The day has finally arrived, and you head off to the hospital for the birth of your baby. Hopefully, you've spent the last few months preparing the dog for the baby's arrival. Even if you haven't thought of it before now, there are several things you can do to make the introduction between your dog and newborn go smoothly.

Bring Home Baby's Blanket

After your baby is born, but before bringing him home from the hospital, bring home a blanket or article of clothing the baby has been wrapped in.

Allow your dog to sniff and explore the blanket at his own pace. By the time you bring your newborn home, your dog should be somewhat familiar with his scent.

Bring Baby in While the Dog is Outside

Chances are your dog is going to be overly excited when you walk through the door with the new baby. Aside from the new bundle of unfamiliar smells and sounds is the fact that he probably hasn't seen "mom" for at least a day or so. He's bound to be excited when you walk through the door. Try having someone get to your home before you get there. Have them take the dog out for a long walk or playtime so he can burn off some excess energy. Wait until you and baby are settled comfortably before you bring your dog in to welcome the new arrival.

Allow the Dog to Say Hello to Mom First

Before bringing the dog into the same room as the baby, allow him to have some time to say hello to the new mother first. If the new mom walks in holding the baby, an excited dog may jump up to say hello. The first reaction may be to scold the dog for fear of him harming the newborn.

This can start the introductions off on the wrong foot. Instead, allow your dog to greet you before bringing the baby into the mix.

Keep Control of the Dog

For the initial meeting between the dog and baby, one person should hold the baby while the other has control of the dog. Keep the dog on leash while you bring him over to say hello. Don't force the dog to approach the baby, but be sure to give him lots of praise and encouragement for approaching calmly.

Tell Your Dog What You Want

Instead of waiting to see if your dog is going to try to jump up or greet the baby too exuberantly or with aggression, let him know how you expect him to behave. As your dog approaches the new baby, give him a command, such as "down" or "sit." Reward him with praise or treats for doing as he's told. Often, all your dog needs is some direction from you to learn how to be well-behaved around an infant.

Don't Punish or Scold

If your dog reacts too exuberantly when he's first introduced to the new baby, try to resist the temptation to scold him or to give him a leash correction. You don't want your dog to associate the baby with anything negative. Instead, use some treats to lure him away from the baby, give him some attention and some time to calm down, and then bring him back to try again.

Reward Good Behavior

You may want to keep some treats on hand for the first few days or so after bringing baby home. Try to remember to give your dog some treats and praise any time he is remaining calm and well-behaved when the baby is nearby. This will teach your dog that having the baby around means good things happen for him.

Maintain Your Dog's Schedule

One of the reasons many dogs behave badly when a new baby is brought home is because they get stressed at all the changes taking place in the house. You can go a long way in reducing your dog's stress simply by sticking to his regular schedule. Try to make sure he gets fed and walked at the same times he always did before the baby came home. It can be tough when you're trying to juggle your dog's schedule with that of a newborn, but it will be well worth the effort when your dog and baby develop a positive relationship.

Never Leave Dog and Baby Unsupervised

This point cannot be stated strongly enough. Don't put your baby and your dog in a bad position by leaving them alone together. Accidents can happen even with the most well-behaved dogs. Prevent mishaps by never leaving your baby unattended in a room with the dog.