things: when the baby is there, the dog receives attention and treats. Avoid sending them away only when the baby is present.
- Keep their outings: a dog who goes out and burns off energy stays calmer. The scent games in our guide to keeping your dog busy indoors occupy them during the baby's naps.
- Protect their bed: it is their refuge. Later, when the child starts to move around, teach them to leave the dog's bed alone.
Spotting signs of unease
An uneasy dog often shows it before growling: they turn their head away, lick their lips, yawn, show the whites of their eyes, freeze or move away. Respect these signals and move them away from the baby. A growl is a useful warning: do not punish it, or the dog may stop giving warning.
If your dog growls, stares at the baby, is very agitated or on the contrary withdraws into themselves, talk to your vet quickly. They can point you to a veterinary behaviourist or a dog trainer who uses positive methods. The sooner you ask for help, the simpler it is.
In short
- Put the new routine in place a few weeks before the birth.
- Get them used gradually to the baby's equipment, noises and smells.
- Keep their bed in a living area, away from the baby's things.
- Never leave the baby and the dog alone together, even for a moment.
- At the slightest sign of unease, ask a professional for advice.