There are always some concerns about introducing a newborn baby to the family dog. But health experts are warning parents to be vigilant about preventing their dog lick their baby’s face.

While it may seem common sense, as who knows where your dog’s mouth has been (some of us do know because we’ve seen them lick their butt!), it’s also a behavior issue in ensuring your dog doesn’t exert dominance over the baby.

US paediatrician Dr Ashant Woods told Woman’s Day, “While many of us see our pets as surrogate family members, we do not want our pets to feel on equal status with our children.

“In fact, the pet may become protective over the owners and attempt to defend them by attacking the child for yelling or merely playing with his parents.”
Website DogNotebook.com explains, “While many dogs lick a human’s face as a submissive gesture of appeasement, others do it to get a reaction from their humans. This look-at-me behaviour is a sign of dominance in Fido. Touching a human with their mouths is also a controlling behaviour in some dogs.”

Even if you’ve never fell ill because your pooch gave you a smooch across the lips, doesn’t mean your baby can’t get sick. Dogs use their tongue to cleanse themselves and they are often fed raw chicken bones, which can harbor bacteria a baby’s immune system may be unable to handle.

Dogs have also been caught eating their own poo… so for the love of all things hygienic and to protect your baby’s family status, always supervise your dog around your baby. Doctor’s orders.