If your dog has issues such as fear, anxiety, or other behavioral problems that could cause aggression, consult a trainer or animal behaviorist for assistance prior to the babys arrival. Train your dog not to jump up on you or others and to remain calmly on the floor beside you. You should also expose your dog to babies and the smells and sounds that accompany them. Ask friends with babies and young children to visit, and let your dog spend carefully supervised time with them.
Once the baby is home, much of your time will be devoted to caring for the baby. A sudden, drastic reduction in the amount of time you spend with your dog can cause him to feel stressed and resentful of the new intruder. So begin to reduce the amount of time you spend with your dog before the new baby is born. If the expectant mom is the primary caregiver and the person who the dog is most bounded to, another family member should take over that role before the baby is born.
Introduce the baby to your dog slowly. Bring a baby blanket or an item of clothing home from the hospital for your dog to smell before the baby arrives. Upon arriving home, the new mother should greet the dog without the baby, being warm, but quiet and calm. After the greetings, bring your dog with you to sit next to the baby and reward him with treats for good behavior. Never force your dog to get near the baby and always supervise their interactions closely. Do not exclude your dog now that the baby is home. Keep your routine as normal as possible and be sure to play with and exercise your dog each day.
