How I approach the subject of our dogs ?

[Firstpregnancy2014]

Abit of advice needed!
We live in a large one bedroom flat - we have been trying to move before baby arrives in November but so far had no luck.
Living in a one bed flat with a baby doesn't bother me - however behind our move was mainly our dogs. We have two small dogs.
I adore my dogs. Both 12 months old, we love taking them for big walks and they get a lot of attention.

However I'm really worried about being able to cope when baby is here .. When I'm at home on my own I think ill struggle. When I take the dogs out the flat to go for a wee I will need to take baby, when I get up in the night ill to feed baby I will disturb dogs. It's not like I can just let them out in the garden.

How can I tell my partner ? I'm seriously consideringn finding good homes for them. It's breaking my heart typing this but my baby needs to come first, my dogs are the friendliest things in the world and used to children. But i would never forgive myself if something happened and made them snap.

Am I over Thinkjng this ? What would you do? I feel bad saying it would make my life easier - which it would. I would miss them so much but I need justification for my partner he loves them so much Aswell so I'm scared he will just say no!

I think i like all these replies- i think i just needed people to tell me its possible.
we have already fitted a baby gate to train them with and set up the crib and they know theyre not allowed near it
The currently sleep in the hallway at night but this can be changed
We just cant afford to move at the moment.
Im going to speak to my partner about putting a proper training plan and routine in place so both the dogs and our baby benefit. I have visions of them chasing him a field in a few years and i really dont want that to change

Well done op. It's hard not panic when you're having your first.

It is do-able.

Let us know if you need any training tips. I can recommend The Idiots Guide to Positive Dog Training as a start work your through that and check out kikopup on YouTube. Good luck.

Congrats on your baby and I'm really sorry about your mum. That must've have been very hard.

Oh yes, I'm so sorry about your mum.

But yes, it's entirely possible, crates would be great, and a sling, baby gate and training.

You would miss them terribly I'm sure.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

It's totally possible, I have 2 little boys and 2 dogs and expecting DC3 in October. Some days it is hard to make sure everyone gets what they need and some days one more dog mooching under your feet and tripping you up is maddening BUT some of my happiest moments are watching my boys play with the dogs or curl up together on the sofa. I would no more get rid if one of the dogs than I would one of the kids. It'll be fine, you will manage and hopefully you will get a house soon.

We have a dog and a newborn. We were also in a second floor flat at first. I used to just put her in a sling and then take the dog out. Or I'd use it as an opportunity to get out and about and put her in her pram and we'd all go to the park. Babies love fresh air and mine just went straight to sleep.

I guess your dh will be around in the morning and evening to do dog toilet duty? There is no need to move if you don't want to. It's just changing logistics. We are now on a ground floor flat which is much easier but still with no garden.

As for dogs and the baby the change in ours when
she came home was dramatic. He knew his place and saw she was at the top of the pack order. He's very gentle with her. Before he was a hyperactive jack Russell and now is the most placid dog! If you are worried invest in extra training for them before and after the baby arrives. And never leave them alone ever.

I must admit I was really worried about my two rottweiler cross dogs before my little one arrived. Like you I didn't have anywhere to lock them away when I do things as my downstairs is all open plan. Have your dogs been crate trained? If not might I suggest that you try and train them now? It helps me loads so i can get things done. Although my dogs are very curious of my boy, they have calmed down around him loads in the 4 weeks we have had him. Even my Mums jack russell has soon got used to him.

My dogs drive me potty as they are so noisy, boisterous, smelly and hairy but I can't imagine not having them in my life

My advice would be crate training if they aren't already so they have a safe place they can go to or when you need them out of the way for a little bit. Dog gates to the rooms the baby will be in and maybe extra dog training?

It can definitely work. I'm 5 months pregnant and have a 2 year old lurcher who can be very excitable but I'm 100% positive that it will work.

