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Parenting

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Original poster

Dog with baby

14 replies

waitingimpatiently · 08/04/2010 15:35

Hi
I'm pregnant and we have a 1 year old cavalier king Charles spaniel. I was just wondering if anyone has introduced a baby to a dog with no problems and how they've done this?

I couldn't bear to get rid of my beautiful dog, she's not spayed but this is a possibility if we think it may help.

I just wanted good and bad stories of introducing dogs to babies because some people - mainly DPs mother - have been instilling the fear of god into us.

Thanks guys

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

waitingimpatiently · 08/04/2010 15:36

Oh and she's the opposite of aggressive, she's the softest thing ever. We can steal food out of her mouth without a reaction. She's never touched my nephew or
cousins.

OP posts:

Batteryhuman · 08/04/2010 15:46

No problems with dogs and babies here, only positives. Usual common sense rules apply of course, don't leave them alone together, no licking basic hygiene.

Ignore your MiL and trust your instincts.

iggypiggy · 08/04/2010 15:50

Lots of people have dogs before they have babies and it works out fine... Obviously you need to think about how it's done, but it is definitely do-able.

Spaying will not make any difference to her behaviour in this matter. Spaying would be done for entirely different reasons - but if anything entire female dogs are generally calmer than spayed ones.

Having said that - I haven't done it myself, although I know lots of people who have and have had much advice from my trainer (I do gundog training with my dog) as I have a baby due in july.

This webpage may be of interest: dog/baby advice

There are also plenty of other people on here who will have good advice

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dogs General parenting

Joolyjoolyjoo · 08/04/2010 15:56

I can't see any probs. CKCS's are usually sweet natured dogs. I have 2 beagles who were 8 and 4 respectively when dd1 came along and I had no problems whatsoever.

Obviously use your common sense, and don't leave them alone together, but lots of positives:

My dc have all come walking with the dogs every day, in all weathers and have been great wee walkers since their toddler days, and love being outdoors

They say households with pets seem to have lower incidence of asthma and allergies, and children develop a hearty immune system

Children and dogs can be really good friends, and a real benefit to each other.

If you aren't planning to breed your bitch, I would look into spaying her- for health reasons rather than behavioural. And make sure she is regularly wormed with a good wormer.

Original poster

waitingimpatiently · 08/04/2010 16:05

She is a beautiful dog - in looks and nature and like I say she has never touched a hair on my nephews head, whether he pinches her food or toys or pulls her tail or ears (which I must admit are very pull-able haha). It's just with MiL telling us that she is going to be horrid it's hard to know what to think.

OP posts:

BrightonMama · 08/04/2010 17:14

I have a lively cocker spaniel who was also just a year old when my DS was born and I was dreading it too so completely feel your pain! Had lots of relatives asking me how I'd cope etc. But so far we've had no problems, and now DS is two. Don't cockers and KCs have similar temperaments? If so, you won't have any problems.

I have to say that it was a bit of a nightmare at first, but only because the dog was still just a puppy so I had to contend with him bounding all over the house and a newborn at the same time. But there were NO problems with aggression or jealousy to contend with. In fact, both dog and baby didn't really pay each other that much attention. Now the dog is the star of the show at NCT get-togethers. All the toddlers love him and he's never ever reacted to being pulled around or poked (although we do put him away if I can see it may be getting too much.

Get a dog pen if you're worried and just make sure you take all the usual precautions of never leaving baby and dog alone together.

And good luck!

SummerToad · 08/04/2010 22:15

we have the most precious, spoiled, jealous child replacement dog. we were so worried when DS was born, she goes mental when we look at other dogs and guards us from strangers. after some initial excitement she has totally accepted him as part of the family. she sits on my knee when i breastfeed and lets him poke her in the eye.

Cavs are sweet natured, people orientated dogs, just introduce them slowly and it'll be fine.

oh and we tried to keep everything normal and the same as far as possible so she wasn't upset by the change

Bumbleconfusus · 09/04/2010 02:03

We have 4 dogs (3 whippets, 1 rough colie) all our fine with DD now 9 weeks old. They sniff her a bit but they are just intrigued and although I obviously don't let them lick her face, I'm not too worried about germs as I'm BFing so think she should be getting some help from me. I think if I was FF I would be alot more wary. As for biting, I'm not worried about this at all, but rather slightly concerned that they seem to covet her moses basket. Also - be careful what kind of baby toys you get as a friend bought me one that is soft & squeaks and another one that is soft and rattles and the dogs have claimed both.

