For those who had dogs before bubs...

[EssTee]

Is there anything specific you did before bubs came along in preparation? there are SO many articles out there with so much advice, but I'm interested in what people did that they found really helped. My dogs are all pretty well behaved but two of them are large and high energy, and one is still just a pup. I want to make sure I do everything I can to make them all comfortable as well as myself.
I don't plan to relegate them to outside, either, however we are setting up an area of the house and setting up an outside access for them from there, so that if need be, they can be put away so they aren't underfoot.
tips appreciated!

[lady_neon]

We're yet to see if anything we've done works.. but so far we've spent the last month setting clear boundaries in the house where they are allowed and not allowed to go. It was easier given that we moved house so they've never been allowed on the carpeted areas from day 1. We've got the outside access as well - works out fantastic, they can use the laundry, side of the property and part of the backyard freely, and still see into the living area from the laundry (gated) or part of the backyard we are in from the high fenced area adjoining the side. Does that make sense? LOL

We'll be trying suggestions of letting dogs sniff the babies clothes/blankets etc before introducing.

Am interested to see what has worked for everyone else too

ETA - we also bought new inside beds when we found out I was pregnant and trained them to only sleep there when they are inside, or go to it when they're a bit over-excited and need to calm down.

[Marley&Me]

Subbing. My dogs are my WORLD. So it will be hard when/if i do finally get pregnant.

[Teeki]

We immediately stopped him getting on our bed and couches. It took him a bit of getting used to, but he was fine with it after a bit. We showed him all of DD's stuff, and he could see in her room, but wasn't allowed in there. In the end we stopped him going in our room too because we had wooden floors and I didn't want the sound of his toenails waking DD when she was sleeping in there.

He already had a mat in the lounge room and went there when we told him. This was the best thing, as I knew I could tell him "get on your may" and he'd go straight there. We also left DD's pram out in the lounge room to get used to, as all of her day naps were in the pram basinette attachment.

When I was in hospital with DD, DH brought home clothes that she'd worn to smell. He was really interested at first but got over it quickly. When we came home, I went in first on my own - it'd been there days since he'd seen me and I looked different now! Then DH came in with DD. We all spoke softly, we were calm and relaxed, so he had a sniff and went on his way. It's been great

[Artechim]

Make sure that the dogs have a spot they can go to that is just for them. My girl was 8 when DS was born. She wasn't allowed in the baby's room but no where else was off limits. She had her dog bed in our room and when DS got mobile and started bugging her she would just remove herself and go to her space.

We let her sniff DS when he came home from hospital. She looked all bug eyed and confused for a couple of days but she still went for walks so she was happy. She accepted him (and later DD1) as part of the family. She loved it when they started eating solids and left bits around for her to eat. We had an unspoken agreement that she wasn't allowed to scrounge around for food, but if she slyly cleaned up under the high chair I could turn a blind eye lol. She was really great with the kids - had numerous cars parked on her head, full body cuddles/squashes and if they got too much for her she would get up, sigh and go to her bed.

I think the only thing that we altered was that the babies never spent much time lying on the floor. She had a big heart but OMG she was the clumsiest dog to roam the plant.

I miss my dog

[Ilithyia]

We didn't really make any changes prior as ours weren't inside dogs and anything like that.

What I did do prior was tell them there was a baby in the belly. LOL! Sounds silly now but I felt like that knew what I was saying.

It was when we brought the girls home that we implemented certain things.

First thing first, we introduced the babe to them as we got out of the car. We gave them the opportunity to sniff and smell the babe and to listen to the sounds babe would make. We carefully let them in close next to the babe but not let them lick or anything.

I really think its integral not too hide the babe from them. Nor shun their interest.

Boundaries are important too.

Good luck!!
xx

[LuluHB]

My dog wasn't allowed in bedrooms or on beds or couches prior to Miss A being born so nothing really changed for him in that respect. We let him snuffle her really well - just short of slobbering on her basically - and generally just tried to let things continue as they always have. At the beginning he was very concerned when Miss A cried and raced over to her but now he opens an eye and that's about it. He ignores her pretty well when she's on the floor on her mat or in her swing.

So far things have been good. Not sure if that will take a backwards step once Miss A is moving around .