She's crate trained and we are doing clicker obedience training with her. We've also been playing baby noises to her to get her used to it - she wasn't overly fussed. We are also going to get the pram out so she can get used to that but I think she's lived with babies before (she's a rescue) as whenever we're and she sees a pram/buggy she gets very excited.

It will be a bit of a challenge to start with and I won't prevent her from seeing/sniffing baby as that will make it worse. We'll also be ensuring that she gets just as much exercise and attention when baby comes - be it via use of a dog walker of family help.

Honestly - our biggest concern is how to stop her stealing babies teddies - she does love her teddies!

Do the prep work now and I'm sure it will be fine!!

There's an info sheet here by the NCT and Dogs Trust, hope it's useful.

Kitkat, the teddy stealing comes in handy later on. My JRT x regularly "accidentally" kills a teddy or three when we start getting over run. He's good with plastic tat too

Ha - unfortunately ours doesn't kill them - just gently steals them away and hides them in her bed.

Another one here for crate training, gives the dogs a safe retreat and you pice of mind if you would like to put your baby on the floor for a while

I wouldn't describe a bulldog as a small dog ! I'm sure you can work something out ,start practising getting up in the night and making them stay in their beds ,or at least go back to bed without the need to go outside.

Why don't you go to your local shelter and ask them for any resources or information they have about dogs and babies. Stuff like how to prepare for the babies arrival, how to introduce the two, what not to do, etc. Knowing how to handle the situation will help immensely, rather than just falling into it.

You got your dogs less than a year ago. They are still puppies. When you get a dog you are entering into a life long commitment with them, which includes having to make the effort to deal with unexpected circumstances, such as accommodation changes and pregnancies. They are not commodities that can be dumped just because through no fault of their own, they are suddenly not quite so convenient.

If you absolutely must get rid of them, at least look into no kill shelters in your area. Don't just give them away to "a good home" which is how many animals end up in dog baiting rings.

I saw an article this week that might be just the thing for you - basically an online match-up for people who want a dog but can't have one, and people who have a dog but need extra help with their care.

www.borrowmydoggy.com/

Here's the article:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/02/borrowing-dog-gives-us-part-time-pet

I have a very excitable spaniel, I've started training her a bit more (she's not bad just gets very hyper sometimes)- staying off the bed and settee, knowing to go to her bed when told, pulling on the lead less etc. I'm only 13 weeks myself so got time, and only been properly working on this a week but seeing a difference already.
As others have suggested, door gates wherever you can- even if you just put the dogs in the hall when you are busy/they'd get in the way. Keep them out of the bedrooms and a travelcot to out baby in if you're busy. Could your OH walk them before work/mind baby while you do so you only have to let them out for the toilet during the day? Otherwise a sling or teaching them to walk with the pram. You'll probably be glad to get out when you have the baby anyway, even talking them round the block to get some air.

I have two dogs a cocker spaniel and a Doberman x Weimaraner I have two children already and one on the way. Training etc needs to be firmly in place see if your budget will stretch to a doll that cries I did that and I use to put it in the crib and let it cry whilst dogs were in the room I went and made a brew they quickly learnt they couldn't go near and would just come and nudge me or sit and whine when it cried to alert me crate training is also good if you have an open plan room just so u could have a bath/ shower and know baby is safe.
One thing to remember is they may get overprotective my big dog is protective anyway but nobody could touch my son without me handing him over so ensure you know how to read your dogs body language as I trust mine with the children but his whole demeanour changed if someone went to pick him up because he was crying and that was the only point I ever worried what he would do. Not to the child but to the person trying to pick them up.

OP it is doable! When I was pregnant DP brought home a staffy x american bulldog puppy as a 'suprise'. I thought it was going to be hectic and was worried I wouldn't be able cope but Ds is a month old now and it has been fine so far. I do have a lot more space than you but as your planning on moving anyway you should have more space soon. We started training classes with him straight away and also crate trained him so I can put him in there to sleep or if I need him out the way. I still wouldn't trust him around Ds and have stairgates on the stairs and living room doorway to keep him out

I have a 10 year old German Shepherd, had him since he was a puppy. I have 6 DC 5 and under. We managed perfectly fine and big dogs need more care than small dogs. I could not imagine our family without our dog. My kids love him to pieces and though he gets annoyed when the kids steal his kennel and his bed, and paint his fur... he loves and protects them too. He is a retired attack dog after all .

