Prevention of jealousy?

[signet2012]

Im 4 months pregnant and dog is currently number one in the house. (I know, I know) Now the way I see it is dog was here first, dogs house so baby fits round dog not vice versa. I am getting an increasing number of people saying "Will he be ok with the baby? Won't he be jealous?"

Now. I would not leave my dog alone with a baby not because he can be aggressive at times (nervous and has bitten when provoked/scared with no escape) Even if he was not like this, at the end of the day he is an animal and I would not leave a baby unaccompanied. He is very used to baby visitors from new born to toddler and have a infant school aged niece. He is well behaved, albeit it stand off ish and we have told and continue to teach all children who visit the house that they don't tease and if he walks away they let him. He tends to go out the way if its all getting a bit much for him.

I have moved his dog bed out of the spare room already and put it in our room to try and encourage him to sleep in his bed not on my bed. Spare room will be babies room so need to get him out of there, so done that now so he doesn't associate baby with him being moved. I plan on letting him see the baby and sniff/explore when baby comes in without feeling nervous so he doesn't pick up on it.

Do I need to be worried? I wasn't but now everyone is making a deal out of it I'm beginning to wonder if I'm being idealistic. I don't want to make my dog feel pushed out!

won't baby be in your room in a crib at first? .

I think that you need to remember that your dog, although obviously very important to you is first and foremost a dog. He needs to fit round you not vice versa.

Priorities 1. the safety of your baby, 2. the dog.

V sensible to get the dog accustomed to sleeping somewhere other than the spare room. If he is nervous he may also find the baby crying very stressful, so make sure he always has somewhere to go that is quiet. Could you fit a dog flap so he could get outside?

Make sure your dog has adequate mental and physical exercise. If he is bored and frustrated he will react worse to stresses in the house. If you can't manage this yourself with a new baby consider using a walker, or have him go to a minder.

No reason at all it shouldn't work, provided the dog isn't neglected, which doesn't sound like a risk given you are obviously a very caring owner.

Yes baby will be in our room at first in its cot but going to be using moses basket inside cot which is one of those that one side drops. This will prevent dog from being able to knock it over should he be about. He gets good walks and has another bed in dining room which is well out the way should he wish for some peace.

Thanks for replies obviously baby comes first but I just saw it as another person so do the things to keep safe ie not leave them alone, not going in baby room etc but other then that find a way to all live together as dog has another few years in him yet. Then everyone started acting like I was being ridiculous and dog would be jealous making me doubt myself !!