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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anyone have a dog in their house

25 replies

19annie86 · 25/10/2021 10:25

Does anyone else have a dog in their house and are expecting a baby, or anyone recently had a baby and keep a dog in their house. Just wondering has the health visitor who came to your house had any problems with the dog being there

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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shivawn · 25/10/2021 10:31

I just put the dog in another room while they're here. Just so he isn't a distraction and you never know how different people feel about dogs.

CoachBeard · 25/10/2021 10:37

Not recently but we had a dog before the kids. We put the dog in the kitchen when the health visitor came and the only thing she commented on was that the stair gates we already had, to keep the dog out of the living room and bedroom if needed, were a good idea.

Original poster

19annie86 · 25/10/2021 10:38

We got our dog during covid so he wasn't used to people coming and going to our house, when a stranger comes he just barks, is so quiet and good around us tho

OP posts:

GinnyBee · 25/10/2021 10:49

We have an exuberant 2yo dog, he's always super duper excited when anyone comes round. There's no way I could put him in a different room, he'd cause a scene! (And we don't really have many internal doors in the house either). I didn't even know about any health visitors? What is it about and when does it take place?

Original poster

19annie86 · 25/10/2021 10:52

I'm not due until March so I don't know a huge amount, but I do know health visitor comes and visits after the baby is born, I'm not 100% what they do but I'm guessing to check on baby's progress etc also don't know how often and for how long

OP posts:

1ce1cebaby · 25/10/2021 10:53

Our dog was in the house when the house visitor came. Now tbf she seemed to be ‘a dog person’ so understood it would be unfair to change his routine and just reminded us to never leave dog and baby alone etc. He was excitable and spent time outdoors too so I often did keep him outside on her visits - more so for some peace so I wasn’t having to worry about him and baby! They shouldn’t try to change your situation, only offer advice (which you’ll know anyway) about safety with dog and baby.

ErrolFinn · 25/10/2021 10:56

Our dog barks if anyone he doesn't know comes to the house but is fine when he meets them. We put the dog in another room and asked the midwives/HV if they minded dogs before letting him say hello and he would then go away to his bed once he realised they were not interesting!

Needingsupportplease · 25/10/2021 11:00

Yeah and with my first daughter my dog was nuts, jumping up and very fussy. Health visitor didnt care and said she was happy I didnt hide the dog or pretend it was something it wasn't. And just told me if I let the dog on the sofa continue to do so (don't change the dogs life as this may cause jealously) we had no problems. Now 35 weeks with baby 2 and sure my dog will be running around with my toddler when the health visitor comes haha!

Just10moreminutesplease · 25/10/2021 11:05

I asked my health visitor if she wanted me to put my dog in another room. She was a dog person so wasn’t bothered at all (in fact she gave him more of a fuss than the baby ).

She didn’t give any advice on the dogs routine or tell us to supervise them either (though of course we do!).

T0rt0ise · 25/10/2021 11:29

Another one where the HV wasn't bothered in the least about the dog. I made sure I had some treats to encourage her to settle on her bed rather than bother the HV, but that's no different to any guests!

Moominmiss · 25/10/2021 11:39

We have 2 dogs, one is 7 and the other is 1. I had my baby 7 weeks ago.
Each time the health visitor or midwife came I just put them in the kitchen. They’re both well behaved but didn’t want them in the way or a distraction when speaking to her, and getting baby weighed etc. neither midwife nor HV has mentioned anything. In fact one time the HV came into the kitchen with me while I made her a coffee and she petted both dogs and made a fuss of them.

Chelyanne · 25/10/2021 11:43

We have a 32kg dog, nobody has shown any concerns when visiting for lo's. She's well trained but a fuss pot so had to be shut in another room when they came.

Somerandomgirl · 25/10/2021 11:51

No not at all midwife even said she has dog too so dont worry about it

GSD20 · 25/10/2021 12:09

I have three big dogs and nobody has ever said a thing! I do always make sure they are put in a seperate room whenever anyone is around though. I wouldn’t have them in when the midwife etc is there just because it makes life harder.

We have stair gates everywhere and never ever leave them around the DC unsupervised even for a second but none of my dogs have shown any interest in the baby

Original poster

19annie86 · 25/10/2021 14:02

Thanks everyone, feel better now, I was worried they might be concerned that we had a big dog, who actually is really good around my neices and nephews.

OP posts:

Original poster

19annie86 · 25/10/2021 14:02

Can I also ask do any of you have dogs who shed alot

OP posts:

Chelyanne · 25/10/2021 14:29

Yes, we have dog hair tumbleweed lol. Just have to hoover a lot more when lo's are mobile, our twins survived the crawling stage with it. We have a travel cot in the living room (have had with all kids) and that remains a safe clean space to pop them in.
Baby is 11wk atm, dog has the odd sniff of her but otherwise not bothered and stays out of the way. Have to watch her when she's excited or someone walks past the house as she is a risk for knocking baby if she's in her chair.

GinnyBee · 25/10/2021 14:43

@19annie86 mine is double coated fluff monster and sheds like mad when he's changing into his summer suit! Luckily he's not the type to drop it all over the house, but when we brush him it's like a snowstorm.

Gentle breed though, which is one of the reasons we chose him. They're generally brilliant with kids, so I'm not going to be too worried about a bit of dog fur. And I think it's been proven by studies that kids that grow up in 'dirtier' environments have fewer allergies later on because they've built up better immunity. Trying to keep everything sterile is not helpful.

Original poster

19annie86 · 25/10/2021 15:07

Are any of your dogs samoyed by any chance, mine is

OP posts:

Chelyanne · 25/10/2021 16:21

Ours is a Shepweiler

gogohm · 25/10/2021 16:23

Never had a health visitor visit but the midwife did, she stroked the dog

GinnyBee · 25/10/2021 16:37

@19annie86

Are any of your dogs samoyed by any chance, mine is

Mine is a Finnish Lapphund, so very sammy-like!

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 26/10/2021 21:13

I have a cocker spaniel and health visitor came at his walk time so he was out. Turns out she has a spaniel cross - she'll be expecting my pupper to be hyper. My pupper is 10 so he's not so hyper thesw days haha

SundayTwizzle · 27/10/2021 05:12

Our HV always makes a massive fuss of the dog when she comes

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 27/10/2021 08:37

Our HV hated dogs.
I would always check in advance.
Our HV was Muslim and found dogs in the house repugnant.
We didn't have dogs but she commented to us that she was glad we don't have them and made disparaging remarks about her other families that do.
Just to be aware.

People who don't like dogs just don't like them. I am not sure the HV was bothered about the being with baby aspect just that they are dirty and shouldn't be in the house. Our other HV explained all this to us when I mentioned it to her.

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