@SweetSweetTooth They're mostly good about respecting space (except Max's crotch obsession) so we reinforced it. They were allowed to sniff his head but not his face, and only for a second or two then they had to back off. Essentially we just created a personal space for him and kept them out of it. They figured it out quickly. Its natural fir dogs to give space to those dominant, so we started that hoping it eased things. After DS started moving more it was a bit more of thing, but essentially just them know he has the 'right of way.' Doesn't mean DS hasn't gotten knocked down when Max is too excited to go outside after getting out of the crate, but we try. And generally they'll move for him. We do try and assert that he is thier dominant, so they give to him. We've always messed with thier food and stuff randomly so they wouldn't react. We had one minor incident with Max getting uptight about food. I backed him off to reinforce its MY food that I give him... then when he was fine had DS do the same. No more issues. Now our biggest issue is DS thinks it's fun to give them his snacks. The dogs don't mind. Ha. With that being said, we're also taught DS to leave them alone while eating. And that he's not allowed in the crates, its a dog only space. Yes he's the boss, but he's not allowed to be a jerk about it. He has to be respectful too
We didn't do much to get the cats used to our oldest. We set up the nursery, PnP, etc. and just let them explore. My cats are pretty chill, and had been around kids/babies in the past so we weren't too worried about them. They did climb in things, and nothing worked as a deterrent other than time and me yelling. Once the novelty of a new item wore off, they didn't care any more. If they did, the shock of finding it inhabited by a small human quickly cured them of wanting the space further As far as being concerned about them sleeping on baby, they both have a pretty healthy self-preservation instinct when it comes to unpredictable things, so neither of them liked being nearby a potentially flailing baby. They adore the kids now though (but I'm pretty sure that's more for the fact that they're attention whores and the kids will always pet them and love on them).
The dog we did the baby crying videos, bring home a hat, etc. He's a big guy (80lbs) and a klutz, so our biggest issue was keeping him away from the baby so he didn't step on them. (It still happened at least once, to both kids. DD held a grudge against him FOREVER for that.) We kept a PnP on the first floor so if we had to put either kid down and walk away for a few minutes we could put them in that and keep both the kid and the dog safe from each other.
Since my dog is crated, I don't run into the issue of the roomba finding something the dog left. And my cat doesn't usually have issues. The dog hates the roomba though, or maybe he likes chasing it? Not sure. I usually run it when I'm at work, and only when I tell it to. With hardwood, it's a life saver.
One of our two dogs HATES the roomba I bought used. was working with him on just avoiding it but with the holidays I got lazy and then we found out we were pregnant. Other pressing things to do now!!
@kiwi2628 great answer! I appreciate the information you shared. I second the importance of playing videos of babies crying to get pets used to it. Our dog trainer also had us carry around a doll/stuffed animal wrapped in the baby blanket (rocking “Baby”) while the video of the crying Baby played. That way they get used to common actions taking place when the crying sound is happening. Luckily for us, our dog couldn’t care less whenever my son cried.
Our dog Kona is shy by nature and gets spooked by new things. For example, we set up the pack n play and she avoided the living room for 5 days until she got brave enough to walk past it lmfao.
I’ve been encouraging her to come into the nursery and to smell the furniture and rewarding her for not running away from new things.
I plan on playing the YouTube videos of baby crying to get her used to the sound and bringing a blanket home from the hospital for her to smell. But if I had to guess, nothing is going to prepare her... and if she decides to hide from the baby at first until she’s more comfortable and gets curious, I don’t think that’s the worst thing ever lol.
When I go into labor, my in laws, who live 25 min away, have offered to come stay with or pick up the dog so we’ll take them up so she is taken care of.
Me: 33 DH: 31 Location: Castle Rock, CO DD: 10.13.18 baby #2 due: 7.14.20
Have you guys thought about having your dog in the car with a carseat? What are you doing to prepare them for that?
I have a RAV4. My dog is used to having the whole backseat to himself, but that won’t work with a carseat installed in the middle seat. He’s also impatient to get out when we get to wherever, so he comes over the center console (and me). He’s a long legged puggle, so both big enough to climb over everything (including baby), and, at 25lbs, heavy enough to be concerning if he decides to do so.
@knottieamusements team rav4!! Our dogs are smaller (pomeranian dachshund mixes) one's 18lb the other is 8lbs. so if I have to take them anywhere they'll be going in the back back. Would he be able to jump from the back to the back seat? maybe try getting him used to being back there. If not it doesn't sound like a bad idea to try to get him used to the seat.
