Introducing your dogs to a new baby - Tips
Anyone have suggestions? |
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| Just want to say congrat's on the baby.... My only idea is not to forget about the dog... if you do special things keep doing it. |
| Oh Congrats!!!
I think the #1 thing I was told was to get the dogs used to the baby's scent before you even bring them home from the hospital. Have hubby bring home a baby blanket that the baby has been held in. Let them sniff it to their hearts content. Make sure you give the pups extra attention when the baby is asleep so they don't feel left out. When we brought Hayley home we walked in and acted like normal. It wasn't until she cried the first time that they realized that there was somebody else there. I held Hayley and called the dogs over on at a time. I let them sniff her and told them to lie down. Harley (our German Shepherd at the Bridge) was most interested in Hayley. As soon as she would start to fuss he would start whining look at me and then at the bassinet. He usually would make it over to the bassinet before me. I started to worry she would this Harley was the Mom. He would stand there staring at her until I said okay. Then he would put his big Shepherd head over the side of the bassinet to check on her. We called him Nanny Harley.  I had to wash that bassinet cover because his slobber marks on the side.
One of Hayley's first words was Dodo for dogs, or maybe this meant Harley as we called him Dumb Dumb. |
| Congratulations!!
Another tip I have heard is to get a doll and practice some of the common behaviours in advance, such as holding the doll while the dog doesn't jump, sitting on the couch with it, walking around the yard with a stroller (public might be weird, but hey, whatever floats your boat  ) so these things are already familiar. Even playing sound effects of babies crying can apparently be useful. That way the only new thing the dog is witnessing is the baby itself! |
Congratulations! What a wonderful news! 
All the advice people gave is great, there are a couple of things I would add to them. If you are the primary care taker of the dog - you feed him, you walk him, etc. - get some one else take over some of your duties. Carrying a doll is also a good practice for you!
And here is a link from San Fransisco SPCA. "Will Baby Make Four?" I would also look into dog training in your area if they do Introducing dog to baby classes when you practice all the things you need to do before you bring your baby home. |
| Here are lots of tips for you!
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... ourceID=47 |
| Congrats! |
| Thanks everyone! All your tips are very helpful!! |
| Congrats!! I have no tips as I'm in the same situation...
Why didn't you add yourself to the who's knocked up list!! |
| the links provided are great references. We just had a niece born a couple of weeks ago and hope to have her around as much as possible (if the parents ever get enough sleep to remember who I am). Some of the tips I couldn't remember. Thanks again everyone. |
| My first grandson was born Dec 14th.
His first trip to our house was a few weeks ago. When they came in both the dogs were VERY curious so we let them smell Caelum until their curiosity was satisfied. We put the baby in the pack n play crib where we could see while we were eating...Stella layed right in front of it and would not let Max or our cat any where NEAR the crib...she was protecting the baby...it was very sweet. I hope she lives long enough that Caelum remembers her...she is losing weight due to the diabetes and has equal number of good days as well as bad. |
| Hi - my husband and I have had two sheepdogs. One passed away right before our last was born at 16 years. But we still have a 13 year old, Sadie - she was so great and protective of our baby girl (now 18 mos). she still is. She will let our kids play with her or anything and she just sits back calmly - she "heards" them in the front yard as not to go off the lawn. She is fantastic. We let her smell the baby when she came home = after that - it was no issue. |
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