Introduction
It’s common for dogs to exhibit protective behaviors around babies. Dogs have an instinct to guard and watch over new pack members. When a human baby arrives in the home, the dog’s natural instincts kick in to nurture, protect and care for the vulnerable new family member. Dogs will often closely watch over a baby, position themselves between the baby and any perceived threats, and even growl as a warning if they sense potential danger. Their strong pack mentality means they view the baby as part of their family unit. Understanding the origin of these protective behaviors can help owners manage them properly.
Pack Mentality
Dogs are pack animals by nature. In the wild, wolves live in family packs consisting of an alpha male and female, their offspring, and other related adults. The pack works together to hunt, raise young, and defend their territory. Domestic dogs still retain this pack mentality.
When you bring home a new baby, your dog sees the baby as the newest member of their pack. Their innate instincts kick in to protect the vulnerable new pup. They know their duty is to alert the rest of the pack (you) of any potential dangers to the baby. Your dog may become more protective and territorial, barking at unknown people or animals approaching you when you go on walks.
To your dog, keeping the baby safe and happy is part of being a good pack member. Their protective behavior comes from a place of love. With proper training and socialization, you can teach your dog how to channel those instincts in a positive way.
New Scent
Babies have a new, unfamiliar scent that dogs want to investigate. Dogs primarily experience the world through their sense of smell, so a new baby in the house introduces many new odors for a dog to take in and process. Some of the new smells include the baby’s breath, sweat, saliva, skin oils, and dirty diapers1. These novel scents pique a dog’s natural curiosity. As pack animals, dogs want to sniff a new pack member and gather information about them.
Allowing your dog to carefully smell items like blankets or clothing the baby has used can help satisfy their interest and begin forming positive associations with the baby’s odor. However, always supervise initial introductions and do not allow dogs to put items like hats or pacifiers in their mouths, which could transmit germs between the baby and pet2. With time and positive reinforcement training, a dog can learn appropriate ways to interact with the newest family member.
Small Size
Because babies are so tiny in size compared to adults, they can trigger a dog’s natural protective instincts for smaller, more vulnerable pack members [1]. A baby’s small size, unsteady movements, and high-pitched vocalizations are all signals to a dog that this is a weak member of the pack that requires protection.
Dogs have an inherited instinct to be gentle with and guard weaker pack members. Since babies are fragile and unable to defend themselves, a dog’s protective response is to treat them as vulnerable and keep them safe from harm [2]. This is likely an adaptive trait to ensure the survival of offspring in wild canine packs.
The baby’s tiny size relative to adult humans and the dog contrasts with the dog’s large size advantage. This size difference can bring out the dog’s natural guarding behavior to protect the smaller vulnerable pack member.
Jealousy
Dogs often thrive on being the center of their owner’s attention. The sudden arrival of a new baby can shift a great deal of focus away from your dog and onto caring for the baby. This shift in attention can potentially cause jealousy in dogs who were previously used to being the primary focus.
Dogs may start acting out in an attempt to regain attention from their owners. Common jealous behaviors include excessive barking, urinating indoors, chewing on household items, or pushing the baby away. According to the BC SPCA, this is not necessarily a sign of aggression, but rather a dog’s way of communicating that they feel anxious or unsure about the new family member (BC SPCA).
To reduce jealousy, the Wag Walking experts recommend reserving special one-on-one time with your dog each day. Provide plenty of positive reinforcement when your dog interacts gently with the baby. And consider engaging in training exercises that reinforce listening skills and impulse control. This helps ensure your dog continues to feel valued and reassured within a changing family dynamic (Wag Walking).
Training
Well-trained dogs have stronger protective instincts around babies.[1] Basic obedience training is essential for a dog to properly protect a child. The dog should respond reliably to commands like “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “down.” More advanced training can reinforce protective behaviors. For example, the owner can reward the dog for barking at strangers who approach the baby.[2] The goal is to encourage protective instincts while maintaining control over the dog’s reactions.
It’s crucial not to punish growling around the baby, as this may unintentionally suppress protective signals.[3] Any training should focus on control and building a bond, not aggression. Owners should only attempt protection training if the dog shows natural guarding tendencies.
Parental Instincts
Dogs, especially females, have strong maternal instincts to care for their young puppies. According to petreleaf.com, female dogs undergo hormonal changes during pregnancy and after giving birth that activate their maternal nurturing behaviors. These can include nesting, grooming, nursing, and protecting the puppies. Female dogs will keenly watch over the puppies, keeping them warm and safe. Some mother dogs may even growl at the puppy’s father or human owners if they get too close to the puppies.
Male dogs generally do not have as strong paternal instincts, but they can still exhibit some nurturing behaviors towards puppies. According to WisdomPanel.com, male dogs that are familiar with the pregnant female may show interest in the puppies and even play with and watch over them. However, males are not driven by the same hormonal changes that activate females’ maternal behaviors, so their paternal instincts will be weaker.
In summary, dogs, especially female dogs, demonstrate strong parental instincts and nurturing behaviors towards their puppies.
Bonds Forming
As a baby grows and develops, a dog who lives in the same home has many opportunities to bond with the child. According to the ASPCA, “As your baby becomes more active, the dog will likely want to play with him and both should enjoy that if supervised.” Dogs can form connections with human babies because they spend so much time together interacting and playing as the child grows. It’s important to supervise their time together, but regular, positive interactions will strengthen the bond between them.
The American Kennel Club explains that for dogs and babies who grow up together, their relationship “deepens into an enduring friendly partnership.” Providing safe opportunities for your dog and baby to interact and get to know each other will help them form a close companionship. However, it’s still critical to watch them closely since babies can unintentionally harm pets, and some dogs may react negatively to unaware grabbing or poking by a young child.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several key reasons why dogs often become protective of babies in the household.
The main reasons are the dog’s pack mentality, the new and unfamiliar baby scent, the baby’s small size, potential jealousy issues, and the dog’s innate parental instincts. Proper training and bonding time with the dog can help manage this behavior.
The takeaway is that this protectiveness generally comes from a place of love and loyalty in the dog. While boundaries and training are still needed, it shows the dog views itself as part of the human pack and now sees the baby as a vulnerable new pack member to watch over. With patience and care, the dog and baby relationship can grow into a special bond.
References
Casella, Melissa. “Is your dog protective of your baby? Here’s why.” American Kennel Club, 13 Aug. 2020, www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/dog-protective-of-baby/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
Coren, Stanley. “Why Dogs Are So Protective of Their Owners.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 11 Dec. 2012, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201212/why-dogs-are-so-protective-their-owners. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
Dodman, Nicholas. “Protecting babies from family dogs.” VetStreet, UBM Medica, 15 May 2014, www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/protecting-babies-from-family-dogs. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff. “Why dogs are so protective of children.” PetMD, www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/evr_dg_why_dogs_are_protective_of_children. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.