My friend had had these dogs for over 7 years and was in a desperate position. While she loved them very much, she simply could not manage their behavior towards her 18 month old baby any longer. If your dog is not well trained or is a little rusty on basic commands then get her signed up for training classes as soon as possible. If you can not trust your dog to stay in a sit or a down without a baby in the house then chances are you will have no control over her when your baby comes home. 2. Use a crate to create a safe place for your dog. If your dog is not crate trained then this is the time to get her acclimated to one. Crates should never be in your bedroom or the baby’s bedroom and should contain comfortable bedding. Think of a crate as an indoor dog house or a place where your dog can go to rest and relax. When the baby comes home you should be able to tell your dog to go to her crate whenever you and the baby need time and space without having to worry about doggie interference. Your dog might also appreciate a toy and a soft bed in her crate far, far away from the crying baby!

3. Practice by getting your dog used to a doll. Work on setting boundaries between your dog and the fake baby. With practice you should get to the point where you can place the doll on the floor and tell your dog no and she will not go over to investigate.

Make sure that the dog is close enough to smell it (in the room should suffice) and try placing the fake baby on the floor again to test the boundaries and allow your dog to have a preview of the new baby’s smell.

In addition to these tips, be patient with your dog. If you start early and commit to consistently working with her your chances of a happy homecoming will increase dramatically. Learn more at pet-super-store a site featuring training collars, pet crates and petsafe radio fence.