Dog Meets Baby Blog

Every dog and owner have unique and sometimes subtle ways of communicating with each other. ⁠When you have a baby, it is unavoidable that the unique language you and your dog have developed together will be interrupted. Your dynamic will change.⁠

Pre-baby evening routine

Your dog brings you a toy and barks excitedly! Playtime! Yay!
Followed by snuggles on the couch, your dog’s face and paws in your lap.

Post-baby evening routine

You sit on the couch holding your newborn baby.
Your dog brings the toy over and barks! You tell your dog, “QUIET!” and take the toy away.
Your dog jumps on the couch to get attention, but your lap and hands are unavailable. You tell your dog, “OFF!”


Your dog will try the same behaviors that have worked in the past. When those behaviors don’t work, they may try other ways to get your attention, e.g., by demand barking or being jumpy and pushy. Or extra clingy.

What does it mean?

Many parents interpret these behaviors as their dog being jealous of the...

Many pregnant and new moms (and dads) may be thinking “I resent my dog,” and don’t want to talk about it… But this is something that definitely needs to be discussed. It is normal to feel frustration, guilt, grief, and resentment towards your furry friend when this big change happens in your family.

It’s Normal To Resent Your Dog

Along with pregnancy or becoming a new mom, you are experiencing a lot of changes. This resentment may show up in different forms. For example, you might

• Feel emotions such as guilt, anger, rage, or frustration
• Feel like you are failing your dog and at being a mom to both your dog and newborn
• Be too tired and sleep-deprived to spend time with your dog like you used to
• Not have the energy to play with them or be the one to take them on walks
• Not have as much time to spend with them
• Feel like your dog would be better off if they were with another family

But no matter how you are feeling, it can be tough to navigate these new emotions when your dog u...

After months of waiting, you finally have had the opportunity to introduce your dog to the newest little member of your family. All of the hard work is over, right?

Sadly, there is a whole other side to life with a dog and baby that many people who have always held the title of “dog mom” don’t realize will come into play once that baby arrives!

Dog Mom Guilt

One of the biggest changes, and something that isn’t talked about enough, is the guilt that you may feel once your baby arrives. This goes beyond new baby mom guilt because you now have to figure out how to balance a new baby and dog all at once. For most, this means that your dog, who used to be your baby and your whole world, will start to be left out or won’t get the attention you want to give them.

 The introduction of a baby changes the dynamic that you had, and you have to learn how to be the best mom for your baby and the best dog mom for your dog, all at once. Just remember that you aren’t alone in this! There are so ma...

For many families in the United States, parental leave is considered a luxury. The fact that you have to somehow make everything work while you are still trying to get used to being a new mom is miserable! It takes a toll on many moms in more ways than one. The lack of paternity leave in the U.S. is made even more difficult when you have to not only worry about a newborn but a dog too! I completely understand how you feel. It sucks that you have to simply cross your fingers and hope that everything goes smoothly while you are at work.

If you are struggling with this, here are three tips for when you are trying to juggle baby and dog when your parental leave is over:

1. Make Preparations for Baby and Dog

The more you prepare your dog for the addition of a new family member, the easier it will be! 

One way that you can ease your dog into life with baby is by practicing stroller walks and teaching your dog to walk on a loose leash before the baby is born. Having a well trained dog ...