|
Post by calsmum on Dec 13, 2011 12:20:34 GMT -5
Hi all, We've had Cal for around 5 months now and he's settling in more and more every week. He's become a real personality and we love having him as part of our family! I've recently discovered that I'm pregnant - due next June. This wasn't planned, but we're happy about it now we've got used to the idea. But we're worried about the effect it will have on Cal. He was pretty good with my 5 year old niece, but a baby is another thing entirely. I wondered if anyone has any good advice about how to prepare him for the change in the household, or if there are any good books on this subject. We really want this to work as we'd be heartbroken to have to part with Cal now. Well, it's really not something we want to even consider. We've 6 months to prepare him so want to do everything that we can. Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks, Cheryl
|
|
|
Post by frisbysmum on Dec 13, 2011 14:23:59 GMT -5
Firstly Congratulations!!! We have 2 lurchers, 1 is a Gap dog, and when our little one turned up just over 3 years ago we would not even consider they would be going anywhere. My advice is to keep everything as normal as possible, I think the dogs would resent a child more if they were suddenly excluded in any way. . Mine continued to sleep in their own beds in our room and Ruby had her moses basket next to me on a stand. Obviously still make lots of fuss of the dogs so they dont feel left out and obviously you should never leave them alone in a room together, but not a problem if you have doors! We never had any problems and Ruby has been brought up to respect my dogs space and she gets in trouble if she doesnt!!! My best advice is to relax and enjoy your pregnancy and your dog-am sure all will be fine if common-sense prevails. I think its great for a child to be brought up with animals, teaches them its not all about them!!! We have horses too- and Ruby now feeds our 17.2hh horse and she has no fear, behaves well around them and they are gentle with her because she is little. Stair gates are good too for seperating dogs and children at times so you dont have to be on your guard all the time! Best of luck and chill-am sure it will be great.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2011 14:36:21 GMT -5
First of all, congratulations! There are a few people on the forum who have dogs and babies and I'm sure they'll be along soon with their experiences. In the meantime, for what it's worth, here's my suggestions. I'm assuming you already have good basic control with Cal - that he will 'leave' when told, come when called, not jump upetc. If not, it would be worth enrolling in a good dog club now. Is there anyone in your circle of friends who already has a baby? It would be useful, if they were willing, to see how Cal reacts. You can keep him on lead and muzzled, but you may very well find that he's not the least bit interested and that should help you relax straight away. The best result you can look for, I think, is a dog who finds the baby a bit boring and would sooner find something else to do - that way he'll be out from under your feet when you're busy. In the run up to the birth, it could be worth carrying a doll or something baby-sized around as it won't fool Cal, but it will help you get used to controlling him while carrying a baby. Have baby gates available if you don't already and get him used to being behind one away from you, with a stuffed Kong or something to entertain him so that's not a new experience when baby comes. If you don't use a crate you might find it useful to get him one and get him used to it as a safe den where he can go when he wants peace and where you can shut the door when you need to be sure he's out of the way. If the baby is born in hospital, your OH could take home something baby has worn but just leave it in his pocket or something so that the smell becomes gently familiar - don't offer it as something interesting or exciting - remember baby should be boring. Coming home from hospital, personally I would greet Cal with baby out of the way and have him either behind the gate or in the crate, with a toy or Kong, when baby comes in. Try to make sure you have a chew or a kong for him when you're busy with baby (you could feed his entire daily food this way if necessary) so that if any connection is made, it will be "oh good, baby needs attention - that means I get a treat". It's quite possible that none of this will be necessary and after an initial sniff everything is fine. I'm sure I've only skimmed the surface of what can be done, but hope this gives food for thought. Let us know how you get on. eta - must have been typing this as frisbysmum posted!
|
|
|
Post by dizzi on Dec 13, 2011 15:21:15 GMT -5
I've got the same situation coming - but a month earlier than you... the record from going public with the news to the first "are you getting rid of the dogs" was 2 hours - and got incredibly short shrift.
