How did your ddogs adjust to a newborn entering the picture?

[PerrieWonkle]

Ddog is one year old, we've had him since 8 weeks. I'm due with our first baby in about 4 months and want to make sure we prepare and handle it in the right way so that ddog will still feel the love

Anything that's going to change once baby is here, I've tried to introduce now so that he won't associate the change with the arrival of the baby (I.e. he used to sleep on the bottom of our bed, but baby will be co-sleeping in a bedside crib so we've moved him out of the room now so that he's settled by July)

Does anyone have any advice on how to minimise stress for him? How did your dogs adjust when you bought home a baby?

Side note, I posted something about being pregnant on a thread about him a few months ago under a different username and got a fair amount of stick for getting pregnant within a year of getting a puppy. Even got told to re-home him! Please no more of that. Thank you!

[PerrieWonkle]

I've bought a sling in the hopes it's less intimidating than the pram (we live in a very hilly area) so that I'm more likely to be brave and take baby and ddog out once DH finishes paternity leave after 2 weeks.

[MyNameIsFartacus]

My dog was 2 when my DD was born, we brought her home and DDog came over to gently sniff her head - she knew it was a baby straight away and was very cautious - and that was it, she wasn't bothered at all but I think we were very lucky.

[MyNameIsFartacus]

Should add DD is now 9 and our dog who is about 11 is a staffie, she has always been foot perfect with children if a little bonkers.

[kamillaw]

I guess maybe getting pup to learn to play alone (if he doesn't already) and perhaps a standby walker/daycare for the days you can't... Exciting times though! I've done it the other way round. Not sure it's any easier.... X

[Disfordarkchocolate]

We got a dog when the baby was a year old and a travel cot/playpen was invaluable so I could nip to the look etc.

[cazinge]

My skittish rescue has been amazing. She was 7 when DS was born, had been with us for just over 6 years. We kept her in the bedroom (but she sleeps on the floor rather than our bed) she used to come round to check on him in his bedside crib which melted my heart.

She tried to jump in to the moses basket on the floor when we first brought him home but only because it had been empty before and now it had something in it that she wanted to look at! It was a bit scary but she didn't hurt him. She is pretty chilled now (he is 10mo) other than when he's eating but that's because he feeds her nightmare child

Best tip I was given, don't scald the dog for going near the baby, it creates a negative association, encourage the behaviour you want (this goes both ways later on), always supervise and relax, most dogs are fine with babies once they've adjusted.

[homemadegin]

My dogs adore DD. We have a large kitchen sitting area and I fenced off the sitting part initially. I had a section and it was more to stop them jumping on me. We gave left fence up although gate is often now open. She loves watching them play and I'm sure they play infront of her on purpose.

Pram fine for waking, I didn't like sling with dogs when she was tiny. I do now use carrier as she's five months and more alert.

[Farmerswifey12]

Travel cot or somewhere the dog can't jump up on or access when you leave the room.

When we brought our 1st home the dog looked the same way she does when she seems a rabbit she wants to chase. Don't be alarmed, 2 children later and she loves them to pieces.

The midwife told me to bring a babygro home from the hospital first so the dog could smell baby. We never did that because I just had a short stay and OH wasn't coming and going from hospital to the house but that might've helped

[Aprilnamechanger]

My dog was 15 months when DD was born, they are now 14 (dog) and almost 13 (DD) and have absolutely loved each other since DD was able to crawl - the first thing she aimed for was the dog.

[SosigDog]

My dog was nearly nine when I had DS. She was very curious when we came home and I felt it was important to let her have a look. After the first couple of days she completely ignored him! It was tough because she didn’t get as much of my attention as before, but I made a point of sitting her next to me while I held the baby and cuddling her while DH held him.

The real difficulties began at about 10 months old when DS started to crawl confidently and push toys around. The dog thought he was another dog and got a bit snappy, and DS thought the dog was a toy and would pull her and chase her with his car. I taught DS to give the dog treats so she had a positive association with him. And I taught DS not to chase the dog and kept them apart as much as possible. A playpen was useful - sometimes the dog was in it while DS crawled around and vice versa. Once DS started to walk the dog understood better that he was a person.

[sillysmiles]

Start introduce the pieces of kit - buggy, side crib etc so that the dog can get used to the smells too.
I think there is also something about introducing them to the smell of the clothes....... but I've no idea really where that is just internet lore!

Congratulations!

[bunnygeek]

Some tips here!

[Prequelle]

I'm so nervous about this! I adopted my dog and he is v. V. Clingy when it comes to me. I'm his whole world. I was the first face he saw when we got him out of the kitchen he had spent most of his life so it's no wonder

I'm only in early pregnancy but he's started peeing on my bed!

[dreaminofholidays]

Congratulations OP

Following this with interest. I'm 32 weeks pregnant now and we have two gorgeous greyhounds. I hope we can make the transition as easy as possible for them.

xxx