Baby and dog?

**Starfish30** · 23-08-2012 00:00

I think that you have plenty of time to train the dog before the baby is born. The only issue would be having enough time for a young dog once the baby is born. I have an adult dog that doesn't require a lot of attention, is quite independent with the doggy door, BUT I feel very bad about having close to zero time for the dog at the moment. We still go for short walks everyday but that is pretty much it. My baby is still 2 months old and hopefully it will get better with time. It might be harder for you with a young dog.

**hopefully2** · 23-08-2012 00:09

I think my main concern would be dogs r pack animals and you have very little time to teach this animal it is at the bottom of the pack before another member joins the family and automatically becomes higher in the pecking order.

Definitely not something I would do.

**Jaebyrd** · 23-08-2012 07:04

Hi there! We have 4 dogs, all pure breeds. 2 x staffies 18 months old, springer spaniel 13 years old and an English Mastiff, 6 months old. We are showing one of the staffies and the mastiff will join very shortly as he is just old enough show.
As we have a pack, they sort out their pecking order but still realise my husband and I are the leaders. Next week we have a behaviouralist coming out to check over the dogs to assess them as I am concerned that they will not necessarily recognise the baby as higher than them in the order. So we are getting tips on that also. Obedience training or puppy pre school are great! You just have to be consistent.
Dogs are a great addition to the family if you have the time, otherwise they have a tendency to go a little off the track! I have always had dogs around my babies, but not a pack of this size! And they make a good companion when you are doing blocks with the crying baby in the pram!

**Bonkers** · 23-08-2012 07:15

I got a dog when I was preg with DS. It was a good choice. She is only a
Small dog. And tiny when I got her.

**WannaBMummy82** · 23-08-2012 07:16

Hi. I have a Cavoodle that is 2 years old and despite being small in the litter he turned out quite a lot bigger than we imagined. He is a beautiful dog and very good with the baby (though he is still not allowed near her unsupervised). However, he is a very affectionate dog and requires lot's of attention. He does not bark unless someone is in the yard who shouldn't etc. He lives inside most of the time because he is like another baby. The cavaliers were originally bred as lap dogs and it seems to shine through in him as his favourite place is right by my side. We had 1.5 years to train him before bub came but he still requires lots of affection and gets very lonely when left alone. That said he is my other baby and I wouldn't be without him now. I guess my point is don't be surprised if the puppy ends up a lot bigger because it is luck of the draw and be prepared to give it lot's of attention otherwise you will have two crying babies on your hands :-) Best of luck with your decision.

**FluffyDucks** · 23-08-2012 07:32

I have to agree with most of the posters and say I wouldnt recommend it. I dont know anything about cavoodles but my parents bought a puppy (a small fluffy...cant remember the name) and even though they have had dogs previously they probably spent two years with training, etc to get it behaving well (chewing couch, shoes, etc).

We bought a dog as a pup and she took a lot of effort and time to train but now with bubs (and two other kids) I just dont have the time to spend with her and feel so bad about that.

I personally wish we had of waited til the kids were much older so they can assist more in the care of the dog.

I really think it will be so hard to look after a puppy when the newbie comes along. Especially the dog will still be so young and will need lots of attention, excerise, etc and will be so hard with a newbie as well.

If you can hold off I think it would be a great idea.

**bezzy** · 23-08-2012 07:49

I found out I was pregnant at the same time we picked up our younger boxer puppy. Hardest bit for me was supervising the puppy with our older boxer because I kept falling asleep in the backyard with the pregnancy tiredness!
I didn't experience any problems with her being a young dog with the baby though. But she's a boxer so she's just as silly now as she was as a pup.