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I'm concerned about Cooper and a baby... HELP.
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KGools
Happy
Member since 9/06 9532 total posts
Name:
Kim
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I'm concerned about Cooper and a baby... HELP.
This weekend we had our friend's over and they have a 6 month old (adorable!) baby. Cooper is a little (a lot) on the hyper side and was so excited when they walked in the house... he eventually calmed down but then the baby woke up (he was asleep in his carrier when they first got there) and my friend was holding him, Cooper started to jump on my friend to nip at the babies toes. I know he was being playful because Cooper doesn't have a mean bone in his body, he just likes the attention and he likes to play. Thankfully, the baby is so cool and calm, he wasn't even phased by Cooper (and luckily, Cooper didn't really get his little piglets..
My concern is that while FH and I don't have children, we invision ourselves having a baby within the next 3-5 years (we're getting married next year). I'm so concerned that Cooper will be a maniac around the baby. He's 3 now so he'll be older when we finally do have a kid, but I'm still worried. We love Coop like a child and we would never even entertain the idea of giving him up, that's not even an option.
What did you do to acclimate your dog to your baby? I know that you're supossed to bring something that smells like the baby to the dog so he can get familiar with the scent of the baby, but what else. 
TIA!
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Posted 8/13/07 2:30 PM  |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
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Re: I'm concerned about Cooper and a baby... HELP.
Brutus does the same thing and it freaked me out at first. However, I realized that he totally knows that babies are different than his "parents." I say this because he will playfully bite us when we get rough with him but NO MATTER how rough the kids play with him he never really nips at them. . .i mean he places their hands in his mouth but you can tell its totally different than when he is playing with me - he doesnt close his mouth at all
I also make sure that before any of the kids pet him, he is sitting and I am in between Brutus and the baby but off to the side, so if he gets too excited i can step in.
Brutus is also NEVER alone with the babies AND even with my older niece. . .if she puts her face into his face or lets him lick her face she is not allowed to play with him for a few hours.
It takes a little extra care. . . but you will be fine.
Oh, and as for introducing Coop to the your baby-to-be - you also have to make sure that the "pack leader" ( in my case, FH) brings the baby into the house ALONE and ignores him until he is completely calm then " introduces them " this is how we did it for the babies in our family and Brutus did really well. . .he even "guards" the baby's room as they sleep 
Also, he is EXTRA defensive if a baby is around. Like if my niece is over and someone passes too close to the house he will go NUTS and his "mohawk" will show LOL
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| Posted 8/13/07 3:03 PM |
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missrock
Beautiful!!!!
Member since 5/06 3808 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: I'm concerned about Cooper and a baby... HELP.
Okay, I have two CRAZY puggles. Before having my DD they were my babies. They are very hyper and are always getting into trouble.
I have, and still have, concerns with them. What we did was bring home the baby's blanket from the hospital so they can get used to the baby's scent. Im not sure it worked, because they went nuts when we brought her home from the hospital but we didnt expect anything else from them.
At first they were a little freaked by this little human, but now they are good with her. I still dont trust them around her while she is laying on the floor. To be honest, what i dont trust is them accidently jumping on her. They are always wrestling and play fighting with each other and they dont understand that she is fragile. But, they lick her face and everything. I dont know if this helps any but i never put anything off limits when it comes to them. they still do the same stuff that they did before she came. They are allowed in her room and still have free roam of the house.
We also still pay lots of attention to them. I also think that they are good with her because of that. She isnt walking yet so it just might be a whole different ball game when she does start to walk.
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| Posted 8/14/07 9:26 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
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:)
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Re: I'm concerned about Cooper and a baby... HELP.
Posted by missrock
Okay, I have two CRAZY puggles. Before having my DD they were my babies. They are very hyper and are always getting into trouble.
I have, and still have, concerns with them. I still dont trust them around her while she is laying on the floor. To be honest, what i dont trust is them accidently jumping on her.
We also still pay lots of attention to them.
Exactly!
Your concerns are very valid, Coopersmom!! I hear ya and I used to worry but I dont anymore. I am confident that I will do all I can as a human to help the doggies adjust.
We have two crazy little doggies too and I worry about this when baby comes. But I figure, it will work out b/c we will make sure it does. We KNOW our dogs...and if we have to watch them when all together, so be it. They are all part of our family and we would not want it any other way.
I too would be concerned when a baby is on the floor with our dogs. They go nuts and play attack me (it can hurt!) when I get on the floor with them. That is why they are dogs, and we are humans and it will be our job to keep doggie and baby safe and happy.
I have little doubts...I think ALL doggies (unless they have very very bad issues) can be broken in gently to baby and will learn about baby as baby grows. My dogs have gotten used to ANYTHIGN that happens continuously, such as new neighbors, new noises, etc. It just takes a few days of routines and all dogs are capable of getting used to new things.
I would NOT worry. You know your dog, and that is why it is VERY important now to take your dog out to see new sights and sounds in the world. My dogs grumble when they hear my neighbors baby/kids scream, but we know they will get used to things that happen in our home when they do....
By the way, our dogs really get NUTS around kids. Sometimes it seems mean even to be honest, but they are curious and nervous and excited all at once when they see kids or hear kids. My girl dog even appears to get nasty. They have "gone" for little kids running by (they love to chase). I really cant say they are "good" with kids, but I know that when broken in gently (which is my job!) they will get used to and LOVE having kids to play with. Bottom line, I know my dogs and if I never can leave a baby/child alone with a dog until the child can handle themself (IF EVER) so be it. Then they will never be alone, that can easily be accomplished.
Message edited 8/14/2007 2:49:03 PM.
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| Posted 8/14/07 2:43 PM |
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