Pregnancy/Baby and Pets?!

[LaceyB1995]

So I’m 19+1 with my first baby and have a little female pug Penny (2years in March) and a mainecoon cat Atlas (1year in March) and I’m really struggling with stress over them being their usual crazy selves.

Penny has anxiety and has since we brought her home as a pup. She will bark at small noises, movements on the tele and also is generally disobidient with me (not my partner). She currently jumps up on our sofa and jumps on my belly which worries me. Other than these things she is an incredible loving bundle of fun she cuddles me all day (been signed off work with hyperemesis) and she never leaves my side, she’ll play and run around like crazy with our cat and I love it. We have a behaviourist coming over on Monday to help with some of the issues so I’m not looking for advice in that respect.

However I wonder if there’s anyone out there whos been through this and got through the other side? Everything at the moment stresses me out or upsets me and I just want to know that others who’ve got pets have managed to join family life together with a new baby in the mix??

(Disclaimer before I get any negativity, they are not going anywhere. I love them and they are as much part of our family as the baby will be. Just needed to vent/get some other perspectives)

I have a westie and a 5 year old. She's fairly obedient but can't be a bit jumpy and a handful. We found that we were really conscious of a proper introduction so that she understood that the baby was part of our "pack" (she was 5 when baby arrived). I never once left baby and dog alone together either, which was tough when other mums would nip to the kitchen and leave the immobile baby on the living room floor.

I can't really help with the cat side but I know people who had cats and haven't had any issues. Just made sure they had special netting for over the moses basket etc as cats like to snuggle up to warm things so it protected baby while you slept in case they crept in.

I'd just research how to make the introductions and ensure that you prevent jealously. It's also vital that as a child grows they understand how to treat the pets, no tail grabs, teasing etc. Pets are animals and no matter how well trained temhey are, if they are backed into a corner they will attack so as long as you are responsible then I'm sure you'll be fine.

My cockerpoo is hyper and jumpy and can be a right pain in the arse. He also went through a vicious phase when he was about 1-2 years old. We were so worried when we had DD a year ago. I really thought he would have to go, which broke my heart. I am astonished at how well he has adapted. He's so calm with her and never goes for her even when she grabs him. It probably helps that she throws all her food to him from her high chair!
I don't think you should stress about it now. It's too early to tell how they will react. I couldn't be more proud of my pup

@Frizzy1986 thank you for the advice! Would never be left alone for sure! Atlas isn’t as much of an issue he’s pretty chilled it’s just he’s going through his teenage phase currently haha will most definitely look at introduction methods and speak to behaviourist aswell

@legalseagull thank you for replying it’s good to know I’m not the only one! Penny hasn’t had any aggression at all but I do worry about the jumping and she is also a very licky dog I’m really hoping she’ll just take to it and be calm! I think it’s just preparing for that situation but I’m also having a c-section so it’s going to be a really difficult few weeks after the babies born.

I had a c section too, so I know how you feel! I'm also due my second via c section in a few weeks!
I won't lie, it is hard. There are times when I'm so stressed the poor dog gets on my last nerve, but I can deal with annoying, just not dangerous.

Ooo how exciting good luck!
I think that’s me at the moment, plus the hormones it’s not a good mix!

Our pug was just over one when our first child was born. She was interested in him when he cried (came over to look/try to sniff). Other than that she pretty much ignored him. It's much harder when they get older and start crawling (I guess you are well aware how hairy pugs are) and you have to hoover 3/4 times a day! Pugs are generally placid, and we have been extremely lucky she's accepted our children. Our eldest is now 3 and they are inseparable.

@MagicKingdom they are most definitely hairy! She’s fawn too so double coat haha Penny is very much the opposite of placid, she loves nothing more than farting around the room and barking. She’s on anxiety medication from the vet which they think she was born like it as she was always the same no matter how much training we did. Hoping behaviourist can help as she specialises in anxiety. I think we’re quite lucky though as she’s shown no aggression whatsoever

My mother in law had 4 kids within 18 months of each other and all the time had 3 German Shepherds (all of which were raised from puppies) - she had no issues at all!

My mum had a timid cat (was a feral kitten when rescued) that hated anyone other than my mum and dad. Honestly wasn't an issue. Cat didn't like me so I stayed out of the cat's way. We were both happy.

I have an ex-Romanian street dog, 2 cats and 4 big snakes (that have their own room before any one gets overdramatic about that). We're lucky that our dog has no behavioural issues - we trained him really well when we got him, knowing a kid would be next. But I'm honestly not worried at all. I think the best thing is to be prepared. I've already worked out which buggy and wraps I want to make dog walking easier. How to keep the baby's toys away from the dog when not supervised etc etc.