I do think you're slightly panicking yourself. And thinking too much of it. I can understand why your partner wouldn't have even considered it.

Keep the dogs in a seperate room during the night and taking them for walks/pee is done easily enough gives you an excuse to get out in the fresh air with baby.

I suggest a trial run and once baby is here and you can't cope or give equal attention then it would be best to rehome them where they get the attention and care they deserve.

Saying that; although people trust there dogs, just as I trust mine, brush up your knowledge on your dog's breed (though you should always do that before getting a dog anyway...), and you should always teach your children about the breed too. Learn the likes and dislikes of your dog to yourself and your children to avoid unfortunate happenings.

Our dog nipped my eldest once because he yanked the dog's tail. My son now knows never to pull his tail. They're now best friends.

Like others said train your dogd for the arrivial of children, and use dolls as practice, and start using stairgates soon as so they have time to learn where they can and cannot go. I'd also recommended letting your dog get used to baby equitment like rattle/squeak toys, swings and bouncers as some dogs may think they're their toys.

Though I hate crate training as a dog handler it's one thing I hate so we used the washroom as "his" space at night.

I'm completely in the minority here...

We had a dog when dd1 was born and I found it sooooo stressful. The dog was an indoor dog, maybe it wouldn't have been as hard if she was outdoor.

She was clearly jealous and out of sorts when we brought baby home from the hospital.

I saw the dog as an equal member of our family so re homing her never even entered my head.
I think my main stress was trying to ensure that the baby and the dog were never left alone together in any room, even for a few seconds. I trusted the dog with all of my heart but it just went against every instinct I had to protect my baby. So yes, it was stressful.
Also, when dd began to crawl, walk etc I felt immensely sorry for the dog, who by then was getting old and grumpy.

Eventually they became great buddies, we have some beautiful photos of them together - dog really became her shadow but I would never again choose to have a dog and a baby.

Not even sure what my advice is tbh! I think it's doable, but hard work.

I'm just thinking to myself now that I'm sure my main problem was that up until we had dd, the dog was our baby. She was treated like a human. She would never have been 'put out' or put into another room or had a gate put across a room. She had unlimited access to the bedroom and bed
Maybe that's what made it so hard on all of us and created nothing but problems? I know since (have read up on animal psychology and behaviour) that dogs need to be shown their place in the 'pack' - that they are not equal to you, but inferior.

I agree with those who say to wait until the baby is born before deciding. My family is 3500 miles away, my husband doesn't have much family here and he travels a lot for work, and I had a c section in January. Despite the miserable winter weather, bundling up baby and taking the dog for a walk was great for us all. (Two weeks after the surgery! No dog waking before then, so your husband will have to do it.) Sometimes you need to be forced to get up and out of the house when the baby is very young. It might seems like a trial but it gets easier very quickly and will do you a world of good. And with two dogs they can probably entertain one another quite a bit.

Check out the Dogs Trust website for their info on getting your dogs ready for a baby. It really helped me a lot. And the travel cot/playpen in the kitchen is a great idea. If you are pressed for space, pushing the pram in will work in the very early days.

Congrats on the baby! It does seem overwhelming at times but you will surprise yourself with your energy and capacity to deal with things.

What on earth is an 'indoor dog'? One that never goes outside?

And the 'pack' thing is bollocks - its not about showing a dog he is 'inferior', its just about having boundaries in place and good training. Very much like having a child i think.

Spero, by indoor I meant she could go outside but only on a lead - walks etc. she had never been out alone, we did not have a garden in that house. So I couldn't just put her out.

And as far as I've read, having boundaries for the dog does teach him that he is inferior. He is an animal and in the wild they have a pecking order. They need to know who the 'boss' is - mine did not!