The key to getting your dog and child to get along? Plan ahead! Follow our step-by-step guide to introducing your pet to your newborn, starting with what you can do to ease the transition during pregnancy. For many couples, a dog is their first “baby”. And chances are, your dog knows he’s there!

Your dog will still be a treasured part of the clan when your son or daughter arrives on the scene, but your routines will change and it can be confusing for your furry friend. Like babies, dogs love predictability, and “a newborn is a life-changer not only for your life, but for your dog’s,” says Victoria Stilwell, dog trainer and host of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog.

Soon he will have to share your adoring attention with a demanding baby, and he will not understand why the long walks he enjoys are getting shorter. Don’t wait until your little one comes home to help your pup get used to the extended family. “While you’re pregnant, initiate changes so he gets used to the new schedule,” Stilwell says.