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Celt
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Member since 4/08 7758 total posts
Name:
colette
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For the doggie mamas!
Well, we've had 2 weeks to work with the hound, and so far all is well! "Big sister" Sophie is sloooooowly getting the idea that Shane is here to stay, but we still LOVE her too. THe first few days she cried quite a bit when she was separated from me and the baby, but she's no longer a disenfranchised doggie!!
DH is just out of camera range here, so rest assured they are NEVER in close proximity without full supervision! Its been kind of like having 2 babies around here, but each day things get a little easier, just remember to use some of your 'downtime' when baby's asleep to cuddle your doggie, give her extra treats when she's being good, and slowly let her investigate the baby. We started by letting her sniff his dirty diapers, receiving blankets, etc, then little by little would intro the baby. Daddy would be in a room with the doggie, and I'd enter with Shane perched on my shoulder, and if Sophie jumped, whined or barked, ZAP! we'd leave the room. If she sat or laid down and was "good" she gets lots of praise and the occasional bit of crumbled up bacon 
We also have a baby gate on our bedroom door where Shane's bassinet and changing station are, so Sophie knows the bedroom is "off limits" and now sits patiently when I'm in there feeding or changing Shane, so that's a HUGE step forward!!!
Of course, vigilance is the key for any of us bringing a new baby home to a pet of any kind -- and we started laying out some of the ground rules during pregnancy, which I highly recommend!!!
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Posted 9/29/08 11:23 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
ruby
you rang?
Member since 6/08 5573 total posts
Name:
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Re: For the doggie mamas!
Colette I think you're doing an awesome job!
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| Posted 9/29/08 11:39 AM |
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Alli06
Baby #3 coming this June
Member since 8/05 6721 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: For the doggie mamas!
I'm so worried about how my dog is going to react to the baby. As of right now, she is the baby in the house. She is also still a puppy. You look like you are doing a great job. I will have to take some of your advice. I was thinking I should start training her now, to get her ready. My dog doesn't sleep in our bed or even stay in our room, so I'm glad I never started that habit.
Oh and I love the name Shane. That is our choice if we have a boy.
How did you get your dog to leave your son alone while he is in his swing?
Message edited 9/29/2008 12:30:00 PM.
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| Posted 9/29/08 12:27 PM |
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Celt
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Member since 4/08 7758 total posts
Name:
colette
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Re: For the doggie mamas!
Posted by Alli06
I'm so worried about how my dog is going to react to the baby. As of right now, she is the baby in the house. She is also still a puppy. You look like you are doing a great job. I will have to take some of your advice. I was thinking I should start training her now, to get her ready. My dog doesn't sleep in our bed or even stay in our room, so I'm glad I never started that habit.
Oh and I love the name Shane. That is our choice if we have a boy.
How did you get your dog to leave your son alone while he is in his swing?
Well Sophie is 2.5 yrs so we've benefitted from all of the prior training we did, to get her to sit, stay, go down, etc. Its ALLLLL about the rewards, you know?? So good behavior = reward, bad behavior = nada!
As puppies the rewards are ALL food based, as Sophie gets older, we use other things as rewards, a nice scratch, "access" to me or Dh, or even a nice walk, which she looooves.
But if you work with your puppy NOW, you will be in great shape by the time baby comes!!! Also we worked with a trainer for about 2 months when Soph was 6 months old, it was GREAT to get the basics down and I definitely recommend that, she came to our house once a week and taught us "clicker" training which is fantastic!!! Def recommend that!!! I used Inna at
Wag the dog and she was SUPER; you could even look into a group class for your puppy too, its a GREAT investment!!!
HTH and Good luck!!!!
(Oh and I'm so excited you might have a Shane too!! We love the name, and have had so many compliments on it, with the exception of MY MOTHER  who's totally "meh" about it   )
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| Posted 9/29/08 1:00 PM |
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HappyGirl
LIF Infant
Member since 2/08 78 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: For the doggie mamas!
Love the pic of the doggie with the baby. We have a lot of work ahead of us as we bring our baby home b/c we have spoiled our dog so much. However, she is a really good dog for the most part - just a little protective.
PS - I'm trying to attached a picture of "Hannah" (dog), however it won't let me 
It's a jpg file...
Message edited 9/29/2008 2:00:33 PM.
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| Posted 9/29/08 1:58 PM |
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kerrycec03
Mom of 2 beautiful boys!!
Member since 6/06 13519 total posts
Name:
Kerry
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Re: For the doggie mamas!
aww, that's great news. I know its not gonna be easy. I'm really trying to get our chevy to start behaving like a pooch instead of a baby. He's still coming in the bed.
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| Posted 9/29/08 2:10 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: For the doggie mamas!
Thank so much for this! We love our dogs so much, we are hoping things work out well and that they aren't miserable when baby comes. They are used to being spoiled and the only ones getting attention.
We still plan to have them sleep on our bed with us, and we even plan to let them in the baby's room. They are small and really can't jump so we will take it as it comes and see. We just never want them to think when the baby comes automatically means they are treated differently. We keep telling ourselves, only time will tell.
Thanks so much and glad it's working out!
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| Posted 9/29/08 2:16 PM |
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bonitachyc
big sister status may 2012!!
Member since 5/08 3242 total posts
Name:
Lupe
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Re: For the doggie mamas!
how adorable!!!!! so happy sophie is adjusting well to being a big sister!!! 
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| Posted 9/29/08 9:07 PM |
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maryb
LIF Adult
Member since 6/08 914 total posts
Name:
Mary
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Re: For the doggie mamas!
oh how cute.. thanks for sharing.. i will need to do some intervention and seriuos loving attention to my 1st baby when the human baby comes along...
serious jealousy..
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| Posted 9/29/08 10:20 PM |
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