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The doghouse

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Original poster

Walking dogs with 8 month old

26 replies

Serendipitous80 · 24/02/2014 12:51

Hi, hut wondering if people walk their dogs with the baby? My baby is 8 months old, so too heavy for me to put in a carrier (I have back problems and she's very big!). I have two largish dogs who are very strong willed and it's impossible to walk them with a buggy, safely. Therefore, either my husband does it around work, or I do it, when he is home. He's away now with work, so I've just got a dog walker in, but money is tight!

How do you all manage?

OP posts:
Original poster
Serendipitous80 · 24/02/2014 12:52

Just* sorry, just trying to type as making milk and doing ten million other things!

OP posts:
runningonwillpower · 24/02/2014 12:56

I think you've covered the options already.

Unless you have a friend or relative who can take care of the baby whilst you walk the dogs.

Goldencity1 · 24/02/2014 13:01

Work on training them to walk with the buggy. Do it as if you were teaching them to walk on their lead. Treat them to keep their attention, stop and change direction when they pull. This might take a few goes...could you afford a session with a trainer?

WeeClype · 24/02/2014 13:01

I walk my 2 large dogs and a double buggy (3 month and 2 years), my dogs wear the halti's over their noses so they don't have the strength to pull.

Original poster
Serendipitous80 · 24/02/2014 14:14

I have haltis but they are all over the place in front of the buggy! Bit scatty! I can't really afford it but might be money saving long term. Thank you.

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daisydotandgertie · 24/02/2014 14:18

Teach them to walk on the lead properly. It will make them easier to walk for everyone and money spent on lessons will be far better value than money wasted on a dog walker.

Did you not see this problem coming before the baby arrived? I can't work out how you thought this would pan out - they must have been a problem for some time. How will a dog walker magically be able to handle them?

Original poster
Serendipitous80 · 24/02/2014 15:04

No Daisydotandgertie, I've not had a problem walking them before. If I had done, then I would have done something about it prior to having my baby. Dog walkers also have no issue with my dogs. The dogs seem to be very easily distracted by the buggy and just stop listening to the commands they would normally listen to.

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HerrenaHarridan · 24/02/2014 15:09

I just walked them at heel if near bust roads or off lead otherwise

chocaholic73 · 24/02/2014 15:19

If you didn't have a problem before, it sounds as if they are excited by the buggy. A couple of sessions with a trainer using the buggy would be a worthwhile exercise.

Northernmonkeys · 24/02/2014 15:23

I had this issue but I'm afraid we used the "easy" option of getting a dog walker. There was no problem with controlling them in the lead for the walker as they let them off in a big field as their walk! Not ideal but better than what I could give them when my husband was away and better for my sanity!
We have changed the routine now DS is older and the dgo on 2 smaller walks a day

Northernmonkeys · 24/02/2014 15:26

Sorry, posted too soon! We now take them for 2 smaller walks and excersise off lead in the garden if necessary. On the days we can do longer we do so to make up for it. The dogs have adapted well and aslong as they get fed and walked at some point don't mind too much.
I think it's easy to think things will work out before you're in the situation and I don't see the issue with using a d

Northernmonkeys · 24/02/2014 15:27

Sorry,
Using a dog walker if necessary.
Hope you find a solution.

justtoomessy · 24/02/2014 15:33

I think you need to just get out and walk with the buggy with treats and let them get bored of the buggy and try taking one dog out at a time. My dog used to be so good on the lead and now he can be a nightmare when other dogs come along so I am saving up to pay for a trainer for a couple of sessions.

Lilly20again · 24/02/2014 15:42

Can you find an area with a path that you can push the buggy and they can go off lead?

I'd buy a chocker to train them. ( it only took a week for our dog to 'get' it)

Whoknowswhocares · 24/02/2014 17:16

I be taking them out separately for training walks with the buggy (and no baby) to teach them how to walk nicely alongside it, armed with some tasty treats.Doesn't have to be a massive mission....10 minutes per dog per day would help see results massively. Then progress to both at once
Even up and down the garden if you can't get out alone would help

daisydotandgertie · 24/02/2014 22:16

So you're saying it isn't their lead walking that's the issue, but the specific problem of walking with a buggy?

And do you use the haltis with them or do you not need them?

The advice that a few people up thread have given - get the dogs used to the buggy by daily five or ten minute sessions with treats and no tolerance of weaving about in front of the buggy would solve the problem. Using a short lead so they can't actually get in front of the buggy might solve the problem? It sounds as though you might be using extendibles or very long leads at the moment?

Original poster
Serendipitous80 · 24/02/2014 23:12

Yes it's the buggy issue. I tried again today using haltis and short leads and it was better than previously, as I has them both on one side, rather than either side as previously. I also only tried a short walk, rather than expecting too much.

My husband and I walk the dogs between us normally, but his job takes him away at short notice sometimes. Previously, I was unable to walk the dogs after my daughter was born due to problems following birth, so it's probably a confidence issue also, as it's the first time I've had to do it for a longer period of time.

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minkersmum · 24/02/2014 23:35

When i had 3 dc under 4 i found either driving to somewhere that the dogs could be either immediately or almost immediately was my best bet. The beach, country park, forest walk etc Then I could manage the kids as we walked.

If I had to have them on leads I used a halti for my great dane and had her round my strongest wrist and my colliex in other hand. Three wheel buggies were bad for tipping but were easier to push along.

Other thing I found was it was sometimes cheaper to pay a baby sitter for an hour than pay a dog walker for 2 dogs. Esp if ypu know a reliable teenager.

Good luck.

minkersmum · 24/02/2014 23:36

Immediately off lead* that should have said, doh!!!

bakingtins · 25/02/2014 11:32

I think the money would be better spent on a couple of sessions with a trainer to get them to walk nicely with the buggy.
We just got a rescue JRT x, not really big enough to pull hard but have already started lessons and the trainer is happy to major on walking nicely on a lead and then work up to walking nicely with the pram before our next baby arrives in June. If they can already walk ok on a lead without the buggy shouldn't be a major problem to sort out.

lentilpot · 25/02/2014 12:26

Is there a sling library near you? They might be able to suggest a carrier that will work with your back problem.

mistlethrush · 25/02/2014 12:30

You definitely need to make sure that your dogs stay at your side rather than beside or ahead of the buggy - they will get used to it if you practice. If you can control them on a lead you should be able to keep them on a short lead and make this work OK. Out of interest, do you have to put both hands on the buggy or can you push it just one handed and hold the leads with the other - this is what we had and we had no problem with it.

DaddysBigTummy · 25/02/2014 13:00

What buggy do you have? I find it impossible to push an umbrella type stroller with one hand but when I had an Out and About Nipper Double I could easily push it with one hand and hold 2 dogs in the other.
Whereas now my youngest child is older and I have a lightweight stroller, I find it hard work with the puppy (as my previous 2 dogs have now died) and the buggy. Luckily DD will scoot most places like her older sisters so we hardly use the buggy now so I'm thankful for that.

Original poster
Serendipitous80 · 25/02/2014 20:04

I need both hands on the buggy. I have a lightweight one for my back. I think the dogs will 'get it' eventually.' No sling library no, but my friend has just bought a backpack carrier, so I might try it out, as it's supposed to be okay even for those with back problems :)

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mistlethrush · 25/02/2014 20:19

I had a mountain buggy - my back is not ideal and I had a really heavy lump to push about - it was blissfully easy to push (one finger on pavement) and only took effort if you were heading through 6" deep mud and water, or foot high grass. It wasn't light in itself - but pushing it was really easy.