Also from research, I think one of the most important things is trying to not change how to treat the animals. A lot of the time dogs can get funny with new babies is when the feel like they've been pushed out and they don't understand and feel in competition.

We're planning on letting our dog know that baby is a new member of his pack/family and not pushing him out/replacing him.

@coral13 I was raised around farms and animals my entire life. I also trained our Akita’s and Spitz breeds, it’s not the training she’s had plenty of training. She just seems overly sensitive to lights and sounds which is why it’s become an issue. I think at the moment she’s trying to push boundaries a little as I’m not able to do much currently so my partner has been walking/feeding her and that’s why she’s not responding to me. Hoping with the help of behaviourist we can help her cope with noises and lights also

You’re completely right about he preparation I think it’ll make a world of difference on how she responds.

Sorry by saying we made sure he was trained quickly knowing there would be a kid too at some point, I didn't mean that yours wasn't!

@coral13 don’t worry I didn’t take it that way

We had an alsation, a kelpi x and then about a month before our first arrived we rehomed a Caucasian mountain dog.
I had worries about the obidience and stuff because the only dog that listened to me was the only one I didn't have any concern over! The two bigger ones (Caucasian and alsation) only ever listened to dh and sometimes not even that with the alsation (grumpy stubborn old thing).
In the end I needn't have worried. The new dog I had most concern over even though I knew she wS harmless, actually wouldn't let the mw come near the baby! Wouldn't take her eyes off her or let her move off the sofa haha 😂
And the grumpy dog I think just sort of knew not to mess with me when it came to the baby and steered clear, especially when it cried.
And the kelpi wasn't bothered either way!
But I must admit, we're quite strict on our dogs and don't let them on the furniture or play in the house anymore so I had no worries with them running around or jumping on baby when I let her sleep on the sofa as a tiny bundle

The dogs are fairly ancient and have taken to a baby, now toddler really well. One does lay in wait beneath the high chair, the other has chewed quite a few dummies and strong wagging tails have knocked ds over a few times.
The scratchy, (from a farm kitten, now about 4) keeps out of the way. I did have a cat net that I used when the cat was in the house. The cat has not scratched ds but does like sleeping in the cot or pushchair so I used the cat net on the empty cot.

@Echomama i think this is something we might need to implement in our house also, I think she sometimes associates the living room with play which may be why she jumps up so often. May look at keeping it to the kitchen :) thank you for replying it helps knowing others who were worried before had their worries settled

I also have a pug and a cat and am 33 weeks pregnant with my second (my first is 11)
My pug is an absolute loon, she's 1 years old and a complete character. She barks at absolutely everything, people, the tv, her shadow, the wind etc etc. She also plays with my cat whenever she gets chance, it's like watching wwe lol.
This pregnancy was completely unplanned and when I got the dog she became my baby as I thought I'd never have another child, she gets carried around, she has no boundaries in the house and is allowed in all rooms on beds etc. She is my shadow and follows me around no matter what I'm doing (can't have a bath or go to the toilet alone, she sleeps cuddled next to me everynight) so although I'm not worried I do think when this baby is born it's going to have a big impact on her.
Mostly I just plan to still give her the attention that I can and hope she falls into routine around the baby! I know that she loves babies from the ones she's met so I'm hoping that is a positive start. She is also used to being in a crate when needed so she can always take herself into there if she needed to.
And lastly, she doesn't listen to a word I say, she went to puppy classes but I never extended it beyond learning the basic commands, so telling her to get down or not to do something is like talking to a brick wall. I'm sure things will work out fine, pugs in particular are well known for being perfect family dogs and I'm sure there will be little to worry about when the time actually comes ☺

@newyearnewunicorn

I’ll have to look at these cat nets as our mainecoon is an indoor cat , he’s very very cuddly and wants to be near us all the time, so think a cat net would help put my mind at rest with the jumping in the crib in the living room.

@Csec
Wow you’re situation sounds like a mirror image of mine! Our pregnancy was also unexpected due to me being told I’d never have children due to Endometriosis, so we were over the moon when we found out! I did baby Penny a bit for the same reasons and she was also tiny when we brought her home (only 700g at 9weeks old) so I think i mollycoddled her a little

Ours is most definitely like wwe also haha except our cat is double the size of Penny because of his breed, they’re so funny to watch!
Pugs are stubborn creatures bless them haha so good to hear someone in a similar situation!

All the best!