How to Safely Introduce Your Dog to a Newborn Baby
Bringing home a new baby is a joyful time, but it can also be stressful when you have dogs at home. Many families ask me how to safely introduce their dog to a newborn. As both a mom and a professional dog trainer, I’ve lived this experience firsthand with my daughter, Emma, and our dogs.
Below are my tried-and-true tips to make sure the first introduction is calm, safe, and sets the tone for a positive lifelong relationship.
1. Take Your Time
There is no rush to introduce dog to newborn baby. After Emma was born, we waited 10 full days before making the introduction. This gave me time to recover from postpartum preeclampsia, allowed my husband and me to rest, and gave the dogs one-on-one attention to help them feel balanced and calm.
2. Leash and Introduce One Dog at a Time
Avoid the dangerous mistake of putting the car seat on the floor and letting the dogs rush in. Instead:
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Keep your dog on a leash.
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Hold your baby safely in your arms.
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Allow your dog to sniff calmly from a short distance (about a foot away).
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Do not allow face licking, pawing, or jumping.
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Praise calm behavior, then walk your dog away.
Repeat daily until your dog becomes calm and respectful during introductions.
3. Keep Dogs Leashed Around the Baby at First
For the first few months, we never allowed our dogs free access to Emma. They were only near her when we held her, and we kept them leashed to maintain full control.
Once they consistently showed calm, respectful behavior, we allowed off-leash time—but always with boundaries in place.
4. Teach Respect and Boundaries
The goal isn’t just coexistence—it’s teaching your dogs that the baby is important and must be treated with respect.
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No stepping on, pawing, or face-licking.
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Allow limited sniffing or gentle licking of hands/feet only.
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Always supervise interactions.
Over time, our dogs learned that Emma’s safety and comfort came first. Now, they’re calm around her, and she’s growing up with them as loving companions and guardians.
Expert Advice
“Introducing dogs to a newborn should never be rushed. By setting boundaries and advocating for your baby, you not only protect your child—you set your dogs up for success as future playmates and protectors.”
— Amy Pishner, professional dog trainer and ethical breeder advocate
In Summary
Introducing your dog to your newborn baby takes patience, boundaries, and supervision. Don’t risk your baby’s safety for a photo or social media moment. Instead, create calm, structured interactions that build respect and trust.
With time and consistency, your dogs and your baby can grow up together in a safe, happy, and harmonious family environment.
Written by Amy Pishner
About the Author:
Amy Pishner is the Founder of Valor K9 Academy, a veteran-owned dog training company in Boise, Idaho. With over a decade of experience training thousands of dogs, Amy specializes in balanced dog training that builds trust, obedience, and lasting results.