For those who have dogs..

Are you doing anything to prepare your dog for baby?
I'm a little worried b/c I have a little doll that I've been walking around with and talking baby talk with it. My dog keeps following me!!! Yesterday I put the doll down on the bed and she actually took it from the bed and tried to bite the legs
I really hope she is just doing that b/c she knows its an inanimate toy and that she will not react like that when baby arrives.

Re: For those who have dogs..

there are tips for when u have a dog and bring home a new baby.... one of the things is to have a blanket or something that you wrap the baby in to get their scent on it, and then give it to the dog....

not sure of the other tips, but i know that that is one of them for definite, and I know a lot of people who have employed this, and it worked well...

Re: For those who have dogs..

We have a dog that was and is our baby, very spoiled

I had dh bring home a blanket from the hospital that DD was swaddled in.

when we got home with the baby, I had dh bring the baby in and I immediately went to sandy (the dog) and made a big stink, petting her and saying hi. Then we placed the baby on the floor in her carrier and let sandy sniff her

Sandy has been GREAT with the baby, she is protective and likes to give my dd kisses


Oh and we also let sandy go into the nursery and sniff all of the baby stuff before she was born

Re: For those who have dogs..

Our dog is our spoiled baby and a big doofy bulldozer, and I am sure he will go through some emotional adjustments in the first few months with , but I do not plan on doing anything to prepare him. When we come home, I plan to shower him with affection/attention whenever I have a chance do he does not feel too left out and will also let him investigate DS as much as he wants within reason. As long as DS is not off limits to him, I am sure he will adjust fine. He is gentle with my good friends baby whenever she brings her over. He is curious as hell and will kiss her little hand for 20 minutes straight. It is really the cutest thing.

Message edited 9/2/2009 9:53:30 AM.

Re: For those who have dogs..

I know he's a little controversial, but Cesar contributed ideas/tips to this article. There are some really good tips here.

Bringing Home Baby

Message edited 12/10/2007 1:02:50 PM.

Re: For those who have dogs..

that's a good question.

Message edited 12/10/2007 1:03:58 PM.

Re: For those who have dogs..

Re: For those who have dogs..

I am not doing anything special right now.
I had a stuffed animal that I had used for a breastfeeding class and called the baby, Lucy totally thinks its a toy and takes it whenever she has the chance. However its not a baby and Lucy has been around babies and small children her whole life and is amazing around kids. So I am just going to wait and see once the baby arrives.

Your dog is probably following you because she senses the changes in you. Lucy waits outside the bathroom for me now, and its always so close to me its annoying. It only started when I got pregnant I think she just knows something is up with me.

Message edited 12/10/2007 1:09:15 PM.

Re: For those who have dogs..

my golden retriever thinks he is a human...i think they sense a doll is different form a real child...as long as the dog is not vicous i think hell be fine...

Re: For those who have dogs..

Re: For those who have dogs..

I'm such a dork.... I just realized something!

The last time that I was home... my parents dog Buddy - a lab - was sooooooooo cautious with me....

Norm I come home and he freaks! Jumps everywhere, gets all happy and is all over me. This time I came home, and I knew that he was all kinds of happy, but, he displayed it in a more subdued way.

He would rest his head in my lap.
When he jumped up, he would COMPLETELY avoid my stomach.
He sat outside the bathroom when I was in it.
And he would WATCH me all the time!

Re: For those who have dogs..

My Roley has been my baby for over 7 years now. She has adjusted well to babies in the past but was always happy when she had mommy back to herself. We lived in a house with my sister when her little one was born and Roley was awesome with her. Very protective and always careful. We just hope she is the same with her new sibling.
As for prepwork, we are busting out the co-sleeper in a week or so. This way Roley can get used to it being in the room. Actually in her spot on the floor. We moved her bed a couple weeks ago but she is having issues adjusting. We will do the blanket trick and the meet and greet in the carrier. It may take a little time but I knwo she will adjust.

Re: For those who have dogs..

I worry about this too... my dog thinks everything is his toy (stuffed animals)... Im worried he will always be taking the babies toys away. As far as biting the dolls legs... dogs sense and small humans and certainly know the difference between toys (doll) and person (baby)

Re: For those who have dogs..

I also heard you shouild buy a cd with baby noises, like crying and stuff. I have no idea where you would find one. But this would help the dog adjust to the noises. Play the cd and reward him while it is on and he is behaving.