I'm not too worried about the grey - more the rather needy, very clingy, you humans are the centre of my world collie-cross I'm concerned how he's going to take it - pretty sure he'll be ok apart from a few morose ear wiggles and tilted heads though. We've started making slight changes now - things like moving the dog beds in the bedroom so there'll be room for the cot (not that the hound uses it - she mysteriously ends up on my feet every night somehow), things like getting them used to spending time behind a baby gate in the kitchen and little things like that.
The one "problem" we are having is Nancy's love for anything white soft and fluffy... having a bit of a battle of wills with her trying to loot all the new baby clothes out of bags when we buy them and bring them home - but that's just her being her (she does the same thing with my slippers usually)!
Thankfully I know both of mine are very patient with young kids and toddlers - both have stood there beautifully while being hugged gently around the neck before (under mum and my close supervision) and the only response from Nancy was a huge lick on the nose (which mum had been forewarned was likely to happen with the world's lickiest greyhound - she's such a licker I've found her licking the cat, licking the coffee table, licking my slippers... the kid thought it was hilarious and howled with laughter!)
|
|
|
Post by julies on Dec 14, 2011 3:16:34 GMT -5
Congratulations The only thing I can offer is ... I think there's a CD of baby noises which would be very useful to start with ... a bit like fireworks so you play it low and treat the dog so it becomes boring like everyone has said ..plus you're not frazzled trying to deal with a crying baby as well as teach Cal something at the same time Anyone on here has more experience than me with babies but I think you're doing exactly the right thing preparing well in advance and I'm sure it'll be fine Julei x
|
|
kerry1
Added to favourites
Posts: 191
|
Post by kerry1 on Dec 14, 2011 3:54:53 GMT -5
Not much help on the new baby side as mine was already here when Timo came along as an older hound with lots of baby/small children experience. I can however highly recommend some kind of soft baby carrier. I used a Kari Me which I find more comfortable than the buckled carriers. Very useful for keeping baby safe and close while hands remain free for other activities including petting the hounds. They are great for walking the hounds too. I still use carriers with my 16 month old and he loves them. Sorry I can't be more help Congratulations and good luck Kerry & Timo
|
|
|
Post by madmaggie on Dec 14, 2011 12:14:10 GMT -5
Hi Firstly congratulations on both the baby and secondly for not wanting to rehome your dog. I have three lurchers 2 beddy/whippets and one collie/grey who have had no real contact with a baby in their lives until my son and his partner's baby arrived in August. They visit regularly mostly twice a week and sometimes more and at first they wanted the dogs put in another room - understandable as they are new parents and don't own a dog. I didn't let the dogs in for the first visit but have gradually let them in once the baby is in the room and settled somewhere so that they can say hello to son/partner. Yes they are interested in the baby but only because he is something new and after the first couple of minutes go in their beds out of the way or in the other room (no doors closed!) The thing I have to watch is they will pinch his soft toys if they can ;D My advice would be the same as others - take it slowly and NEVER leave them alone together. My grandson will have to love animals when he grows up as our house is full of them ;D He is 15weeks old now and is just starting to look at the dogs as something interesting ;D Good luck - just be cautious and sensible PS. It will be fun in a few weeks when he starts on solids - bet the dogs are going to think he is the best thing out ;D
|
|
|
Post by dash4misty on Dec 14, 2011 17:02:12 GMT -5
congtatulations to you , years ago i had two dogs 6 and 3 and the best advice my midwife gave me was to put baby on floor in his carrycot as soon as i got home from hospital so they could have a good sniff, she said if you hold baby up in the air the dogs will be more curious, my two had a sniff decided baby was quite boring, but everything was fine from then on , i was glad i took her advice we went on to have 2 more babies and our dogs were great with the children sue x
|
|
jmack
I'm New Here
Posts: 59
|
Post by jmack on Dec 14, 2011 17:38:52 GMT -5
You have nothing to worry about from my experience. My parents had a lovely Lurcher who couldn't be more caring and tender with babies. With grandchildren arriving at a rate of knots (I have 4 siblings all older and now all with kids) and my mother being chief babysitter whilst the parents where at work, shoei was around the kids all day. Never any cause for concern and was even protective in a very sweet way. Often the kids would lie next to him and sleep, Shoei would remain motionless careful not to disturb them.
I see the same mannerisms with our Logan.
