Dog Smart Program
Dog Smart Program at UVM Health
The Dog Smart Program is designed to prioritize safety — for your children, from newborns through toddlers, and for dogs within your family and community. The Trauma Center at University of Vermont Health - UVM Medical Center has seen an increase in severe dog bites to children under the age of four in recent years.
The Dog Smart program provides resources to help you prepare yourself and your dog for the transition of having babies and kids in your home. It provides guidelines you can teach children while they are young. This can help the children and dogs avoid dangerous situations.
While all dogs have the potential to bite, many bites can be prevented through active supervision, appropriate separation and ensuring your dog’s needs are met.
If you are a professional, please check out the Dog Smart Toolkit. This toolkit is designed for a variety of professions, such as medical professionals, veterinary professionals, animal behavioral consultants, trainers, shelter staff, rescue volunteers, librarians, teachers, and more.
See the Downloadable Materials section, below, to view and print hardcopies of the Dog-Smart Coloring Book, Dog-Smart Bookmarks, Dogs & Babies Flyer and Dog-Smart Kid Quiz Flyer. If you cannot print your own, copies are available by contacting VTSafeKids@UVMHealth.org.
Planning for a Baby's Arrival with a Dog
Preparing for the arrival of your new baby is an exciting and busy time. There are so many changes that will come before and after your baby’s arrival — setting up the nursery, bringing baby equipment and supplies into the home, getting up during the night, lots of visitors, lack of sleep and providing around the clock care to your newborn.
While you understand the reason for the changes to your normal pre-baby household routine, your dog does not. Your dog will need your help and guidance adjusting to new routines. Preparing ahead of time by including some of the changes into your routine can make the transition smoother for everyone, especially your dog. This way your dog can learn and become comfortable with what they need to know before baby arrives!
Pre-Baby Preparation & Training Tips
View our most important pre-baby preparation and training tips below. If these basic tips don’t help, consider reaching out to your veterinarian or a trainer for help. Your future self (and your dog) will be glad you addressed this before the baby arrives.
Once your baby arrives, your dog should still be included in family activities. However, your dog should no longer have unrestricted access to what is now the baby’s nursery or other areas where baby will be unless you are with the dog and you or another adult are actively supervising both the baby and the dog.
- Set up easy-to-use walk-through baby gates, play pens or barriers in the home that will allow your dog to see you and hear you, rest on a bed, play with toys and relax in comfy areas without feeling isolated or punished. Most people don’t think about gates until their child is beginning to be mobile, but they can be essential to keep your dog and non-mobile infant safely separated.
- Gates may initially stress your dog, especially if they're used to being close to you. Installing them early will allow you to gradually help your dog adjust to this new routine before the baby arrives.
- There are many gate types including ones that swing completely out of the way as well as retractable gates. Whatever gate you choose, it must be sturdy, dog and child-proof, easily opened and securely shut. For gates at the top of stairs, be sure it can be installed using hardware into the wall. Tension-style gates are not safe for the top of stairs.
- Make short separation sessions part of your everyday routine and provide food stuffed puzzle toys and other enrichment activities gradually increase durations of the separation.
- Make sure the nursery door shuts solidly and cannot be opened by the dog.
- If your dog is used to sleeping in your bed, you may need to create a new sleep area for your dog such as a crate, bed or having them sleep in a different room.
- If your dog is used to riding loose in the backseat, you will need a way to safely separate a baby in a car seat from the dog. Ways to achieve this could be a crate or barrier if the car has a back cargo area or a seatbelt harness. Figuring this out before the baby arrives and working with your dog will decrease your dog’s and your stress level.
It is really important to include your dog in family time when you can actively supervise both your baby and your dog. Create a safe space for your baby and a comfy place for your dog to relax.
- If your dog is used to getting on the couch or your lap, teaching them a cue such as “go to your mat” or “go to your dog bed” will help once the baby is here and needs to be attended to in a safe space.
- Introduce a “special occasion” chew toy, so your dog can learn to lie on their bed/mat near you and be happily occupied, but not on your lap (where your baby will eventually be).
- Praise your dog while they are doing this, whether you asked them to get on their mat or if they just volunteered to do so. You can also provide small treats as rewards along with their favorite chew toy.
Your dog’s health is critical to his well-being and ability to adjust to the new family structure. Before your baby arrives, make sure your dog receives necessary veterinary care, including wellness exams, treatment for any illnesses or existing health conditions, recommended vaccines and appropriate preventive medication.
- If your dog tends to jump, bark, push or try to dash out the door when visitors arrive or when you return home, now is the time to teach alternative behaviors, such as sitting, going to a mat or fetching a toy.
- Consider installing gates near entryways to keep your dog safely away from the door.
- Your dog should be able to consistently follow commands like sit, wait, stay and come for safety and guidance.
- Practice loose-leash walking, especially if you plan to walk your dog alongside a stroller or while carrying your baby.
- Incorporate a few minutes of training into your daily routine to make these exercises fun, predictable and rewarding for your dog.
Your dog’s exercise, walking and attention routines will likely shift once the baby arrives. Start adjusting their schedule now to something more manageable, considering potential help like a dog walker or doggy daycare if needed. This will help ease the transition for both you and your dog.
