In order to make sure your puppy or dog is going to cope well and you are going to be able to trust him/her around your new baby you need to make sure you are prepared.  The first thing you should do is train your puppy to leave it on cue.  This will be useful for when you don’t want your baby or yourself to be pestered by your dog, such as when you are changing nappies.  Then we move on to the preparation.

Before the baby is due (as far before the birth as possible)

Begin to ignore the dog/ puppy for short periods of time when you are busy.

Build these up so you can be in the same room as the puppy for a few hours and they do not demand your attention.  This is to get the dog used to you been occupied and not being able to demand your attention at all times.

Teach some basic obedience commands.

As previously stated it is important for them to know leave it, lie down and stay will also be of great benefit when you have a young child in the house.

Train your puppy to take treats very gently.

When rewarding your puppy/dog hold the treat in your hand, between your forefinger and thumb.  Do not release or give it to the puppy/dog until you feel they are being gentle enough.  If they snap give the cue ‘no’ in a calm voice, remove the treat and begin again.  This is important as if your dog does ever steal some food from the baby you want it to be very gentle.  The leave it command should prevent this but should an accident happen we want to be as safe as possible!

Teach your puppy/ dog the difference between their dog toys and baby toys.

Now we don’t want dog slobber all over our newborns toys, puppies will destroy toys and it is also very unhygienic.  Buy some baby toys that are visibly different to your dogs toys.  Keep them in another room (so they smell unfamiliar to your dog).  Then, present the toy (which will smell like the baby shop you bought it in, therefore alien to the puppy).  Holding it in your left hand show the toy, allow them to sniff (if they grab give a sharp ‘no’ and turn away with the toy before trying again).  Quickly your dog will be disinterested in the toy.  As they look away give them a treat.  Use this method in conjunction with the ‘leave it’ command (detailed in article previously mentioned).

Play  house with a doll.

This is by far the most effective way to go about getting your puppy dog ready for a new arrival.  Treat the doll just as you would a baby.  Carry the baby around and make sure the level of interaction you have with the puppy and allow the puppy to have with the doll is along the same lines as you would wish for the real baby.  Get your dog used to the ‘leave it command’ with the doll and all of its toys, nappies, clothes etc.

Teach your dog to love a crate.

When you have a baby it is important that you teach your puppy/ dog to love their crate because there are times you are going to have to shut the puppy away for your own sanity!  Feed your puppy in the crate, give him new toys in the crate.  Every time you put him in put him with a treat or a chew (give him less in his main meal to avoid obesity).  Build up from him being in there for one minute to five minutes up to a time of two hours.  Don’t leave your puppy in there for longer than this as they won’t be able to hold their bladder which could interfere with house training.

Once the baby is born.

Ask a friend or relative to take a blanket home that has the newborns scent on it to introduce to the puppy and ensure they are calm and relaxed when smelling it.  Use the ‘leave it’ command once they have sniffed it for a while to begin the training process of them keeping a fair distance from the baby.

When the baby comes home

It is vital that you implement everything you have already taught your dog/ puppy and start as you mean to go.  Your puppy has to understand that it has been trained to take a back seat role in the household and that your baby takes priority.

DO NOT LEAVE THE DOG / PUPPY WITH THE BABY UNSUPERVISED AT ANY TIME - No matter how good your dog / puppy is with the baby it is important that safety precautions are taken at all times.