Managing your dog with a new baby at home

Last Updated: October 2022

Last updated: October 2025

Bringing home a new baby is a wonderful experience and you want everything to go as smoothly as possible with your dog. Here is a little list of some things that you can do which will really help make the transition simple and straight forward.

1. Be the pack leader

Being the pack leader is the single most powerful thing that you can do for your dog. It takes away the job of making decisions from your dog and instead lets them relax. Dealing with a calm dog is always so much easier. When you bring home a new baby you are going to show your dog exactly how you want them to behave. This is going to be tricky if your dog thinks that they are in charge. Babies do not turn up over night so you always have plenty of time to practice and get your house in order before baby actually turns up! Read more about being the Pack Leader here. There are 5 Golden Rules to becoming the Pack leader – read more here.

2. The walk

Being able to walk your dog whilst pushing the buggy is a wonderful experience. First though you need to be able to walk your dog on the leash and then you need to get them used to the buggy or pram. This is something that you can practice before the baby is actually home. In fact it’s actually advisable that you do it this way so you are not concerned over your babies well being during the training phase and you can relax and have some fun! Only put your baby into the pram when you are happy that your dog can walk nicely next to it. One fantastic use of the pram is to use it as a way of blocking your dog from pulling in front of you. I actually find it easier to walk dogs with a buggy than without one! Once they get the idea they will be quite happy to trot along behind the “strange animal with 4 wheels”. More on the walk can be found here.

3. Exercise your dog

Before you actually let your dog meet your new baby there are a few things to do. One is to take your dog out for a long run. The last thing you want is a dog bouncing off the walls with too much energy when they are being introduced to your new born. A tired, well-exercised dog is nearly always a happier, easier dog to control.

4. Use a lead

The second thing to consider is keeping your dog on a lead the first time. If your dog is the sort of dog who is very curious, excitable, jumpy or nosey or you have any reservations about how they may react then consider keeping them on a lead until you are sure that they are calm enough. Only let them closer as they learn to calm down. You are best to have two people present, one to keep hold of your dog and one to hold onto the baby, or place the baby in a cot or bed. Eventually it’s good if the dog is able to sniff the baby but only if your dog is calm and relaxed, which may take some time. More tips on using the leash here.

5. Calm

Silent and calm is how you should be when doing the introduction. Remember you are trying to assist your dog in being as relaxed as possible, so be that way yourself. This is not a time for getting all excited, quite the opposite, be still and at peace and your dog will follow your lead. The more that your dog learns that you are always calm around the baby the more that they will associate the baby with calming down (and visa versa). Learn how to get your dog to stay calm and listen to you when it matters most here!

6. A blanket to smell

If you do not wish your dog to get too close to your baby then you can always let them get to “know” them via the smell of a blanket or piece of clothing that they have worn. This way they can get learn the scent of your new baby from a distance. Read more about keeping children safe around dogs.

Bringing home a new baby is one of the most amazing, rewarding, difficult, time consuming, joyous, emotional moments of your life. To fully experience and enjoy it, you don't want your dog becoming a problem. You'll be doing plenty of problem-solving already! 🙂

Find out more here: If you're worried about how your dog is going to react when you bring your new baby home I encourage you to check out my program, The Dog Calming Code here! Or, if you have a puppy, get started with my Puppy Coach training program first!

Enjoy your new family…

Cheers,

Doggy Dan

Doggy Dan stands out through his “five golden rules” that focus on canine psychology rather than repetitive drills or force. Unlike traditional trainers, he teaches owners to become the “calm leader” their dogs need. Over the last two decades, his methods have helped transform over 136,934 dogs worldwide. As the founder of TheOnlineDogTrainer.com blog and podcast and creator of the Dog Calming Code™, he has become a trusted voice in dog psychology and training. His philosophy is simple: reactive dogs don’t need punishment or endless treats. They need a leader they can trust.

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 21 September 2026
 
 
 
 
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 17 September 2026
 
 
 
 
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 15 September 2026
 
 
 
 
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I started. The course 3/4 weeks ago. As Dan says you have to work on things if you get stuck. I have a Staffordshire x cane corso who is now six months old. She is very intelligent but sometimes she just doesn’t listen. Doing the five codes I’m finding it’s going pretty well except trying to get her calm so I am persevering with it again with my own space. I have a trainer call shortly which I will ask for advice on this. It’s great also that you can ask anything you’re not sure of on line. It’s so great to have someone there to help. I’m looking forward to having a relaxed girl instead of hyper most of the time as she gets so excited about almost everything. I would truly recommend doggy Dan and just wished I would have come across him much earlier. Thanks again for everything so far.
     
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 12 September 2026
 
 
 
 
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 9 September 2026
 
 
 
 
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 8 September 2026
 
 
 
 
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 8 September 2026
 
 
 
 
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 31 August 2026
 
 
 
 
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 18 August 2026
 
 
 
 
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 16 August 2026
 
 
 
 
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 13 July 2026
 
 
 
 
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 11 July 2026
 
 
 
 
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For three years, I tried every treat-based method and expensive course to stop my large, powerful male dog from pulling on the leash, barking, and stressing out when his energy got too high on our walks. (So while he is a farm dog who enjoys total freedom off-leash on our farm most of the day, on-leash in the city, he totally lost it). He was practically hanging from the leash, two feet in the air (almost strangling himself), always demanding to walk in front and make all the decisions. Absolutely nothing worked—until I found Doggy Dan! 🏆 After just a couple of weeks implementing The 5 Golden Rules, the transformation is absolutely mind-blowing!!! By focusing on connection and calm leadership rather than rigid commands, my dog has FINALLY reconnected with his natural calmness (that has actually always been there inside him) ❤️❤️ When we walk through town now, I look down at my dog walking in a perfect "heel." The leash hangs completely loose, and that loose leash really says it all 👍👍👍 He does not pull, bark, or growl AT ALL when other dogs bark at him!😱 Yes, he looks at them and is interested, but he remains completely calm. We pass shouting people, groups of kids on scooters, and dogs barking aggressively behind gates—he is interested, but he remains entirely unfazed. Just yesterday, we stopped in front of a fence with chickens walking in a garden, and he just stood there watching curiously, staying completely still. And as we walked across a large, grassy schoolyard, we suddenly crossed paths with two rabbits—when I told him to, he immediately sat down. Of course, he was highly interested, but he sat completely, utterly still! I constantly find myself thinking: This can NOT be my dog, LOL! 🐇🐓 Dan refers to himself as a dog trainer, but in my humble opinion he is a dog philosopher. The course is incredibly generous, filled with hundreds of real-life videos from every situation imaginable, offering a massive toolkit for an amazing price. I am so excited to continue this course, so happy about the progress, and so looking forward to the future with this beloved dog of mine. I HIGHLY recommend it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
     
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 8 July 2026
 
 
 
 
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 4 July 2026
 
 
 
 
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 2 July 2026
 
 
 
 
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 2 July 2026
 
 
 
 
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We have adopted a Poodle and he us very high energy,  anxious and insecure. I joined the online program after I watched the free online webinar about the 5 Golden Rules. While watching the webinar all 3 of my dogs ran off barking... I calmly called out "thank you" and they all came back to me.. from that moment I was hooked. I love the fact that we use minimal sound in this technique as I can become anxious and unsure in my tone. I have seen results with the new Poodle and I am exited about our future. Thanks Doggy Dan, you are a gem 👌🐾🐾🐾
     
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 22 June 2026