Baby Ready · Ottawa–Gatineau
Your family is growing. There’s room for your dog, too.
New sounds. New routines. A little person to make room for. Help your dog understand what comes next, in the home you’ll all share.
30 days of phone, email, and text support included. Further in-person training requires a pass or pay-as-you-go booking.
Jon holding a newborn.
You love your dog. And a lot is about to change.
The first cry. The car seat at the door. Visitors arriving when your hands are full. You want a plan that works for your dog and your family.
Jon or Nancy works with you at home, before the baby arrives or after you’ve welcomed them. Both trainers teach in English and French.
One new chapter. Three moments to prepare for.
Make room for the changes, then practise them together.
New routines. Familiar surroundings.
Help the changes become familiar before your newborn is here.
- Sounds and equipment
- Practise around baby sounds, the stroller, the car seat and the new things in your home.
- Rooms and boundaries
- Set clear expectations around the couch, nursery and changing space.
- Walks and visitors
- Prepare for stroller walks and calmer greetings at the door.
A plan for coming home.
Know what each adult will do before the first introduction.
- Arriving at the door
- Work through the car seat, the entrance and where your dog will settle.
- Holding the baby
- Practise calm space around an adult whose hands are full.
- Clear adult roles
- Plan supervision and appropriate separation for your household.
Build a rhythm you can live with.
Help your dog find their place as family routines change.
- Feeding and naps
- Give your dog a clear place to relax while you care for the baby.
- Family and visitors
- Keep greetings and boundaries consistent as people come and go.
- Support as you practise
- Use your guide and the included 30 days of phone, email and text support.
A baby and a dog always need active adult supervision and appropriate separation.
In their own words
Two rescue dogs. One new baby.
We have two reactive rescue dogs and a new baby coming. BetterDog helped us safely introduce our newborn to both dogs.
Jon has gone above and beyond to help us with our past dog and our current cane corso. Both were rescues and very fear reactive to people and dogs on walks and when friends and family visit. Now we have made incredible progress and were able to successfully introduce the dogs to our new baby when we brought him home. Walks are much smoother and we can have family and friends over without worry.
Your questions, before we start
- When should we start?
- Before the baby arrives gives everyone time to practise. If the baby is already home, we can still help you build a calmer routine.
- Can you help with a reactive dog?
- Yes. We work with your dog’s reactions, the layout of your home and your family’s concerns to build an introduction plan.
More about this program
BetterDog Baby Ready
Prepare your dog for life with a newborn — calmly, safely, and confidently.
BetterDog helps Ottawa families guide their dog through the biggest change a home can experience: bringing a baby into the pack.
What this program helps with
- ✔Safe first introductions to newborns
- ✔Barking or anxiety around baby sounds
- ✔No jumping when parents hold the baby
- ✔Respecting nursery spaces
- ✔Calm visitor greetings
What the Baby Ready program teaches
Your dog learns
- ✔Calm behaviour around baby sounds and movement
- ✔Respectful distance from bassinets and nursery zones
- ✔No jumping when adults are holding the baby
- ✔Quiet behaviour during feeding and nap time
- ✔Safer greetings when visitors arrive
You learn
- ✔How dogs process sudden change
- ✔How to communicate clearly and calmly
- ✔How to guide your dog back into the Green Zone
- ✔How to build boundaries without rough handling
- ✔How to supervise first introductions safely
How it works
1. In-home prep
We come to your home and help you understand how your dog reads change, stress, movement, and household structure.
2. First introduction plan
You get a calm, step-by-step plan for the first meeting, so nobody is winging it on two hours of sleep.
3. Ongoing support
Babies grow. Dogs notice. Your Life Changer Session includes 30 days of phone, email and text support. Further in-person training requires a pass or pay-as-you-go booking.
Frequently asked questions
When should we start preparing our dog?
Ideally before the baby arrives, so your dog has time to understand the new structure, sounds, and boundaries in a calm way.
Do you use punishment or shock collars?
No. BetterDog focuses on calm leadership, structure, clear emotional communication, and trust-based training.
Can you help after the baby is already home?
Yes. Plenty of families reach out once the change begins. We can still help you settle things down and create a safer routine.
The Life Changer Session
Your home. Your dog. A clear plan.
- 01
Understand together
Jon or Nancy explains how your dog communicates, with your household’s questions in the room.
- 02
Practise at home
We demonstrate, then you practise in the rooms and on the routes you actually use.
- 03
Keep your guide close
Your custom After Session Report brings together the steps from your session. Ready the same day in the app.
$500
Tax-in. One household. Every dog.
About 3 hours. Jon and Nancy are bilingual. Travel included across Ottawa–Gatineau.
- Hands-on practice with your whole household
- After Session Report and BetterDog App
- 30 days of phone, email and text support
30 days of phone, email, and text support included. Further in-person training requires a pass or pay-as-you-go booking.