Tips for new babies and INSIDE dogs...

[Katieflutterby]

I am 28 weeks pregnant (due in March ) with our first baby. We also have a furry baby, our 12 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. (Here is a pic from when she was a puppy, she is just adorable http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3..._Puppy_011.jpg

Anyway, she is an INSIDE dog, and has a doggy door to get access outside when she needs it. She does play outside sometimes, but mostly likes to be inside with us. She sleeps inside too, she is rather spoilt.

My question is, what tips do you have for having both the baby and the dog together in the house all the time? Im not really concerned about how she will cope with the new baby, i think she will love it, but I want to hear how other people have managed with both a baby and a dog inside. Im planning on getting a playpen to have somewhere to put bub to seperate them sometimes, but I wont use that all the time.

Anyone else with inside dogs, and what was your experience like? Thanks in advance!

[lulu 2]

We have 2 boxer dogs who were 12 mths old when dd was born they are great with the kids and we really didn't have to change much. Feeding the dog is best done outside once bubs can crawl otherwise they r always into it and water bowls too had a few of them spilt on the floor. We used the playpen and it was great but the dogs neva jumped on the kids when they were babys anyway its like they know. Training is good we got the dogs used to having their food taken off them and toys and ear pulling tail pulling etc and now the only reaction they have to being hurt by the kids is to get up and walk away. I did have to growl at them a couple of times when dd went to a toddler bed cause i would find the dogs asleep on it with her lol but they don't do that anymore. Oh by the way i love the pic of your cavy they are the worlds cutest dog!! imo lol

[Sunnygal]

That is one cute pup! I would suggest when you do have bubs, bring get your partner to take a blanket or something the baby has worn so your pup can get used to her scent!
Also we had 2 cats inside (a little different I know) but we sat up a playpen for their food, cat litter and as a little 'retreat' for them if they needed to get away from the kids! So maybe you could set up somewhere special for your pup to call her own...
If you are going to make any changes with your dog for example if she sleeps in your bed and you want her out, or if you want her to spend more time outside, or if you are setting up her retreat thingy, then you might want to start working on it now!

[mummeeto2]

We have an alaskan malamute & had no probs with him accepting the kids. All thru the first pregnancy we let Avalanche see what we were doing - setting up the cot, folding clothes etc & let him listen to my tummy (not sure if he could hear the heartbeat). He was allowed into the baby's room, but I tried to ignore it so he'd realise there was nothing special there (yet) & he'd leave the room after a few minutes. I loved having our playpen, they're good for keeping bubs & dog separated.

When DS was born DH took home mine & bubs clothes each day for Avalanche to sniff so he associated the new baby smell with me. When I got home I spent a few minutes with him before we got DS from the car, then sat outside so he could sniff DS before we headed inside. For the first few days he was very interested in seeing what was happening with DS, then figured it was nothing too special & left us alone. Having DD was pretty much a non-issue, Avalanche had seen it all before & just wanted a sniff & that was it. With both kids he did get a bit antsy when they started moving about, then crawling & walking. I think in his mind he's thinking "should you be doing that? You've never done that before"

[metropolismum]

I agree with the advice that the other dog lovers have provided. The only other thing we did was have my neighbour and her bub over quite a few times with her on the floor so that our two small white fluffies got used to little people and we could also observe their behavious in a controlled situation to determine if it was going to be a problem. It wasn't and the little white fluffies don't mind the baby at all... in fact its as if she were always around!

[RoarsomeMum]

We have 2 indoor Rottweilers. We prepared them early, certain sections of the house became off limits, (bubs room and bathroom) we but up babygates at the 2 central doors so we could have them seperate during floor time and food time..

My parents have a cav and do Family day care. The biggest issue with the minature breeds is jealousy and the toenails!!!!! so Id be trying to make some rules (ie will u let dog lick baby etc) and then figure out a way to train.

[codswallop]

we started making any changes to our dogs lives before baby was born(like not sleeping in between mummy and daddy and instead sleeping out in the lounge room) so they didn't associate the baby with all the changes
hubby also took home some poopey nappies and things from the hospital to let them have a good sniff

[SilverStarfish]

We have an alaskan malamute & had no probs with him accepting the kids. All thru the first pregnancy we let Avalanche see what we were doing - setting up the cot, folding clothes etc & let him listen to my tummy (not sure if he could hear the heartbeat).

