How do I introduce my dog to our new baby?
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
Greet your dog first, without the baby in your arms, so it can get its excitement out. Then, in a quiet room with a helper holding the dog on a loose lead, let it sniff the baby briefly if it wants to, reward calm behaviour with treats, and end on a good note. Never force the meeting.
In the first weeks, keep the dog's routine steady, give it attention when the baby is around, and give it a den away from the bustle. Never leave the dog and baby alone together, and stop any meeting calmly if your dog looks uneasy.
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What should I do before the baby comes home?
Two small things make the first meeting easier: the baby's smell and the baby's sounds.
Dogs Trust says introductions go better if your dog already knows your baby's scent before the baby arrives home. While you are still in hospital, a family member can bring home a blanket or a piece of clothing the baby has used and let the dog sniff it in its own time. Playing recordings of everyday baby sounds before the birth helps the crying feel ordinary too.
Get the helper ready. ASPCA suggests someone the dog knows well, with treats kept near the front door, and the dog's lead to hand. Decide where the first meeting will happen: a quiet room where you can sit down, away from the doorway and visitors. The months of preparation before the birth, from routine changes to baby gates, are covered in our answer on whether a dog is safe with a newborn.
How do I do the first meeting, step by step?
Short, calm and on the dog's terms. You can do it on the first day, or wait a day or two until the house is calmer.
1. Greet the dog without the baby
Your dog may be very excited to see you. Ask someone else to hold the baby while you greet the dog, because it may jump up. ASPCA suggests letting others go into the house first so the dog can express its usual excitement. Dogs Trust
2. Lead on, even for a gentle dog
After the greetings, have the helper put the dog on its lead. ASPCA says this matters even if you have no reason to think it will react badly. ASPCA
3. Stay calm and sit down
Keep your voice calm so the arrival feels normal. Dogs Trust suggests standing with the baby first and sitting on the edge of a chair once the dog is calm; ASPCA suggests sitting in a quiet room with the baby in your arms. Dogs Trust
4. A brief sniff, if the dog wants
With the lead short but loose, let the dog approach and sniff gently, for example the baby's feet for a couple of seconds. Do not push the dog towards the baby or the baby towards the dog. ASPCA
5. Reward and finish
When the dog sniffs and backs away, praise it and give a treat. Then ask for a sit or down, reward it, and have the helper give it a chew or puzzle toy away from the baby. ASPCA
Which signs mean I should stop the introduction?
Dogs Trust says watch your dog's body language throughout and calmly stop if it seems uncomfortable. These are the signals to know.
- Eyes that look round, with a lot of white showing (often called whale eye), or glassy, dilated pupils. ASPCA (ASPCApro)
- A closed, tight mouth with the lips pulled back at the corners, or a panting dog that suddenly shuts its mouth. ASPCA (ASPCApro)
- Yawning or lip licking with a tight mouth, which can be an early sign of stress. ASPCA (ASPCApro)
- Tail tucked between the back legs, held rigid, or wagging stiffly. ASPCA (ASPCApro)
- Hair raised along the back, a wrinkled muzzle, teeth shown, or growling. ASPCA (ASPCApro)
- Turning away or avoiding the baby. Let it; never force a dog to interact. ASPCA
What about the first days and weeks?
First days
Keep the dog's routine as steady as you can: exercise, training, feeding, day care, medicines and vet visits. A walker or a family member can cover walks while you recover. Dogs Trust
First days
Give the dog a cosy den away from the hustle and bustle, where it can rest undisturbed. Expect more visitors than usual, from relatives to health workers. Dogs Trust
First weeks
Give the dog lots of attention when the baby is present, with treats, petting and play, so the baby predicts good things. ASPCA suggests giving it a little less attention when the baby is asleep or out of the room. ASPCA
First weeks
Use baby gates or the dog's crate when visitors come, so a busy house does not overwhelm it. Dogs Trust
Before crawling
Plan for the day the baby starts to move. Baby gates can limit access, and the dog can learn to settle on the other side. Dogs Trust
What are the rules for every meeting after the first?
Do
- Supervise every moment the dog and baby are together, and separate them when you cannot watch. Dogs Trust
- Let the dog choose to approach or move away, and reward calm interest. ASPCA
- Keep the baby somewhere it can be moved away safely during meetings, in your arms or a cot, never on the floor with the dog. Dogs Trust
Don’t
- Do not scold the dog around the baby, and do not punish growling, snapping or showing teeth. These warnings let you prevent a bite. ASPCA
- Do not leave the dog and baby alone together, even for a moment, even with a calm dog. Dogs Trust
- Do not keep going if the dog looks uneasy. Stop calmly and try another day. Dogs Trust
What if it does not go well?
If The dog is over-excited, jumping or whining
End the meeting calmly, give the dog a walk or a chew, and try again later when the house is quiet. Dogs Trust
If The dog avoids the baby or seems worried
Give it space and its den, keep good things happening when the baby is around, and do not push contact. ASPCA
If The dog growls, snaps, stares or shows teeth at the baby
Keep them apart at all times and contact a qualified animal behaviour professional immediately. ASPCA
If Your dog bites or scratches anyone
Wash the wound with soap and running water and see a doctor the same day. Dog Bite: Do You Need a Rabies Injection? (India) National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
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- A photo every day
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Questions owners ask
Should the dog meet the baby on the first day home?
- It can, but there is no rush. Dogs Trust says you can introduce them straight away or wait a day or two. What matters more is that you greet the dog first without the baby, keep the meeting short and calm, and never force the dog to interact.
Should my dog be on a lead when it meets the baby?
- Yes, a loose lead held by a helper is sensible for the first meetings. ASPCA says to put the dog on a lead after the greetings even if you have no reason to think it will react badly, and to keep the lead short but loose so the dog is not tense.
Is it a good idea to bring home a blanket from the hospital?
- Yes. Dogs Trust says introductions can go better if your dog is already familiar with the baby's scent before the baby arrives home. Let the dog sniff a blanket or vest the baby has used, in its own time, and reward calm interest.
My dog ignores the baby. Is that a problem?
- Not in itself. Let the dog choose; ASPCA says never force a dog to interact with a baby. But watch for avoidance with signs of stress, such as a tucked tail, lip licking or whale eye, and give the dog space and its den. If you are unsure, ask a qualified behaviour professional.
How do I introduce a new puppy to a baby?
- The same principles apply: short, calm, supervised meetings, rewards for calm behaviour, and never leaving them alone together. Puppies mouth and jump, so keep the puppy on a lead or behind a baby gate when the baby is out, and give it chews and a den of its own.
Keep reading
- Is my dog safe with a newborn baby?Bite risk, supervision and preparing before the birth.
- How do I teach children to be safe around dogs?
- A dog bit me, do I need a rabies injection?
- Separation anxiety in dogs
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Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- Dogs Trust: How to introduce your dog to your new baby (opens in a new tab)
- ASPCA: Dogs and babies (opens in a new tab)
- Dogs Trust: Preparing your dog for a new baby (opens in a new tab)
- ASPCA (ASPCApro): Canine body language (PDF handout) (opens in a new tab)
- National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: National guidelines on rabies prophylaxis (2015) (opens in a new tab)