Dog and baby

[sunflower53]

Hi all,

I am currently pregnant with first child and would like to get feedback on how your pets reacted to babies and kids. I have a sheltie and he will be about 2 years old when baby is born next year. I've been reading up on how to introduce pets to babies and vice versa but would like to get more info and feedback on what problems you faced, or tips that you can provide. As my dog will still be young and currently very active, I worry that he will be very jealous when a newcomer is introduced as he is very attached to me.

Also, I need to educate mother in law who otherwise will just lock him up in playpen whole day for fear he will attack the infant etc. I plan to return to work after maternity leave ends and she will be alone with baby and dog during working hours. Please share how you managed both dog and young kids. I presume they were seperated in the initial stage until you are comfortable with the dog being near the baby? My sheltie is very playful and I wonder if he will be snatching baby's toys lol...or nip the baby when baby learns to walk etc.

Would appreciate any advise as I don't want to make mistakes and end up baby fearing the dog and vice versa, or worse, baby gets bitten and mil demands we send the dog away...

 

[lovelylavi]

Hi

I hv two dogs both 7 yR old n my boy is turning 4. We started prepping for arrival of bb by setting up playpen and constantly teling our dogs abt the bb...they were naturally curious when the bb came but were surprisingly gentle. Dogs like to smell things so u nd to hv confidence that ur doggie wil not bite ur bb n let him smell ur bb. My dogs were allowed to roam freely ard the hse but they were no longer allowed on the beds. As my son started being aware of yhe dogs, he was afraid of them at first but we will encourage him to play wif them . Now he proudly declares how much he loves them!! Just remember neva to feel tempted to giveup ur dog coz bb n dogs can coexist in harmony

 

[littledotty]

Hi Sunflower, I have a 8 year old dog too and she is with me since she was 3months old so she is really attached to me..I have a 5mth old boy now and they are getting along well..

I didnt do anything special except that when I was pregnant, I will tell her there is a baby inside my tummy, when I walk her I will tell her, "Now, baby and mummy going to bring you walk walk, next time you walk with didi ok"..
And I don't restrict her movements at all in the house..I guess baby is used to her barking when he was in my tummy so he never got scared when she barked..

everyone in my family will tell my dog to look after my baby when I am not at home (coz I leave my baby to a maid) and my maid tells me everywhere she brings baby, my dog will follow and sit where she sits with baby..

they will knnow, so you just tell him everyday..and now I bring them together for walks after work too..so he knows we do not neglect him..

praise him when he is good, and let baby play with him, my son loves to chase the dog (which we call jiejie) in his walker!

 

[sunflower53]

Thanks for the replies lovelylavi and littledotty! Its very reassuring to know that your kids and dogs coexist well. My dog roams freely around the house as well, so I don't wish to stop that once baby arrives. Did your babies wake up once the dog barks? I'm trying to stop unnecessary barking but he does bark at strangers at the door.

 

[mlr]

Hi, we have a 17 yr old dachshund and a 6 yo boy.
DH has the dog before me, so she has been part of our life together. She was super protective of me when I was pregnant and of baby when he came along. She would guard his room and even my mom who stayed with us for confinement had to be sniffed and approved. She shadow bb everywhere, even now. Shes also my son best pal and help my son when he cries or whenever he gets upset. Thru her, we teach our son respect and compassion, he sees her as part of family and misses her whenever we goes on holiday.
She was our practise before bb came along, as we learn to “dog safe” our place: no expose food, nothing sharp or heavy near edges of tables, when she wants something she barks as she can’t talk, no matter how tired or upset or angry we are, shes our comfort blanket…. The list goes on…..

We always feel we have two kids: one furry and another naughty.

 

[mlr]

Hi, we have a 16 yr old dachshund and a 6 yo boy.
DH has the dog before me, so she has been part of our life together. She was super protective of me when I was pregnant and of baby when he came along. She would guard his room and even my mom who stayed with us for confinement had to be sniffed and approved. She shadow bb everywhere, even now. Shes also my son best pal and help my son when he cries or whenever he gets upset. Thru her, we teach our son respect and compassion, he sees her as part of family and misses her whenever we goes on holiday.
She was our practise before bb came along, as we learn to “dog safe” our place: no expose food, nothing sharp or heavy near edges of tables, when she wants something she barks as she can’t talk, no matter how tired or upset or angry we are, shes our comfort blanket…. The list goes on…..

We always feel we have two kids: one furry and another naughty.

Now that she is nearing 17, we know her days are numbered and we have been preparing our boy for d day. He pray everynight that our girl will live forever becos he loves her very much. I think this says it all, at least for us.....