Basset and baby....

[everybodywalkthedinosaur]

....DD (13 weeks old) and I are staying at my mother's whilst some building work is done. After dropping us off DH went home to our basset who then proceeded to search the house incase DD had managed to sneak by him. This involved checking where we change her nappy, the porch, where her Moses basket normally is, our bedroom for her crib and finally lying by the front door and whining. DH was shocked as he thought basset would love having him all to himself, but basset misses his baby. Just thought that I'd share, I though that it was sweet, and he's accepted her completely as part of the pack.

Aw bless xx dogs are lovely with babies, ours guard the pram like a guard of honour

Everybody - thank you for posting this. I hesitated to open your thread as I didn't want to get annoyed!

One of our dogs is older than DD and has been by her side since we brought her home from hospital. I think that the only issue we ever had for a short time was him weeing on a few toys indoors. I presume he was 'claiming' them!

The fun starts when baby starts to be more mobile... Please have a look at the thread about how to keep a pet dog with young children for some hints as your DD starts to toddle.

Best wishes

Aw that's very sweet!

Apparently he's still missing her. The thing he loves most in the world is to lick her bare feet....she just stares at him indignantly. If we're out walking and he's on the lead ahead with DH he'll suddenly stop and refuse to move until DD is with him again.

This is a dog who has 'doggy' soft toys, not to rag around but to cuddle up in bed with.....seriously. He has two favourite ones which he carries ever so gently and places lovingly wherever he's going to have a nap. Yet doesn't try to steal DD's little toys.

Sanity, we do a lot of those things with him. He actually loves commands. Such as, if he follows me up the stairs he has to go down them before me. Just little things. He's obviously never left alone with her in a room. We have gates up for that purpose. He's quite useful as when I'm putting the washing out when she's napping I'll have the doors open but gates shut. If she cries I can't hear it but he can and he lets me know.

My apologies if I came across as harsh - I've just re-read my post and my tone seems to be the opposite of how it sounds in my head!

Have had 11 years of DD and dog being best mates (and partners in crime at times) and it really is very special.

Your dog sounds really lovely and very sweet.

You're so lucky. Thanks for sharing such sweetness :)

My brothers Bassett has come to live with us, he adores my 13 month old and follows him around the house. When I get home from work without DS he is most disappointed and liked to come out and check the car to make sure I haven't left him there! He is very pleased when he comes home with DH.

Bassett's are so wonderfully loyal, I am sure yours will thoroughly enjoy playing with your DC.

My family's always had a basset, they're brilliant, but often misunderstood, family dogs! DH bought him up here to go for walk together, he hardly looked at me and was dancing around DH because he had DD! He's been very busy 'helping' with the building work as well. DD keeps looking at my mum's dogs and you can tell that she's looking for hers!

An update.... We're back home and I think his tail is going to drop off! He's done quite a few celebratory laps of the garden, has successfully defended her against the tv reflections in the window, has satisfied himself that she is definitely back by licking her hands and feet (feet licking was undertaken almost straight away), has lain in his basket getting up to check that she's still here.

Aw bless

He also got his favourite (at the moment) chew and gnawed it at my feet whilst gazing lovingly at her. He is soft, no wonder other dogs pick on him.

Yesterday he attained his greatest goal....he managed a quick lick to her face and then trundled back to his basket satisfied that he had kissed her.

Aw reading about your basset reminds me how wonderful they are...

Our boy was picked on a few times when out walking in the park, he would just crouch on the ground and screw his eyes up if another dog started to get bark at him (this happened a few times and we could never understand why other dogs seemed to pick on him?)

And he was perfect with ds who was only 4 when we got him, and considering that 4 year old boy are not the most patient or gentle, Stanley tolerated all the rough and tumble with the most amazing grace and good humour! I never ever heard him growl (or even grumble) in anger, not once! The most unaggressive dogs you could ever meet.

I suspect your DD is going to have the most amazing relationship with your Basset and she will be totally loved and cherished by him