How did you feel about your dog when your baby arrived?

[Evianontoast]

Hi Mumsnet! I’m 21 weeks pregnant and I’ve been researching how to introduce my 3 year old chihuahua to my baby once she is born. While researching, I saw a lot of articles of people talking about how their relationship with their dog changed once their baby was born - some of them even saying how their relationship with their pet fell apart or how they felt guilty for resenting their dog and their dog’s needs. He is like my first-born: I adore my little boy and just can’t see how I would love him any less once the baby comes. But I also appreciate that this will be a complicated change in his and my life and there will certainly be some degree of adjustment to do, as my attention becomes divided between him and the baby.

I am wondering if anyone has any first hand stories to tell of how/if their relationship changed with their pet once they became a parent? Especially if you are a very attached dog mum, like me.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Hi OP.

This was me 5 years ago. Now two children later and my dog still loves me (and I her).
Of course I wasn’t able to devote as much time to walks, playing, etc when I first had a newborn but my dog completely accepted both babies and was happy to be curled up next to us on the sofa a lot of the time. I still love her just as much and she’s my third child as far as I’m concerned.
Congratulations on your pregnancy.

As for introducing them, when I brought baby home from hospital we let our dog have a good sniff of the baby and then my husband cuddled the baby whilst I had a lovely big cuddle with the dog as I didn’t want her to feel pushed out or that things had changed too much.

I still love my 3 as much as I did before I had my son, he's 2 and that hasn't changed so don't worry 😘

Our dog was a bit wary at first and probably did get a bit less attention, but now her and DD have a lovely relationship and it's so nice to do stuff together. On a walk yesterday, DD was throwing DDog's ball and then just said 'I love you so much Luna!'

We actually decided to get a dog walker for when DD arrived for two days a week and have kept on going as DDog loves going out with her so much!

@LadyCluck so pleased to hear, this is what I imagine it’ll be like with my little guy! Pleased to hear I’m not being delusional by hoping for it :)

@ivfbabymomma1aww, and now little one has 3 best friends too!

@Tataru that’s adorable, I hope my little one feels that way too!

Thanks all, it’s lovely to hear some positive stories among all the negative ones online!