Preparing Our Dog for the Arrival of Our New Baby

As we get closer to welcoming our new baby, preparing our dog is just as important as preparing the nursery. He's a huge part of our family, and this new chapter will be a big adjustment for him too.

Our dog is independent, incredibly food motivated, and has shown some fear around children in the past. Because of that, we've started preparing well before the baby arrives. My goal isn't simply for him to accept the baby. I want him to feel confident, safe, and successful as our family grows.

One of the biggest changes we've made is where he sleeps. For years, he slept in our bed. As much as we loved the cuddles, we knew that bringing home a newborn would change our nighttime routine. Rather than waiting until the baby arrived, we transitioned him to sleeping in his crate.

We took it slowly, making the crate a place he genuinely enjoys. We added comfortable bedding, gave him special treats and chews that he only gets in the crate, and rewarded him for choosing to go inside on his own. Now, his crate is a safe space instead of a punishment, and that gives us one less major change for him to process once the baby is here.

We've also been brushing up on everyday training. We're practicing place, stay, leave it, and settling quietly while there are distractions around him. These skills may seem simple, but they'll make a big difference when I'm feeding the baby, changing diapers, or trying to calm a crying newborn.

Since he's so food motivated, we're leaning heavily on positive reinforcement. Every calm choice earns praise or a treat. Every successful training session helps build confidence. Keeping sessions short and fun has made training something we both enjoy instead of another item on the to do list.

We're also introducing him to baby gear before it's actually in use. The stroller has become part of our walks. The baby swing, bassinet, and play mat have been set up around the house so they aren't strange new objects overnight. The goal is for these things to simply become part of his environment.

Another part of our preparation has been exposing him to baby sounds at a low volume. We've played recordings of crying, cooing, and other infant noises while rewarding calm behavior. Over time, we've gradually increased the volume so the sounds become familiar instead of startling.

Because he's been fearful around children before, we're being especially thoughtful about management. We're not trying to force interactions or prove that he "likes" kids. Instead, we're focusing on helping him stay relaxed and giving him choices. He'll always have a quiet place to retreat if he needs a break, and we'll be careful to respect those boundaries.

We're also working on making our routine a little less predictable. Walks, meals, and playtime won't always happen at the exact same minute every day once we have a newborn, so introducing some flexibility now feels like a small way to help him adjust later.

I know there will be an adjustment period. There will be moments where everything clicks and moments where we need to slow down and reassess. That's okay. Progress matters more than perfection.

At the end of the day, he's still our boy. Many of my clients with kids call their dog their firstborn :) He still deserves walks, enrichment, training, affection, and time with us. Soon our family will be growing by one tiny human, and with patience, preparation, and plenty of treats, he'll learn that this new little person is simply another member of his pack.