Original poster

waitingimpatiently · 09/04/2010 09:06

Wow thanks guys, you've all made me feel much better. Theres a post on AIBU about dogs and muzzling and they're all talking about fighting dogs which naturally are likely to attack, but my soft daft cav isn't like that at all.

Stupid MiL seems to think my dog is evil personified because her precious dog doesn't like her (some nasty little rat thing that they don't even know what she is). Probably just wants us to get rid of her.

We have given her baby toys in the past, and she tends to pinch my nephews toys but I guess we've just got to keep things tidy (which I do anyway) and baby isn't going to have many toys for a while so that shouldn't pose too much a problem.

OP posts:

Elsa123 · 09/04/2010 11:26

Your mother in law is talking rot and is probably jealous. If I were you I'd ban her from bringing rat-dog round after you've had your baby so your lovely spaniel doesn't have to contend with it! No dogs (even those originally bred for fighting) are likely to attack unless they are treated that way. You are the boss! Staffordshire Bull Terriers wer orginally fighters and are now known as Nanny dogs because they are so great with kids.

I have 2 dogs and a baby on the way and my first dog was fascinated with my sister's first baby and sat staring at her all day, slowly inching forward to see if she could get away with a serruptitious (spg?!)lick. My cocker is very bouncy , but is in that teenage phase at the moment but is learning manners fast. The only thing is, he's a right old scent hound and I think certain baby smells are fascinating to him, so I'll have to be careful of him stuffing his nose in! He likes mouths....little toad.

superdeeduper · 12/04/2010 10:50

Just wanted to add we also had no problems introducing our 1 year old labrador to new baby. That was 3 years ago and both DD and dog have grown up together and become great friends.

Just one thing that confused him to start - as he was a puppy we did speak in high voices to him in kind of baby speak (if that makes sense!) so when the new baby came and we used this voice for her, the dog did get a bit confused about which one of them we were talking to!

As DD had grown up its inevitable that she has been licked by the dog and one time shared some crips with the dog where he liked the salt off them and then she ate the crips! Not something I would recommend but she is a healthy girl and I believe having the dog has boosted her immune system.

Hope everything goes well and just think how smug you will feel when MIL is proved wrong!

GrimmaTheNome · 12/04/2010 10:56

We had no probs with our then 3 yr old dachshund - obviously didn't let baby and dog be alone etc. To start with we put the moses basket inside the cot, which effectively keeps a small dogs nose out of the babes way.

The dog did like soft toys, so they did need o be kept out of his way.

We gave the dog extra attention when in the same room as DD, DH took him for extra walks at first.

hoff · 12/04/2010 13:01

our dog was our 'baby' too and while he's the soppiest thing ever we did worry as so many people told us horror stories. but he has been fantastic. he was 5 when ds was born and took to his new way of life amazingly well. despite our best efforts he did get a lot less attention but never seemed to mind! and now i think he gets more than ever with ds! he used to ignore ds as a baby but since he started eating meat they have become the best of friends. ds adores him and dog is good as gold even when ds climbs all over him, pulls his ears etc etc
noone knows your dog like you do...
ours was intriuged by all the baby preparations, used to snuggle my bump. dh brought back a blanket from the hospital for dog to sniff and get used to the smell. when we arrived home i went in first and made a big fuss of the dog as i hadn't seen him for a couple days, then washed up, dh brought baby in and took dog for a long walk, and that was that. higiene + common sense and it'll be fine!

EggyAllenPoe · 12/04/2010 13:06

our dog (who is not the softest creature imaginable, but a keen huntress) has been great with babies...dogs naturally like babis, they know they are youg things. they shouldn't be left alone together without a barrier (i have both dog gate and playpen depending who i want to contain) but really i wouldn't anticiapt any bother.

a good nappy bin is a must, as some dogs love to 'clean up' after your baby by spreading them al over (and eating wipes..)

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