What an awesome name for a malamute Love it!

What an adorable puppy. KCS can pull just the cutest "sad" faces when they are after something.

We have a Hungarian Puli, named Kormos. When I was pregnant with my first, I had TRUCKLOADS of "advice" from people who were utterly amazed that we did not intend to turf Kormie out on his ear when the baby arrived.

We didn't do any elaborate preparation - just a few of the things that people have already suggested. Let your puppy see the preparations, and be a part of it all - as much as you can with a dog. And get your husband/partner to bring home something that the baby has worn when he comes to visit you in hospital.

The first thing we did when we bought Sarah home was to introduce her to Kormos. And he was fine after that. Nothing much about his life changed. He still sat on the couch and slept on the end of our bed.

Other than that, get DH to take your puppy for a play or a walk every now and then, and have some furry cuddles while your non-fur baby is having a nap Keep a close eye on them when they are together and obviously never leave them alone together.

Good luck! While it depends a lot on the individual dog and family situation, I really think that dogs adn babies can co-exist happily in the house.

[LilMissnBoo]

We have a Boxer, and we have had no problems at all! We actually only had him for 6 weeks before DD was born (he was a rescue dog, and is 6 years old)

Once DD was born DH would bring clothes home from the hospital for Mac to smell, and as soon as we arrived home it was like he just knew that there was a baby!! He was so excited!

Just remember to still give attention to your pup, train him to sit or drop when the bub is on the floor, and feed outside.

DD and Mac are best friends now, she is forever climbing over him, sitting on his bed and patting him!! I think he likes her because she feeds him toast in the mornings!

[Katieflutterby]

Thanks everyone! Its really helpful hearing what others have done to prepare and cope with both dog and bub in the house.

I will definitely be getting DH to take a blanket and some clothes home for her to sniff so she can get used to the smell. I have involved her in all of the preparation, she has explored the nursery and all the new baby equipment we have. Im picking the pram up this weekend so I will let her have a good look at that too.

lulu, how funny finding your dogs in the toddler bed with your DD. I can tell that my dog will want to do that too, she sleeps on our bed now, but I suspect she might end up best friends with bub and want to sleep with them...

Sunnygal, the retreat idea is a good one. I will talk to DH about where we could set this up!

Mumtomee2 what a gorgeous name for your dog! Ive let my dog see all of the baby related changes too, she often sits in the nursery with me while I fold clothes, and get things organised. But she isnt interested in being in there unless I am too. And good advice about spending some time with her before bringing the baby inside. She gets so excited when I come home, I think it would be good to calm her down first.

metropolismum, yes thats a good idea, Ill get some friends with young kids to come over to practice with her. She had a play with a 3 yr old before, but ended up scared cos he kept pulliing her ears... Ill have to teach my kids to be gentle with her.

EcstaticEm, yes I am mainly concerned that she will be jealous of the attention bub gets. And she does like to lick... I dont mind her licking occassionally but I will keep an eye on her I dont want her licking bubs face all the time!

teapotfairy, hehe your post made me laugh. Our fur baby likes to sleep between us in bed too Im trying to implement any changes now, but there wont be too many changes in her routine, just that there will be someone competing with her for attention!

Faeml, Oh my god you should see the sad faces that she puts on... makes me feel like the most neglectful owner ever!! She is a master of manipulation!! I have had people say "just put her outside now" too, and I think thats just horrible. You cant just shaft the dog out when a baby comes, no wonder they get upset!! Im not planning on changing anything in her routine, there will just be changes going on around her. And Im confident that she will be fine, and in fact love having a new family member to snuggle with!

myabella, how cute, your DD feeding him toast I have been practising her training (sit, down etc). She still gets over excited and sometimes escapes out the front door when I open it... Im gonna have to work on that. All she wants to do is sniff the grass out the front, but I dont want her running down the road or something, she has no road sense.

Thank you all again for your advice, very helpful!