My niece is 4 and very wary of dogs. My brother has a Golden Lab pup who is a real brute for his age. He scares my niece to the extent where she would hide and want to be picked up whenever a dog was around. Not Logan though. He sat still while she took her time and got close to him to the point where she was confident to pap and cuddle him. She is now getting over her fears very quickly.
I hope the video works....
<a href="http://s305.photobucket.com/albums/nn222/the_youth/?action=view¤t=419fdaf8.mp4" target="_blank"><img src="http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn222/the_youth/419fdaf8.mp4" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
|
|
jmack
I'm New Here
Posts: 59
|
Post by jmack on Dec 14, 2011 17:39:31 GMT -5
|
|
amyp
Ironing Piling Up
Posts: 216
|
Post by amyp on Dec 17, 2011 15:27:18 GMT -5
Aww Logan is such a good boy . He wasn't even 1 year old in that video. He was also very good with james' nephew who was 3 weeks old on the floor in his bouncy chair. Logan paid no attention bar licking his forehead once. He is only just a year old now so not a been there n done it dog.
|
|
|
Post by brooke1 on Dec 17, 2011 15:43:12 GMT -5
Congratulations ;D I had a similar situation when my daughter was born 28 years ago, I had 2 red setters and everyone kept saying I'd have to get rid of them. Of course there was no way they were going but in those days everyone used wooden playpens so from the start I put the carrycot inside the playpen so at least I knew the pram wouldn't get knocked over and baby was safe.The dogs loved my daughter to bits and were never any bother with her. You will cope!
|
|
|
Post by weemacd on Dec 18, 2011 15:00:25 GMT -5
Oh how lovely congratualtions!
Our daughter was 18 months when we got Austin so I'm afraid i can't help with the baby part. Evie has always been around my Mums dog so when Austin came to stay she was not at all interested in him!! So hopefully when your baby grows up alongside Cal they will just pretty much ignore each other! That's what happens here anyway! It is a different story when friends little ones come over as he is a novelty to them so there is a lot of eye poking which results in Austin looking thouroughly depressed!!
I would second the shout for a baby noise CD, when my friend came over with a little baby Austin was really not keen on the whinging at first, but Im sure it is something he would get used to, he can, afterall put ip with Evies temper tantrums!!
Def invest in stairgates (you'rte gonna need them soon anyway!) I find them sooo useful to seperate the two of them if I need to do anything, like go to the toilet. I do not think for a second Austin would do anything but I just prefer to err on the side of caution.
Im sure you will all get on brilliantly!
|
|
|
Post by FeeFee on Dec 18, 2011 16:19:44 GMT -5
Congratulations - and some very good advice already given. I had a greyhound in residence when I had my first baby, and it was never a problem, he was wonderful with her. I'd start thinking in practical terms about changes to the house and routine that are likely when the baby comes and start implementing them now so they aren't connected in his mind with the new arrival. For instance if he's not going to be allowed upstairs or in certain rooms get gates fitted asap so he's used to the restrictions before the baby arrives. Also make sure he has times when he doesn't have your attention and gets used to settling in a room on his own sometimes rather than always being with you. Crates weren't around when I had my daughter, but if I were having a baby now I would seriously think about crate training so that he's happy to settle in a crate for short times with a chew or a kong - it could be a godsend once the baby is mobile and you can't supervise while you are cooking dinner or whatever. It's also worth thinking about his lead walking and how easy it will be to walk him with a pushchair and start working on that if you need to - being able to give dog and baby a walk round the park together is lovely, but difficult to manage if you have a dog that pulls on the lead or lunges at other dogs. Good luck and well done for thinking about it all well in advance, I'm sure with a bit of planning all will go well
|
|
|
Post by lilypie on Dec 18, 2011 17:37:10 GMT -5
We had only had the hounds about 3 months and then found out i was pregnant with twins (not long after getting the 2nd!! To be honest we didnt really do anything special,but let them sniff the babes, used playpen, stairgates and never left them alone, common sense really. As they have got older we tried to teach the children to be gentle and not go in the baskets etc. Have to say our hounds have been faboulous the the kids (6 now) and very patient
|
|