Pretty much the best way is to introduce any new routines to your pets before bub gets here - so that means if you don't want them in the baby's room, teach them "no" now. If you no longer want them sleeping on your bed, now's the time to do it. Same as jumping on the sofa.
given she's a malamute, I'd really be ensuring you take her to puppy preschool & dog training, as she'll be a big dog for a small baby.
Also, we brought home dirty baby clothes for the dogs to smell before we came home, and ensured we gave the dogs baby-free lovin' as part of their routine.
We also allowed time for our pets to meet our DS under our supervision, so they got to know that he was a new member of our 'pack'. We let them sniff him and didn't tell them off for going near him as we were there monitoring what was going on. It was actually interesting to see how they reacted.
The cat was quite indifferent, didn't like the crying so basically stayed out of the way. She doesn't now, she'll go and rub herself on him and has no problem with him being near her (unless she's in a mood!!)
The dog wasn't quite sure what to make of him either, but was certainly curious and took the time to check him out. He always wanted to greet him when we got home, just as he did to us. And when he cried he would go and get one of his toys and toss it for him (like he was trying to make him better by sharing his toys). We had to watch that he only brought stuffed toys, not his Kong!! But the two of them are now best friends and play all sorts of games together and I never feel anxious watching them play. Of course I keep the supervision up but I really feel that the dog is just as protective of Jett as he is of us.
The other important thing is to allow your dog to remove herself for timeout when she needs. This might be her bed, or a different room, or even outside, but somewhere where your child can not get to them while they are there IYKWIM. I know that might seem a long way off, but it is good to think ahead and plan if you need to.
Goodluck! I'm sure they will grow up great friends too!
yes, lil miss has already graduated from puppy pre school. she is mainly an outside pup soo im hoping there sholdnt be too much problems when bub comes along
Just wanted to say I have a 15yo lazy fat cat called Pierate and a 7mth old border collie puppy Vixen. We bought Charlotte home from the hospital the day she was born, Pierate could not care less, hasn't even really attempted to check her out.. sometimes he looks a bit annoyed when she screams! lol.
Vixen is more interested, at first she was terrified of Charlotte and if we put her down near vixen, Vixen wouldn't look at her and would run away! LOL. Now she comes in while charlotte is on my legs and gives her sneaky licks on her head or feet (whatever is hanging near her mouth!) but that's about it.
The transition has been easy!
I'm a long way out from bringing bubs home, but I have what can be a difficult dog. He was a dog I got as a security/gaurd dog that has ended up being my best mate and big sookie boy!
He is a de-sexed 9yo Rottie x Lab (to the best of our knowledge) I got him from YAPS at 5yo. The ONLY thing I know about his past is that his last family gave him up because "he went funny on the baby." At yaps, they told me he would eat my cat and I could never have him near kids etc etc. He is incredibly smart and I have had no real trouble training him to ignore the cat (helps that she beats s*** out of him any chance she gets) and he is usually pretty good with kids. If they are shorter than he is, sometimes they are ok but sometimes not. Other dogs are generally OK if they are the same size or bigger, he won't be the one to start a fight but if the other dog does, he will finish it! Smaller dogs are a definite no-no. I basically always have to watch him with kids and dogs until I KNOW they will be ok (like, after several visits)
He is VERY protective of me, and also jealous. To the point where he normally follows me from room to room around the house and if he has fallen asleep and I've gone outside or something he will panic and run (literally run) around sniffing until he has found me. He always has to know I am OK. He also knows I am the boss, and while he will listen to DH or other people its like he knows they aren't the ones in charge and he doesn't REALY have to do what they say. If he is around, I don't pat other dogs as it causes too many problems. He is SUPER affectionate and cuddly to me, slightly less to DH and will have a cuddle with some other close family but not everyone. He won't let just anyone pat him (a lot of that depends on how I am acting towards the person though). He also gets separation anxiety, especially if left alone but DH says when I go away for a few days he gets very depressed and sometimes won't eat.
He is not allowed on any furniture, doesn't usually sleep in our room, gets fed last behind us and the cat, is not fed treats without sitting, shaking etc, is not fed from the table or anything he has seen us eating (unless we have finished, and take him away from where we are eating) and I used to be very strict on the waiting for us to go through doors first (but not lately as he settled in so well). He waits to be told to eat when he is fed meals (you can leave the room and he won't touch it), he waits to be told to get in and out of the car, he doesn't jump up on anyone either. He really does try very hard to do the right thing to make you happy and is (mostly) an obedient, loving, gentle dog.
I am so worried about him with the baby but I'm not sure if he really went crazy in the past or if his last owners were the ones that went crazy. I honestly don't know why they gave him up as I think he could be easily trained to accept a baby.. but then, I don't know for sure.
What do any of you more experienced dog handlers think?
BEcause if there is anything I can start training him to do early I would rather put the next 7 months into it than have to give him up (or most likely put down) because of a baby in the house.
Sorry about the long post, but he really is my best mate!
We made sure that in the months leading up to baby being born, that the dogs were put into a routine that wouldn't be unusual to them once baby arrived. So if they came inside, they were to sit on their indoor mat, we tried to get them used to walking with the pram. Their routine didn't change hugely because they were already outside all day while we were at work, something that would continue once baby was born.
When we had DD, DH came home each day I was in hospital and got them to sniff the used baby clothes. They fretted while I was away (5 days in total). When we came home, we brought them out to the car and they watched us bring DD out. We let them have a sniff, but after that, they were happier in the backyard. If we brought them in, they wanted to be out. Three years on, and this is still the case with one of the dogs. Neither of them have ever shown aggression, get along fine with each other and are okay with other dogs (one is overly enthused, and the other couldn't care less). But I have never let DD near them by herself. Too much can go wrong in a split second, and it's just not worth it. Fact is I trust my dogs, but if DD was to pull a tail or an ear, I have no way of 100% knowing how they will react. I'm hoping I read you wrong when you wrote "I basically always have to watch him with kids and dogs until I KNOW they will be ok (like, after several visits)" but it gave me shivers.
We tried not to exclude our dogs from our life but things do change. Having a baby that didn't sleep too well, and had unforseen medical issues meant that the dogs really did take a back seat for quite some time. But we found a balance again. They come camping with us, DD likes to talk to them, pat them and throw the ball for them and I don't think they'll bat an eyelid when we have this baby.
There are pamphlets you can get about introducing dogs to a new baby - we got ours from the hospital, or maybe talk to your vet for other ideas about how to prepare him. Good luck!
Thanks PacRakMG. I will talk to the vet next time she does her rounds.
No, you diddnt read anything wrong, I do have to watch him all the time with new kids and dogs which is EXACTLY why I am so worried about him. I agree that you can never know 100% how they will react which is what I really worry about. Mostly because I know what he is like now, but there was 5 whole years of expereiences before I got him and I have no idea when or if his past might come back to bite someone!
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