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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

My dog is going to kill my baby apparently (small exaggeration!)

28 replies

HelgatheHairy · 29/07/2013 10:42

I'm 39+1 and live in a rural/farming area of Ireland. It's quite unusual here to have a dog live in the house like we have our Golden and to take him with us if we go in the car.

In the last week I've had 4 people tell me that he can't stay living inside/they know someone who will take him off our hands!!! And the look of shock/horror when I say nothing (as far as possible) is changing! And then the stories start!

And that's not including my mother who seems convinced I'm going to GIVE the baby to the dog so I've been hearing bout the dog from her since I got pregnant!

We're planning on the usual bringing a blanket home first etc etc. To be fair he's scared of most things at first (it's taken him 3 weeks to get used to the fan and still throws it looks like he doesn't quite trust it!) so I think he will be a bit freaked out so we'll be encouraging him not to be scared rather than having to fend him off!

OP posts:
ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 29/07/2013 10:45

Meh. Ignore them. I'm sure you'll take all the sensible and necessary precautions to make sure that your baby and your dog are safe from each other. I imagine you won't be tucking the baby up in the dog basket or letting them share a food bowl Grin

GrimmaTheNome · 29/07/2013 10:50

Of course, lots of us have dogs and babies with no problems. With a bit of common sense (which seems a bit lacking in some of the people you know) they coexist happily. (and the kids tend to have good immune systems Grin)

Yes, bring home a blanket; let the dog have a sniff of the baby when you're home. Then obviously, you take care to not let the dog be near the baby untended - we got a cat bell for our dog's collar so he couldn't inveigle himself onto the bed if I was asleep with DD.

Also make extra fuss of your dog when he's around the baby - so baby is associated with good things. DH spent quite a lot of time of his (short, back then) paternity leave giving ours extra walks.

The one really odd thing was that when I came home with DD our dog (a dachshund) appeared to have trebled in size! He gradually shrank back to normal as she grew Grin

Good luck!

binger · 29/07/2013 10:51

ignore them all. Just take all the sensible precautions like ensuring your dog has a safe place he can take himself off to and where you can put him if you need him out the way for feeding or nappy changing etc and obviously never leaving him alone with your baby. It will definitely take him time to get used to but should be absolutely fine with time.

my dog isn't very sure of my one year old nephew and i have to keep her out the way most of the time as I'm not 100% sure she wouldn't snap a bit at him plus he doesn't seem to like her either lol. They don't see each other often though so don't get the chance to bond. She's great with older kids though so I know it will come in time.

Purplehonesty · 29/07/2013 10:51

Mine was fine with my two collies just never left them alone together. Nobody really said much tho apart from my mum saying don't leave them alone. More people were concerned that my cat would sit on and squash the baby in her cot but I only found her in there once....! Thankfully baby wasn't there at the time and she got an earful and didn't repeat it!
Now the kids sit on the dogs, pull their ears etc and they aren't bothered. They just get up and walk off if they've had enough and now live outside mainly for peace!

GrimmaTheNome · 29/07/2013 10:56

Now the kids sit on the dogs, pull their ears etc and they aren't bothered.

again stating the obvious, some dogs would mind and from a very young age DD was lectured on treating the dog carefully, not trying to pick him up (certainly not sitting on him!). Also it can be a bad idea to let a small child play on the floor with a dog. All this is a way off for you though!

tabulahrasa · 29/07/2013 11:10

I've never had to supervise a dog round my DC...I had to supervise the DC with the dog, but it was never the dog doing anything they shouldn't, lol.

The vast majority of dogs accept the arrival of a tiny person exactly as they would any other person living in the house.

Original poster
HelgatheHairy · 29/07/2013 11:23

Chickens dog is such a coward/so gentle that if he walks in and the cat is at his food bowl he just lies down and waits for the cat to finish!! He also lets his doggy friend eat his food and take toys straight out of his mouth!

Obviously I'm not going to be letting dog/baby alone and watching them really closely but the last week has got to me. I think it's just because I'm expected to stop caring about the dog now I'm having the baby. I've also been told that I won't be walking the dog any more!! (Yes - people think its strange I walk the dog for the dogs sake - the dog coming along if I want to go for a walk is normal, me taking the dog for a walk because the dog needs a walk is strange!)

