Many owners hope their dog will behave when a new baby comes home from the hospital, but in reality you need to prepare your pet that a big change is coming.
During those nine months, the most important thing you need to do is establish or re-establish yourself as the one and only pack leader.
The dog needs to learn to be submissive, and in case you need professional help, hire a dog trainer to prepare your dog for the arrival of the new baby.
Before the baby comes home from the hospital, bring one of the baby’s items home and introduce the dog to the baby’s scent. Hold the item in your hand and let the dog sniff it. Don’t give the pooch the item and simply take it away when finished. You’ll let the dog know it’s there but not available at all times. Only when you allow it.
As far as the nursery goes, train your dog not to go in there without your permission. The dog needs to learn that some things are off limits and you decide what will be allowed and when. When you let the dog inside the nursery, limit the time spent in there, instructing the dog to leave when the time is up.
When actually introducing the dog to the baby, the dog has to be able to sniff the baby, but from a distance. The person holding the baby needs to be calm as to not agitate the dog. In any case, being calm will signal to the dog that everything is perfectly fine and will stay that way.