[leesha]

Our girl was three when ds1 came along. She was our little girl and pretty spoilt! We did the recommended smell the baby clothes before coming home, we got her to sleep on her bed in the lounge room instead of our bed , just kept her routine as much as possible! Not allowed on the kids beds!!
Now we are onto baby number three you can tell she has accepted being pushed down the chain of command..she plays with the kids but also just walks away when they are bugging her! She was 7 last week and probably has another 7 yrs in her...she is still my baby

[Miss_Dee]

I don't have dogs, but a friend has a rather energetic lab. One thing that I know she did was before they brought bubs home, they brought home the blanket that he was wrapped in when he was first born. It was obviously a bit gross, but totally covered in his scent. This allowed their dog to get used to his scent before he got home. I can ask what else they did if you like. 3 months down the track they quite happily leave bubs on his mat or in his bouncer in the lounge room while they are in the kitchen getting lunch or doing dishes, etc and they have no issues with their dog roaming the house. He walks past and checks on bubs, but mostly seems to leave him alone.

[Cassius2]

I think the most important thing is to remain consistent with your dog. The stories of dogs reacting badly and inflicting harm on a new baby invariably are traced back to the dog believing that in some way the arrival of the baby has meant a punishment for them (ie when DD1 was born there was a story in the news about a dog that mauled the new baby after it had been on a 'holiday' with the grandparents while the new parents adjusted...for this dog, it was a punishment that it was sent away and relegated to a new pecking order without warning).

Clear boundaries are best instituted while you are pregnant regarding access to baby's room/your bed/couch etc.

Also a good idea to start thinking of the different ways that you will interact with the dog once bubs is here (eg. if they are going to be walked with the pram then have the pram set up early and in the living area so they get used to seeing it and seeing being occasionally moved...good for nervous dogs as well)

sniffing of the clothes of both you and baby is also a brilliant way to have the dog recognise the new smell and not be too shocked when the baby arrives and when you arrive...you will smell different as well especially with the milk coming in...my dog loved it...she became all puppy-like around me ).

In all honesty though most dogs do really well and adjust with very little worry. sometimes the crying can freak them out but after a few days it becomes part of the background noise

[kateo]

We have two dogs, a cairn terroist and a blue heeler. They are both very much indoor lounge lizards. We have a play room with a gate that they can only access when invited. This room was built with the view it would be a babies area so the dogs have rarely been in there.
We did all the clothes smelling stuff and furniture change stuff.
The blue heeler is a total "mum" stresses when "her" baby cries and generally looks at me with disdain if I let little one cry a bit. The terrorist just keeps himself clear and will play a little with DS but just removes himself when things don't suit him. Both dogs are pretty well behaved.
One of tha main things I did do prior to babys arrival was to randomly lock the dogs outside while I was at home. Usually they only went out when we were here. They are now very accepting that if I'd like DS to roam around the house they go out for a bit. I also let them stay in when he roams but I don't leave them in unless I am able to keep 100% of an eye on things.
I believe it doesn't matter how good your dogs are they should never be trusted alone with a kid.
We still walk our dogs much the same but now they go with just one of us in the evening instead of us both. They also get heaps of cuddles and attention in the evenings after DS goes to bed........much like normal.....we always had them for our "down-time" in the evening.

[Sparkles]

Our girl was 3.5 when DS was born. She was our baby and allowed on the couch, so after we got the all clear at the 12 week scan, she was not allowed on the couch anymore. She has always known "go to your bed" (in the lounge room) and so this was her "safe spot", especially when DS started moving we then taught him he was not allowed near her bed as this is where she went to get away from him pestering her.
Lots of people thought she would get her nose put out when DS was born as she was our baby but we knew she would be fine!! DS and her are now great buddies, DS helps feed her every night and to get her out of the laundry in the morning etc.

Good luck x

[Teeki]

The terrorist just keeps himself clear and will play a little with DS but just removes himself when things don't suit him.

Best behaved terrorist ever!

I agree with making any changes well before baby comes along, you don't want the dog "blaming" the baby for changes that he/she didn't like. I also agree that you can never really trust your dog. Even the best dog can get fed up with too much screaming and ear pulling. My dog was absolutely my baby before DD came along and he is so well behaved around her, but I won't leave him alone with her.

[EssTee]

Thanks - these are great tips
I definitely wouldn't leave my dogs alone with him.
3/4 of them have been around babies before although only for visits, and that's obviously a bit different to the 24/7 scenario they'll be faced with in a few months!
Currently dogs aren't allowed in our room although the youngest one does come in at night when OH is away so I will start moving away from that at some point. they are allowed on the lounges but we've put that rule into place before (and then became a bit lax about it, hence them now sleeping on the lounge) so it shouldn't be hard to fix that one up if we choose to.
good to see that having a seperate area for them seems to work well.