OP posts:
bubble2bubble · 29/07/2013 11:53

Oh yes. Where I live I am probably known as the mad dog woman. Not only do we have three dogs in the house, but three cats lounging on the beds, and two children. Met with genuine looks of horror on a frequent basis. And lost track of the number of times I was asked " what are you going to do with the cats/dogs when you have a baby" . Well the is answer " not dump them like everyone else around here seems to do" . The midwife who asked this got very short shrift indeed.

GrimmaTheNome · 29/07/2013 11:54

He sounds lovely Smile.

Babies (and their mums!) benefit from walks too - I expect you've got or are planning to get some sort of sling/front carrier?

Original poster
HelgatheHairy · 29/07/2013 12:01

grimma I'm planning on getting some sort of sling/carrier but I've got a bit overwhelmed with everything (other family stuff going on in the background) so I'm waiting till I've had baby for anything else.

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 29/07/2013 12:04

Yeah, its not something you need immediately but definitely recommend! Smile

eurochick · 29/07/2013 12:06

I hate it when people get rid of their pets as soon as a baby comes along. To me, you take a pet on for life.

PinkSippyCup · 29/07/2013 12:08

Ignore them OP. I'm sure you'll be taking all necessary precautions and you know your own dog.

I had this when pregnant with DD, but about my cat!! MIL said "what are you going to do about the cat?" Like he is some kind of savage beast! Confused

I sometimes think people just want to make conversation.

Original poster
HelgatheHairy · 29/07/2013 12:15

I do also have a cat but no one has said anything about him! He's really independent though (he has NEVER sat on my lap - I don't think he likes us very much)

He also half thinks he's a dog. He eats the dogs food, comes on walks when I walk the dog close to home (then gets tired and I have to carry him home) and if I'm playing fetch in the garden he chases after the dogs toys (and gets the dog confused when he gets to them first).

He also lies on the coffee table, sticks his head up to the dog and that's a cue for the dog to lick his head!

OP posts:
sweetkitty · 29/07/2013 19:56

I had this when first pregnant with my first " oh you'll have to get rid of your 3 cats, they'll smell the milk and sit on the baby and smother it to death" I did research as there has never been one recorded case of a cat smothering a baby to death (unless you count my friends aunts neighbours dogs girlfriends baby who she swears this happened to.

I've had four babies and never found a cat near any of them.

It really saddens me the number of poor dogs up for rehoming on sites like preloved or gum tree "new baby means we have to get rid of her we really don't want to Hmm" "good with children" yeah right.

sweetkitty · 29/07/2013 19:57

We're getting a puppy next month and according to a few people its going to early children and we would be better with a lab.

Nicolaflem83 · 30/07/2013 16:44

Only 13 weeks with first baby and after people find out we are expecting, one of the first questions is what we will do with our 1-year old black lab. I am not so worried about dog and baby (dog is a gormless fraidycat where children are concerned, but will still take sensible precautions and not leave dog and baby alone), am more concerned about the health visitor reporting me to social services when she finds dog hair in the sudocrem...

Original poster
HelgatheHairy · 30/07/2013 17:03

nicola THAT I do worry about! (The amount of dog hair)

OP posts:
Nicolaflem83 · 30/07/2013 17:26

I just keep telling myself we will be raising a healthy robust child with no allergies...while I hoover...again...

GrimmaTheNome · 31/07/2013 13:15

Just got Summer Wag mag (DD has a Dogs' Trust sponsor dog) - they've teamed up with NCT to produce a leaflet with advice for people with dogs who are planning on having a baby.

Here

It's pretty obvious stuff, I think, but may help reassure families and friends that the NCT doesn't think baby == ditch the dog!

The piece in the mag appears to have nicked my dog for the photo. Grin

Original poster
HelgatheHairy · 31/07/2013 15:37

nicola that's what I tell myself too as I see another clump of dog hair roll by 5 minutes after I've hoovered!

grimma thanks for that. You have a cute dog! I'm laughing at the advice that says "develop a routine you intend to follow once baby arrives and stick to it"

OP posts:
AidanTheRevengeNinja · 31/07/2013 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AidanTheRevengeNinja · 31/07/2013 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gonnabmummy · 04/08/2013 18:23

Helga I've found you! You just posted on my thread :) going to read this one now

Gonnabmummy · 04/08/2013 18:29

This thread is fab, lovely great stories.
People I know have the perception baby will be basted in chicken stock and laid out for their evening meal Hmm