Managing two large dogs and a newborn baby alone

[Vavamum]

I have a challenge ahead and am hoping to read some positive experiences and stories. DH and I have two large dogs that we adore (they're great with kids), and our first baby is on the way. I think it’s worth mentioning that these dogs are ridiculously loved. We’re not in our 20s anymore, and when all our friends were having babies, we had the time to spoil our dogs rotten. We’re definitely the type who love our dogs more than people most of the time - I'm sure you get the gist.

I’ve seen many women have a baby and then seem to neglect their dogs because the baby becomes the number one priority. I don’t want to do that. While I understand that I’ll be busy and focused on my new little human, I still want to make sure our dogs get the same number of walks as they do now. I know I won't have as much time to fuss over them or teach them new tricks, but their walks are something I want to keep consistent.

One challenge for me is that DH works away from home for half the week, and working locally isn’t an option right now. I’ll have support from my mum and MIL for the first few months until I get used to the new routine, but eventually, it’ll just be me managing everything (3 days a week only).

Right now, I can naively imagine taking walks with a pram and my two dogs, and everything being fine. But I realized today that I’ve never actually seen a woman with a pram and two large dogs. Am I being unrealistic? Or will I be fine?

after DD1 was born, I was so physically cut up that I couldn't walk more than 10-20 yards at a time for a few months. and if you have a c-section and can't drive for weeks, I reckon that also means you wouldn't have the strength to hold 2 large dogs if they decided to run.

so don't underestimate the amount of physical recovery you may need to get back to walking. Similarly in the last weeks of pregnancy, you may not be up to walking much.

I'd line up some potential dog walkers to cover the period from 4 weeks before to 8 weeks after baby is born. At least so you have backup if you need it.

I had 5 dogs when my son was born, ( All since passed away as they were older when he arrived ) he's 7 now.. and the sling was the winner for me, depends how well trained your dogs are!
We've just got a new arrival ( dog wise!) And he's now really enjoying helping with the training.

Wee tip, of your dogs haven't been around babies before play some You Tube audio of them crying/ making baby noises, it really helped mine be used to the sounds babies make before he arrived.
You'll be grand and if you are lucky you'll have walking hoovers when baby gets to toddler and drops/ throws food everywhere..

My lot followed him about like the pied piper. 😆

Practice waking with the empty pram. Didn't do much good for me with DTs and my my terrier - who that he was a bloody leonberger - but it will help if they're biddable. My mum used to come round so I could walk him and get out of the house. Think that dog saved my mental health tbh.

Had a pair of Great Danes and a lab with baby one, a Dane and mastif plus lab for number two and then a mastif and two Danes. I rarely found anyone passed me in a pavement but had no real
problems. Trained the dogs, pushed the pram in one hand and held them in the other but used sLongs when possible. I still meet people who remember me as dog lady from over twenty years ago!

If your dogs are well trained then walking along with a pram shouldn't be a problem

I had 2GSDs, with my children i used a sling when they were young but as they got older i used a pram. They might need a bit if training or practice, but mine were absolutely fine.

Given hat they aren't pullers, this works in your favour. Also, you can take them to a place where they an be off lead more (beach, park etc) and throw balls for them. On some occasions, could your mum/MIL walk with you and push the pram while you hold the leads?
I get you, and good for you for being forward thinking about this. I have a labrador who loves and needs his long walks and lots of exercise.

Which breed are your dogs?

Never clip the lead to the pram. If another off lead dog attacked yours the baby could go flying. There are so many scenarios in which this could go horribly wrong. I used a baby carrier and it was much easier. When the baby got older I used a jogger type all terrain pram as they're far more stable and you can turn them with one hand.

Is there a breed specific advice for this? Would you handle Rottweilers differently to how you would handle golden retrievers?

You’ll be ok if your dogs don’t pull and they have an excellent recall. Start working on that now if not!!

Thank you- a few people mentioned this I never even thought about it. I'm glad I asked mums - you girls know everything 😁👌🏻
Depending on where I'm walking I will look into a harness I can wear so when walking on streets I can clip them to myself, and also a baby carrier which I was gonna get anyway 🙂

Agree you need a baby carrier not the pram - don’t tie the dogs to the pram ever. You need hands free and two well behaved dogs x

I would heavily advise against the leads attached to the pram; even if they don’t pull and are impeccably behaved it only takes one tiny blip to be catastrophic. A bay carrier is the best way and perhaps start off one at a time or if you start walking with someone else just until you get to grips with things like picking up their mess with a baby attached etc.
Also make sure you have somewhere in your house where you can safely leave the baby while you make a drink, go to the toilet etc where rhe dogs can’t go and get them used to this area prior to baby arriving

Maybe, I have greyhounds so know about those and how they tend to behave in different situations.

I would definitely say sling over pram. Many babies are happier in there anyway, and it makes it much easier to go on varied terrain or to react if anything happens.

My NCT friend had 2 busy Dalmatians plus newborn. They were exceptionally well trained and she had a very good and off road style pram. I think she managed ok for the early days with local park walks, often with friends so there was sometimes someone else to hold the pram if necessary. Once she’d recovered from the c section she used slings for the baby.
it all just meant that she got on with it and had a much better routine probably than me right from the get-go.

What a legend! 😍😀

@Cheeesus mine are both labs and behaviour isn't an issue - they just walk by my side if it's a leashed walk, and run endlessly retrieving balls if we're in the park ☺️

Don’t clip your dogs to you if you have your baby in a sling. It just needs one to bolt for whatever reason and you’ll be thrown down with your baby.

Ah. I’d say those are more like medium dogs. Maybe a bit less of a worry about them pulling you over which is good. Also not known for their prey drive.
(Edited as I googled and it looks like they are medium to large. I don’t want to spark a whole debate about what category they are!)

Out n about 3 wheeler would be a good pram for walks when u are not using the carrier
don’t think you’d want the leads clipped to you either, just in case.

I had my first baby at 37, and admittedly our dogs were spaniels, but I was still fit enough to walk up Devonport hill in Cawsand at 9 months pregnant, and we walked the dogs while I was in early labour, before going to the hospital. Definitely 3 wheel all terrain buggy and baby carrier for easier dog walks. Good luck OP.

I think my labrador's nickname for my youngest is 'The Goldmine' 🤣

Realistically you need to sort out a dog walker for at least one of those walks at least for a couple of months. You will hardly have time to shower and eat in the first couple of months let alone fit in three walks. Also getting things done to a time schedule is really hard with a newborn because they want to feed on demand and often, and might not sleep.
Also if you have a tough birth or c-section you won't be physically able to go on walks for a couple of weeks at least.
Your best bet for other walks is putting the baby in a sling so you have your hands free, and the baby will probably be happier in a sling anyway.
Also the about getting help from your mum/MIL for walks when the weather is bad because you don't want to be taking a very young baby out when it's very cold or wet.
Eventually you'll get into routine though and lots of walks will be good for you and the baby.