Your Baby and Your Dog: How to Make Them Become Friends

You probably know it: you have a dog and a baby is coming to the family. Quite exciting! Because how do you make sure this goes well? Don't worry, with these tips you can make the introduction between your dog and your baby a lot easier.

The first meeting

When you come home with your newborn baby, it is smart to greet your dog before you bring the baby inside. Put your dog in another room or in his crate for a while. This prevents him from getting too excited. When everything is calm, your dog can get acquainted with the new situation.

Give it time

You may see cute pictures of dogs licking babies. However, it is best not to let this happen. It is more important that your dog gets used to the baby without direct contact. Let them coexist quietly. Your dog can then get used to the new sounds and smells.

Prepare your dog

A baby brings many changes to the home. Not only for you, but also for your dog:

• Walking times may vary
• There are new sounds in the house
• You may have less time for your dog

Tip: Start these changes before the baby arrives. Then it will be easier for your dog to get used to them later.

Make sure your dog can be independent

Teach your dog that he sometimes needs to be able to play alone. This can be done with:

• A toy with a dog biscuit inside (such as a Kong)
• A dog puzzle
• A private, quiet place in the house

Safety first

Even if everything seems fine, never leave your dog and baby alone together. Accidents can happen. Make sure they both have their own safe place: the baby in the playpen and the dog in his crate.

Arrange additional assistance

The first few weeks with a baby can be busy. It is smart to arrange in advance who can walk your dog if you are too busy. This can be family, but also a dog sitter.

Patience is important

Some dogs need more time to get used to a baby. This is perfectly normal. Never force your dog to come close to the baby if he doesn't want to. If you are calm and patient, your dog will get used to the new situation on his own.