To buy a baby doll for my dogs?

[Closingtime94]

Hello,

I know the titles really weird but hear me out 😂 I have two dogs (pug and a spaniel, plus five cats but they don't cause me any problems) my dogs are pretty well behaved but they can get excited and giddy and sometimes they have selective hearing when in these moods so I thought since I'm due in 5 months of getting a baby doll that's similar to a new born baby less the crying and well everything haha but then wrapping it in a blanket and teaching the dogs to be gentle - I have no idea if this will work but I'd rather try and train them with a fake baby than a real baby obviously, they wouldn't purposely hurt anything but like said they get excited (obviously when baby is here they will never ever be alone unsupervised) I was just wondering if anyone's done anything similar OR if you have any tips to help with them and baby?

Thank you in advance x

Dogs work on smell not vision, by and large. So I doubt it would work.

Honestly cant hurt! Just make sure you dont allow them to do anything with the doll you wouldnt let them with baby(eg no laughing if they grab its foot!). It might be good to get them used to you holding something up and away from them that they arent allowed to jump at.

I know whats normally recommended is to give them as much time as possible with all the baby items. Get them used to having to ignore the swing when its on for example and not shoving noses in it. Noisy toys etc

Nows a really good time to refine any training, build a good routine or make those changes needed. Eg to move dogs out of bedroom if thats what you want, work on not jumping up, work on "on your bed" commands etc

Yeah it won't work. They'll know it's not real. You might as well wrap up a roll of kitchen towel.

The best thing to do is when you have the baby, while holding them, give your doggies lots of love, pets and gentle praise. They'll associate "new screamy thing" as positive.

I brought my newborn home from hospital, and the very first thing I did was sat the carseat down on the floor. My staffy came over, gave her a big smell, poked his tongue out about 1 cm, gave her such a gentle kiss on the cheek, then jumped up with his paws wrapped around my shoulders, and hugged me.

He's still the best big brother now she's almost two ❤️

Well you can try. But just use a wrapped bundle of old towels or clothes. At least you can get them to be disinterested in you carrying a baby shaped/sized object.

Might be an idea to train them to walk nicely alongside you pushing a pram. It’s not a
skill which come naturally to a lot of dogs.

Thank you, I know they'll know the difference between a doll and a baby - like said they work off smell etc but my idea was more to leave the blanket alone, leave the cot alone, don't jump up when holding blanket (to be fair could have used kitchen roll) and let them get used to seeing us pay attention to something other than them but still giving them lots of love and affection. I just thought it was an idea, the doll was only a tenner so I might just give it my niece for Christmas if it really won't work haha

I wouldn't, personally. We just started to get the baby stuff out and reward the dog for ignoring it. So, car seat in the living room. No reward for sniffing/paws in it/showing interest. Reward for sitting or laying down calmly near it and random treats thrown on the floor when showing no interest in the seat. Same with the pram etc.
When the baby came home we allowed the dog to sniff her and that was that. She really isn't interested on our baby at all and that's how we like it. Our older three kids were here before the dog so she knows no different and they all just co exist peacefully.

I think the doll is a bit pointless as they won’t realise it’s a pretend baby. It might be worth playing sounds of babies crying to desensitise the dogs to the noise though. I would also get them used to being confined in areas away from you (eg shutting them in the kitchen if that will happen occasionally when baby comes) and putting any rules in place now. If they’re currently allowed upstairs but you won’t want that to happen when baby arrives, for example, establish it as a rule now so they don’t associate the baby with negative things. Also get them used now to having less attention from you - start giving them stuffed Kongs, things like that, having quiet-time in the day when they go to their beds etc. Obviously still give them lots of walks and fuss but realistically they are not going to get as much undivided attention from you when the baby is here as they will naturally get now; get them used to this now.

I would definitely get them used to walking next to a pram, or get a sling, put a doll in it and get yourself used to putting leads on and going out with the baby in one. They will love the baby if they associate it with positive things, like walks.

I did something similar with a cuddly toy. My dog was cuddly toy obsessed and would try to snatch them whenever she saw one. I had one that was roughly baby sized and when I was pregnant I carried it around like it was a baby. I’d let my dog have a sniff but if she jumped up or opened her mouth to take it, I’d say no and move it away. After a while I could leave “my baby” on the floor and she wouldn’t touch it.

It actually worked really well as we have 2 kids now and she has never stolen any of their toys.

Most important thing is never ever leave dogs and baby alone, even to make a cup of tea or have a wee. It’s irrelevant if your dogs are “friendly” have never growled or bitten anyone.

@AldiAisleofCrap

Most important thing is never ever leave dogs and baby alone, even to make a cup of tea or have a wee. It’s irrelevant if your dogs are “friendly” have never growled or bitten anyone.

Of course, I did put that in the original comment as I thought people might have thought I was looking to leave them alone - I would never ever do that - I'd never forgive myself if something were to happen. The mind boggles how anyone would think it's okay.

Walking with the pram in advance is a good idea as it makes them associate slower, more boring walks with the pram rather than the baby.

I doubt it would work - get a dog trainer or go to classes instead.

What if the dog bites and shakes the doll? It’ll teach it that you can do that to babies. Dangerous thing to do.

@VestaTilley

I doubt it would work - get a dog trainer or go to classes instead.

What if the dog bites and shakes the doll? It’ll teach it that you can do that to babies. Dangerous thing to do.

Well, I obviously wouldn't let the dogs bite and shake the doll?

The dogs are going to know the difference between the doll and baby, I meant more like teaching them not to jump when holding the "baby", or to leave the Moses basket alone and leaving the doll alone when it's in the chair thingy.

Pram idea is a good one though, I'll start that asap

It probably won’t hurt, but if the idea is to teach them not to jump when holding the baby or not to play around with baby chairs, cots etc, would it maybe be easier to teach them not to jump up on people at all? Or maybe a ‘down’ or ‘bed’ command so that you can immediately send them away. The doll might just confuse things.

Definitely try and desensitise your dogs to babies crying. We had to re-home one of ours (only as far as my parents house) because the baby crying really unsettled and stressed him out. He was a nervous wreck and it wasn't fair on him.

Also definitely walking with the pram and dogs, they'll need to be slower and more aware of the wheels etc (although if you're going to be walking them then I'd absolutely recommend getting a sling as it does make life easier).

I think it's a good idea getting them used to not being able to jump on the couch or whatever, in case the baby is laid there.

(The cats will however probably like sitting in the cot, and the baby swing, and the moses basket, and on the baby blankets just to prepare you for that possibility )

Yes definitely buy a few cat nets to keep the cats out of everywhere the baby sleeps. We joked our cat and ds had timeshares on the pushchair!

If you feel you’ll be able to treat the doll more like a baby than a bundle of towels wrapped in a blanket then yes, do it! Especially if you can get one of those dolls that cries. Double whammy then of desensitising the dogs to the sounds and actions of you holding a baby.
Best things to teach a dog when you’re expecting;
Not to jump up
Not to pull on the lead and how to walk nicely next to a pram (easier with an empty buggy than once baby is here)
To be calm when separated from you (eg shut behind a baby gate away from you)
A rock solid LEAVE cue
Not to bark at things eg doorbell. Nothing more frustrating than just getting baby down to sleep to have them woken up with a loud woof!

Invest in lots of calming toys (eg kongs which you can stuff and freeze) to keep your hounds entertained when you can’t exercise them as much with your small person.