@knottieamusements uhhhh no shame I bought my pilot because it had a 3rd row for the dogs (I'm *that* person hahaha).... I plan to keep them back there until I trust them enough to *maybe* let them in the middle row. But then they'd scratch the leather, because it won't have a cover due to the carseat...sigh.
ETA: hopefully once he's used to the carseat/baby he will just ignore them and lay down? Or throw him in the very back like @mamabearcj suggested?
@knottieamusements We have that issue as well, except our dog is about 70 lbs haha... our plan is to put the car seat in a good couple months early and see how he handles it. If he adjusts quickly we will take it out until closer to my due date, but want to give lots of time just in case
@mamabearcj - he is able to come over the seat from the back. I don’t normally have that problem because he has no reason to want to get one direction or the other, but he is capable.
We have an Outback. Both dogs will go in the hatchback trunk space because it's huge. Thank you @knottieamusements for mentioning they can get over the seat...I forgot that our little one can do that, so I'll probably need to get a net or cage to go in between!
We have a Volkswagen Passat and now are thinking we need an SUV so that the dog can be in her own row/ area. Not sure how it would work otherwise. We were hoping to wait until the spring but going anywhere with both dog and baby will be hard
Me 33 DH 41 TTC since 2016 Due: October 12, 2018 Location: Ontario, Canada
Another pilot owner here! We put the 3rd row seats down and our great dane has lots of space back there. He does tend to climb over to the middle row where DS is or at least his arms come over. He's pretty good at staying away from the car seat. There's been a couple times where his tail has accidentally smacked DS as he's overly excited to get out the vehicle
So I bought a baby doll and walked around the kitchen with it this morning, and had baby crying playing on my phone. So far, my dog thinks it's her toy and has tried to jump up 3 times on me to get it. Sigh....
@knottieamusements Have you ever tried a doggy seat belt? We have two dachshunds (we also have a Kona @sarahzett) and we always have them in harnesses that the seat belt can loop through. Maybe one of those would be helpful so he stays in his seat until you release him.
Team RAV4! Mine (70 lb & 45 lb) will have to get used to the trunk - I don’t think they’ll mind except for not having a window. Although my car will no longer be covered in dried dog drool all the time haha.
Can’t help on cats, but we are keeping all dog squeaker toys and then put it out there that we want no baby toys that squeak. Carlos LOVES squeakers, so we are hoping he naturally just gravitates to his toys only. And his toys only stay in one are of the house, so we will just have to make sure to not let baby toys go into the same area. I think we will have to watch the baby grabbing his toys more than the other way around...
No clue if this will work, but we will try it out!
My dog isn't interested in kids toys we have noticed while hanging around our friends
She did however want to "save" my friends 4 year old from jumping off the dock yesterday. Poor little girl jumped and my dog followed on top of her. Luckily the girl was wearing a life jacket and my DH jumped in after them to pull my dog away but it was a little scary. I know Penny was doing it out of protection and a response to her squealing and going into the water "unexpectedly" but I hope she never does that again and understood our reaction. Luckily only a small scratch on the girls leg was all the injury and the parents recognized it was an rescue type reaction from Penny. The little girl doesn't seem bothered or scared of Penny and played fetch with her this morning.
Me 33 DH 41 TTC since 2016 Due: October 12, 2018 Location: Ontario, Canada
@chyvie my parents' golden retriever and my goldendoodle do the exact same thing re: "saving". You jump in the pool, they jump in on top of you and "help". It was fun for us as high school age kids to grab on to my parents' dog and let her "save us", but it's understandably not good for toddlers/younger kids. She never grew out of it, and since my dog does the same thing, I agree it's instinctual. Both dogs also love to swim to you and force you to hold them, so we ended up with a bunch of scratches all over us. TBD on how we will handle this...
@jemmerjams good to know I was correct in my assumption it was her being a saviour and not trying to hurt her. We are keeping a close eye and ensuring we try to stop the habit before it forms.
Me 33 DH 41 TTC since 2016 Due: October 12, 2018 Location: Ontario, Canada
I have a Ford Fusion and while I looooove my car, I’m not thrilled with the dog and baby both fitting in the backseat. Kona is a medium dog but very long so she’s going to have to get used to half the space. I’m sure it will work out but I’m having some slight jealously over people with SUVs lol. However, I’m paying off my Fusion TOMORROW!!! Which I am pumped about and I will definitely not be trading it in and jumping into another car payment for a while so I will make do.
