The moment I put my baby on the floor for the first time with Júpiter and Pluto around — I held my breath. Not because I was afraid my dogs would hurt him. I knew my dogs. I knew they loved this baby before he was even born. What scared me was everything else — the baby grabbing a tail, putting a dog toy in his mouth, getting knocked over by two large dogs running through the house.
What actually happened was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. Here is our real story.
The first time the baby hit the floor
When my baby started crawling he wanted to explore everything. The moment I put him on the floor, Júpiter and Pluto came over immediately. They sniffed him carefully, slowly, like they were doing an official inspection. Then they both lay down right next to him.
My baby looked at them with the biggest eyes. Then he started crawling toward Júpiter. Júpiter did not move. He just stayed completely still and let the baby come to him — calm, steady, watching every move. The protector doing what he does best.
Pluto's reaction was completely different. The moment the baby started crawling toward him, Pluto stood up and slowly backed away. Pluto is shy by nature and a tiny human crawling at him at full speed was apparently terrifying. He would sniff the baby from a safe distance and then retreat. The baby was scary to Pluto — which is hilarious given that Pluto is a large German Shepherd and the baby was tiny.
Eventually Pluto figured out something important — the baby throws things. Once my baby started sitting up and tossing Pluto's ball across the floor, Pluto decided the baby was actually the best person in the house. Now Pluto brings his ball to the baby every single day. They have their own game going.
My real fears — and what actually happened
My fears when the baby started crawling were very specific. I was not afraid my dogs would be aggressive. I knew better than that. What I was genuinely worried about:
- The baby grabbing a dog tail and pulling hard
- The baby finding Pluto's balls on the floor and putting them in his mouth
- Júpiter or Pluto running through the house at full speed and knocking the baby over
- The baby crawling into the dogs' food or water bowls
Some of these things happened. My baby absolutely found Pluto's balls on the floor and yes — straight to the mouth. I learned quickly to keep the dog toys picked up during floor time. The running was also real — two large German Shepherds do not always slow down when they are excited and a crawling baby on the floor is right in their path.
But the tail pulling? My dogs handled it with more grace than I expected. The moment the baby grabbed a tail, the dog would simply stand up and walk away. No aggression, no growling, just — no thank you, I am leaving now.
Júpiter — the protector who never leaves his post
From the very first day the baby was on the floor, Júpiter positioned himself as the guardian. He does not play with the baby the way Pluto does. He watches. He analyzes the situation. He is always nearby, always paying attention, always aware of where the baby is and what is happening around him.
Júpiter has figured out that when we get the camera out for the baby's monthly photos, he needs to be in the picture. He just walks over and sits next to the baby and gets into position. Every single month. He takes his role as big brother and family protector very seriously — and apparently this includes photo sessions.
Every month I take photos of my baby to document his growth. Júpiter now recognizes the camera and positions himself next to the baby automatically. He sits there perfectly still like he knows exactly what he is doing. And honestly — he probably does.
Pluto — scared of the baby, in love with the baby
Pluto's journey with the crawling baby has been the funniest thing to watch. He started out genuinely scared — backing away every time the baby crawled toward him, watching from a safe distance, clearly not sure what this small crawling human was going to do next.
Then the baby discovered Pluto's ball. And everything changed. My baby would see a ball on the floor, crawl over to it, sit up and fling it across the room. Pluto — who lives for his ball — realized immediately that this small human was actually useful. Now Pluto brings his ball directly to the baby and waits. The baby throws it. Pluto brings it back. They have a whole game going that nobody taught them.
What nobody tells you about babies and large dogs on the floor
Having a crawling baby and two large German Shepherds in the same space is genuinely chaotic. Things nobody told me:
- Dog toys will always end up in the baby's hands — accept this and just wash everything constantly
- Large dogs running at full speed do not see a baby on the floor as an obstacle — you have to manage the space
- The baby will try to eat dog food if they get to the bowl — keep it out of reach during crawling time
- Dogs shed and babies on the floor will always have dog hair on them — this is just life now
- The baby does not care about the dog hair at all — only you do
When the baby is on the floor, pick up all dog toys first. This one step eliminates so many problems. Keep the dog balls, chews and toys up high during crawling time. The dogs will survive without their toys for an hour. Your sanity will thank you.
What my family said — and why I made my own decision
When my baby started crawling around the dogs, some of my family members who are not used to animals got worried. Be careful. Do not let the baby get too close. They are animals — you never know.
I understood their concern. If you did not grow up with animals, large dogs near a small baby can look scary. But I know my dogs. I know that Júpiter has loved this baby since he was in my belly. I know that Pluto is too shy and gentle to ever hurt anyone. I know that both of them would protect this baby before they would ever harm him.
That said — I am always present. I am always watching. I am always in the same room. I am careful, I am observant and I take every precaution. Trusting your dog does not mean being careless. It means knowing your dog well enough to trust them while staying alert.
✅ Dogs react to crawling babies differently — know your dog's personality · ✅ Pick up dog toys before floor time · ✅ Always be present and watching · ✅ Large dogs running indoors can knock a baby over — manage the space · ✅ Your dogs will surprise you with their gentleness · ✅ The bond they form is worth every chaotic moment
🐾 You might also like
🐾 Written by Júpiter & Pluto's mom — real experience with a crawling baby and two large German Shepherds. Every dog and baby is different — always supervise interactions and never leave them unsupervised.