Newborn and 9 month old puppy - any tips

[ceebee21]

Looking for any helpful advice...currently 20 weeks and have a 21 week old puppy.

Has anyone else been in a similar boat with a 9 month old puppy when baby came along?

We have just completed our 6 week puppy class and he is very good at all the general sit stay etc, however is very very excitable when seeing other people.

I am considering a 1 to 1 trainer to see if we can get him to settle down a bit more...hard I know as he is just a puppy.

Just want to be as prepared as we can be for both puppy and baby xx

[bunnygeek]

Have a read of this:
www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/training/preparing-your-dog-for-a-new-baby

It's going to be really hard work as you'll have a teen dog right when you really don't want to have a teen dog liable to forget any training work you've already done.

Do you have family who can help out, especially with walks?

[AnotherEmma]

Um, go back in time and don't get a puppy when you're pregnant?

Not helpful, sorry, but I feel for the dog and it's going to be such hard work.

[Paranoidmarvin]

Consistently do the training. But to be honest what others here have said are right. Your puppy is going to hit teenage years just as u have ur baby. It is the wrong time to take your eyes off the ball with a dog in terms of training.

The teenage part of a dogs life is very hard in fact the hardest. You have to keep doing the training. Everyday. As much as U can. Or u will end up with an untrained teenage dog. And that is not what u want when u have a baby around. As u essentially have two babies in the house.
I assume you have made arrangements for someone to help with the dog when the baby comes in terms of walking. Or making sure your other half does it.
An un walked and bored dog will just get disruptive and that normally means a lot of mess and things being chewed.

Join some of the Facebook groups which focus on working with a dogs brain to keep it busy. There are some good ones out there that will help with keeping them occupied and tired out.
These u can give the baby while feeding the baby.

I have bought up two puppies and would never have done it at the same time as having a baby. But you have what u have. Just don’t think it will be okay to not walk the dog this time. Or he will be okay left for this length of time as u will make more trouble for yourself.

[vanillandhoney]

Good luck OP - you're going to have a teenage dog and a newborn, that's possibly the worst combination possible.

Dog adolescence is a real thing.