I have an 11-month-old baby and two large German Shepherds living in the same house. Every single day I am managing three beings who all need my attention — keeping the baby safe from the dogs, keeping the dogs safe from the baby and making sure everyone is happy, fed and loved. It is my biggest challenge and my greatest joy at the same time.
Here is everything I do every day to keep my baby safe around large dogs. Not tips I read in a book but things I actually do with my baby and my two German Shepherds every single morning, afternoon and evening.
The honest truth about large dogs and babies
Before anything else I want to say this clearly — I am not afraid of my dogs. I never have been. I know Júpiter and Pluto better than I know most people. I know their personalities, their moods, what makes them nervous, what makes them happy and how much they love our baby. I trust them completely.
But trust does not mean carelessness. You can trust your dog with your whole heart and still take every precaution available to you. These two things are not in conflict with each other at all. My dogs love our baby deeply — and I still supervise every single interaction, without exception. That is what responsible love looks like when you have babies and large dogs in the same home.
Never leave a baby and a large dog unsupervised — not for two minutes, not to grab something from another room, not while you check your phone. Even the gentlest dog in the world can react unexpectedly in the wrong moment. Being present is the most important safety measure that exists.
What my family said and how I responded
When my baby started becoming more mobile and spending time near the dogs, some family members who are not used to animals got very worried. Be careful. Do not let the baby get too close. They are animals — you never know what can happen.
I understand that perspective completely. If you grew up without animals, a large German Shepherd sitting next to a small baby looks like a risk. The size difference alone is alarming to someone who does not know dogs well.
My response was always the same — I know my dogs, I am always present, and I take every precaution. What I did not do was let other people's fear override my knowledge of my own animals. That said, their concern reminded me to always stay alert and never become complacent just because things have been going well.
Our daily safety routine — what we do every single day
Rule 1 — Always be in the same room
The most fundamental rule in our house is that when the baby and the dogs are in the same space, I am in that space too. Always. No exceptions made for any reason. If I need to leave the room for something, the baby comes with me or the dogs go to another area of the house. This has never been negotiable from the very beginning.
This is not about distrusting my dogs. It is about being a responsible parent and a responsible dog owner simultaneously. Things happen fast — a dog running past, a baby grabbing something unexpected, an accidental collision. Being present means I can respond in the moment before anything escalates.
Rule 2 — Pick up all dog toys before floor time
When my baby is going to be on the floor, the first thing I do before he goes down is pick up every single dog toy in the area. Balls, ropes, chews, anything Pluto has left on the floor — it all goes up high before the baby hits the ground. This one step eliminates a huge number of potential problems at once.
Without this step my baby would immediately crawl to every dog toy he found and put it in his mouth. Pluto would want his ball back. Conflict and chaos would follow. With the toys picked up, the baby can explore the floor freely and the dogs are not trying to retrieve things from his hands.
This one step takes thirty seconds and prevents so many problems. Dog toys on the floor during baby floor time means dog toys in the baby's mouth. It also means dogs hovering over the baby trying to get their toys back. Pick everything up first. Always.
Rule 3 — Manage the running problem
Two large German Shepherds running through the house do not slow down for a baby on the floor. When Júpiter and Pluto get excited — someone at the door, a noise outside, playing with each other — they run fast and they do not always see a small baby at floor level as an obstacle in their path.
I manage this by keeping the dogs calmer during baby floor time, making sure they have had exercise before the baby's floor play sessions and keeping the baby in a space that is not in the main running path of the house. I also redirect the dogs before they get to full running mode when the baby is on the floor.
Rule 4 — Teach gentle touching from day one
Every single time my baby reaches for a dog I guide his hand gently and say soft. Every time he tries to grab fur or a tail I redirect him and show him how to pet gently. Every time he approaches a dog's face I guide him away from the face and toward the back or side.
My baby is 11 months old and he is already responding to this. Repetition builds habits and babies absorb everything at this age. Starting this teaching now means that by the time he is a toddler he will already have the foundation of understanding how to treat the dogs with respect and gentleness.
Rule 5 — Move dog food and water bowls during crawling time
Dog food and water bowls at floor level are irresistible to a crawling baby. The moment my baby discovered the water bowl he made a beeline for it every single time he saw it. Now during the times the baby is freely crawling, the bowls are moved to a different location or placed up higher. The dogs eat at set times and then the bowls come up until the baby is contained again.
Dog food is not safe for babies to eat and the water bowl is a drowning hazard in addition to a hygiene concern. This is a small daily adjustment that eliminates a real risk every time.
Rule 6 — Know and respect your dog's signals
Every dog communicates when they have had enough of something. Learning to read your specific dog's signals is one of the most important safety skills you can develop as a dog and baby parent. For Júpiter the signal is subtle — he becomes very still and his gaze becomes more focused and less relaxed. For Pluto it is simpler — he just stands up and walks away from whatever is bothering him.
When I see either of these signals I immediately intervene. I move the baby away from the dog, give the dog space to move away comfortably and redirect the situation. A dog that can always remove itself from an uncomfortable situation is a much safer dog than one that feels trapped with no exit. Always make sure your dog has a way out.
Rule 7 — Give the dogs their own space
Júpiter and Pluto have areas in our home that are theirs. Spaces where the baby does not go, where they can rest and decompress without being approached or bothered. This is not just good for safety — it is essential for the dogs' wellbeing and mental health.
A dog that always has access to its own retreat space is a dog that never feels cornered or forced into a situation it cannot escape. This reduces stress for the dogs and makes them more relaxed and patient in the shared spaces of the house.
What I worry about vs what actually happens
Before my baby started crawling I worried about everything — the dogs hurting him accidentally, him grabbing something dangerous, the dogs running him over. What I have found in reality is that the things I worried about most have been manageable with the right daily habits. The real challenges were the things I did not think about — like the dog water bowl being an obsession for the baby, or Pluto dropping his ball directly next to the baby's face hoping for a throw.
The dogs have been gentler with the baby than I expected. Júpiter is extraordinarily patient and aware of the baby's presence. Pluto is careful in a different way — he is so excited about the baby throwing his ball that he manages his own excitement pretty well just to keep the game going.
✅ Always stay in the same room — no exceptions · ✅ Pick up all dog toys before floor time · ✅ Manage running and excitement levels during baby floor time · ✅ Teach gentle touching every single day · ✅ Move dog food and water bowls during free crawling · ✅ Read and respect your dog's signals immediately · ✅ Give dogs their own retreat space · ✅ Never leave them unsupervised for any reason
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🐾 Written by Júpiter & Pluto's mom — real daily experience keeping a baby safe with two large German Shepherds. Every dog and baby is different — always supervise and consult a professional trainer or your vet if you have concerns.