We have 3 dogs and they are great! They are all under 2 yrs old though so are still very hyper and playful. How did you train your dog to be calm around the baby. We already made the nursery off limits so they don’t go in there, and we are trying to find TV shows that have babies crying in them so they will be used to the sound. We don’t know anyone else with babies right now.
Thanks so far for the answers. Yeah they are very sweet and I trust them entirely but as a responsible pet owner I agree I do not think and child should be left alone with dogs unsupervised. I am just nervous they will look at the baby like a puppy and want to play.
Start carrying around a doll wrapped in your babies blanket. Pay the doll special attention to the doll like you would your real baby. The dogs need to get used to not having your attention all the time. If you make the nursery off limits it may make your dogs more jealous. They need to be able to welcome the newest member of the family.
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9 Responses
2009 Dec 19
We have an extremely hyper (and extremely spoiled) chocolate lab but he is super friendly by nature. We didn’t really do anything to prepare him except have him smell Preston’s first hat before we brought him in the door. He is now 11 months-old and Fletcher has showed no signs of jealousy or knocked him over or anything like that– in fact is was if he knew he was coming all along. The first thing he did when we introduced them was lick his face and hands. I’m sure your dogs will be fine, just don’t leave them alone until you are sure. Good luck to you and congrats!
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2009 Dec 20
im not too sure but my bf mum and dad have a dog and i read somewhere that if you give the dog something of the babies to play with they get used to the scent. obv not something expensive etc, if theres a lil vest your baby will wear for a few hours and you dont mind it getting ripped or whatever, i read they get used to the scent etc. before birth im really not too sure.
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32 weeks pregnant
2009 Dec 20
Well, I’m kinda in the same boat as you. I’m 35 weeks and we have a puppy (8 months) and a cat (2 yrs). I’m not too concerned about the cat, as he’s mild mannered. But the puppy makes me worry about the baby. We too are sectioning off part of the house so the dog cannot get into the baby’s room, our room, office and bath. My brother suggested this: once baby is born in the hospital wrap him up in a blanket and have hubby take blanket home and put it by the dogs, so they will recognize new baby’s scent. We’re going to try that. That’s all I know of. Good luck.
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2009 Dec 20
A friend of mine started blocking off the bedroom since the baby was going to be sleeping with them for a couple months, so that way the dogs didn’t think that it was the babys fault they weren’t allowed in the bedroom anymore. They brought a friend over that had a baby to introduce to the dogs. They also did what your doing having a baby cry in the room. Most dogs will accept the baby without any problems. Just be cautious when you first bring the baby home and introduce it to the dog in spurts don’t just keep throwing the baby in the dogs face. The dogs should get used to it pretty quickly. Just remember do not leave your baby alone in the room with the dogs. Anything can happen.
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2009 Dec 20
All dogs will react differently to a new baby, so be prepared for some bad behavior such as soiling on the carpet, tearing up furniture, ect.,just in case the idea of the new baby sets them in a rebellious stage…that is very normal,although not pleasnt for you, so make sure you stand firm on their unacceptable behavior just as you always have…keep doing activities you have always done with your dog (walks,ball playing) and make it a point everyday to let your dogs sniff your baby..for now, you can use some baby powder or baby lotion and rub it on a blanket or toy of your dogs’s to give them a headstart on knowing that sweet baby smell so it will be familar to them. Good luck!
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2009 Dec 20
I have 2 dogs that I had to prepare for the arrival of my baby. I made sure to set up the babies room exactly the way it would look when she would arrive and let them explore in there. I also played some of the nosy toys that I had for the baby so they could figure out that later a wierd nose was going to come out of that thing and it wuld be okay. They were very curious when she came home, but now it’s great. One sleeps by her door and they play with her all the time. (My daughter is 2.) It’s great!
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2009 Dec 20
I am not very bright about dogs, but my daughter has three and cage training seems to work nicely.
What breed of dogs do you have, I would say that would be EXTREMELY important. I would never have Rottweilers, Pit bulls, rambunctious Labs or Shepherds. Some dogs are just overly aggressive.
The Cesar Millan show on cable is amazing, what he is able to do with dogs, but first you have to understand what your dogs needs are so they do not get bored. They have an entire Psychology that you need to learn.
Boredom allows them to get into trouble. I can honestly say that if I were going to have a baby, I would have no more than one dog. For the next 18 years your children will require your time . And the dogs will be like having 4 children when the baby comes.
Having three will allow them to use their pack instincts and they may not understand your baby is not a toy to play with.
Most of the time nothing ever happens, but only ONE HORRIBLE INCIDENT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, their teeth can be very injurious to a baby.
Good Luck.
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2009 Dec 20
I have 2 spoilt dogs and a baby on the way. I have blocked them off from all bedrooms and I’m putting them outside a lot more. I’m hoping to have them outside all day and sleeping in the laundry at night, long before the baby comes. They wont like it – but the baby will be my priority for at least a while. The blanket/ scent idea seems to be winner too!
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2009 Dec 20
Start carrying around a doll wrapped in your babies blanket. Pay the doll special attention to the doll like you would your real baby. The dogs need to get used to not having your attention all the time. If you make the nursery off limits it may make your dogs more jealous. They need to be able to welcome the newest member of the family.
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Michigan Humane Society, your family Vet, or your local Humane Society.