To help prepare for this scenario, the following steps will help you avoid potential problems when faced with a jealous puppy and a newborn baby:

1. When you bring home a new baby, you need to have the dog used to having the baby around, so that he does not mistake it for a toy. You can start preparing ahead of time before your baby is born by going through your daily routine with a toy doll. Take time each day to pretend to change the doll’s diaper as if it were a real baby so that you can practice teaching your dog commands in front of the “baby” such as sit and stay. Also, place the doll lying down as if you were going to give it a nap each day (like you will have your baby do) and allow your dog to be in the same room, but make sure he obeys you and stays away.

2. Get your puppy used to being around toddlers and children by taking him to a playground or other public area that has children visiting often. Be sure to keep him on a leash, but allow enough room to walk around, at least 6 feet. Kindly let the other children pet your dog slowly so that he can understand that the kids are friendly. This will help to reduce any tension or aggression your puppy might feel when you bring home the baby.

3. If you are making an attempt to socialize your puppy with small children as suggested in step two above, but he is showing aggression, then you should contact a professional who specializes in dog behavior. Some dogs may need a some specialized dog training techniques to relieve this tension that is caused by young toddlers and children.

4. Several weeks before the baby is due, prepare the baby’s room with all of the baby furniture and accessories that will remain in the house, especially the baby’s crib. Allow your puppy to be in and out of the room under your supervision and be sure that he sniffs all of the items that you are bringing into the house for the baby. Watch him closely as he sniffs at the crib. Should the puppy try to paw at the crib then be sure to say “NO!” and teach them to back away and respect your command.

Children must always understand that a dog, especially a puppy, is not a toy, a doll or teddy bear. Children love being cuddled and hugged, kissed and carried around but they also know that at times they can become grumpy and irritable when adults fuss them too much. Well a dog is exactly the same they do not want to be disturbed when eating or resting or sleeping but they cannot say ‘go away’ or cry, they get grumpy and may snap at the offender.

Adults must be aware that young children may unwittingly encourage puppies to chase them often leading to play biting, the puppy sees the child as one of its own and in the excitement of play an injury can occur, so therefore always adult supervision. However older children and even adults can be guilty of over-stimulating an excitable puppy one minute and then telling it off for the same thing a minute later and even worse hitting it the next! Adults should avoid and definitely should not let children play aggressive rough games with any puppy as this may result in a dog with aggression and behavior problems later on. Likewise taunting or making a puppy jealous can have serious implications in an adult dog, which remembering its puppy days can misjudge a situation and react in the wrong way.

Children should be encouraged to ignore a puppy unless it comes to them for attention. If they want to play with the dog, it should, by name, be invited to go to them. Just as humans dislike close face-to-face interaction so do puppies so again children must learn not to push their faces into the dogs, or risk a painful nip! Children should also be encouraged to put their toys, clothes, shoes etc. out of the reach of a puppy, preventing the temptation for the puppy to claim items as it’s own; this solves two possible problems, a child trying to pull away items from a dog and also the possibility of pup swallowing an item leading to a painful (for the dog and the adults purse) trip to a vets.

The most important lesson though is to teach respect for a living animal. Children must understand the need to give a dog space, let them have quiet time and then when together to be quiet and gentle with one another. The same rules really apply with children’s interaction with one another. Living with dogs will enrich their lives as long as they learn to understand canine language. Caring for dogs encourages responsibility and develops empathy; there are so many positives providing a responsible adult has trained the dog and the child in the correct ways of living together.