Me: 33 DH: 31 Location: Castle Rock, CO DD: 10.13.18 baby #2 due: 7.14.20
@chyvie Our golden growing up did that to us as well in my parent's pool. Now our Kona does it to kids any time we are at my in-laws pool, and she did it to my cousins last week when we were at my grandma's lake. Thankfully she is only 12 pounds so she jumps and realizes she doesn't really want to be in the water so she hurries to get out and doesn't actually get close to the kids. I think its like with anything dogs and kids related, you just have to be diligent about watching them so nobody gets hurt. But I definitely agree that she was trying to "save" her!
@knottieamusements RE toys: We keep all of the dog toys in a toy bin when they aren't playing with them. I'm hoping they will recognize their toys are in the bin and the baby's toys aren't theirs. I know it will take some adjusting. Our one dog loves anything stuffed so I am sure that will be a fun challenge but again, we will just have to watch them when playing with any toys. We don't have a cat so I can't help you with anything cat toys.
Yeah if Penny was only 12 lbs it would be not as scary. She's 60 lbs Really glad to hear it's a common thing. Hopefully we can try to teach her it's not acceptable by us though.
Me 33 DH 41 TTC since 2016 Due: October 12, 2018 Location: Ontario, Canada
@knottieamusements we've started swapping out any noisy cat toys, or anything with small parts that get torn off easily, for larger/quieter toys (he's a big fan of beanie babies, actually). Really just because he tends to hoard them during the day and then pull them out at night and it wakes us up.
Anything baby related we've brought home so far has been wrapped in foil so that he'll stay away for now, he was starting to get interested in some of the plush toys people have bought. That's worked so far, but definitely going to have to keep an eye on it.
I had a dream that baby boy was allergic to Penny. It made me really sad and I hope that doesn't happen! I don't think I could get rid of my fur-baby. DH is mildly allergic to dogs and very allergic to cats. He has built up an immunity to Penny (I think because she sleeps on his pillow to assist with this!) LOL
Anyone else thought about this scenario?
Me 33 DH 41 TTC since 2016 Due: October 12, 2018 Location: Ontario, Canada
@chyvie I’ve had fleeting thoughts of “what if” and I can’t bare it. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. Baby allergy meds??? That may be a UO. But I’d have to at least look into those options.
@chyvie This totally crossed my mind with DD. We have 3 huge dogs and occasionally foster too so it would SUCK. I have no idea what we would do. Fingers crossed no one has to deal with that decision!
A coworker had a big black lab, when she had her son he developed nearly anaphylactic allergies to Kevin (the dog) by the time he was 6 months old. Allergy meds aren’t really a viable option for infants. She had to re-home Kevin.
Z’s been on allergy meds since he was 4 months old. So if it’s a mild enough allergy, maybe it would be an option???
He sees an allergy specialist, his pedi doesn’t prescribe it, but he was taking 2.5ml of children’s Zyrtec from 4-18 months because he was allergic to something in our old house.
Ahhh I just want to be completely oblivious to the small chance that something so severe as what @jennybean80’s coworker experienced could happen. I think I’d have to live two lives and have two houses (let me dream for a moment) so I can have both my fur babies and my human baby. I’m so sad now .
One of my dogs got skunked at 5 am so I’ve been up for nearly 4 hrs bathing and cleaning. Anyone know how to get the smell out of my house? I feel like everything immediately absorbed it. I bathed my dogs in the peroxide/baking soda/dish soap mix and they seem to be much better but not sure how to get it out of the curtains & couches. I have all the windows open and fans on... ughh why now?!
Re: Adjusting the Fur Babies
After DS started moving more it was a bit more of thing, but essentially just them know he has the 'right of way.' Doesn't mean DS hasn't gotten knocked down when Max is too excited to go outside after getting out of the crate, but we try. And generally they'll move for him.
We do try and assert that he is thier dominant, so they give to him. We've always messed with thier food and stuff randomly so they wouldn't react. We had one minor incident with Max getting uptight about food. I backed him off to reinforce its MY food that I give him... then when he was fine had DS do the same. No more issues. Now our biggest issue is DS thinks it's fun to give them his snacks. The dogs don't mind. Ha.
With that being said, we're also taught DS to leave them alone while eating. And that he's not allowed in the crates, its a dog only space. Yes he's the boss, but he's not allowed to be a jerk about it. He has to be respectful too
The dog we did the baby crying videos, bring home a hat, etc. He's a big guy (80lbs) and a klutz, so our biggest issue was keeping him away from the baby so he didn't step on them. (It still happened at least once, to both kids. DD held a grudge against him FOREVER for that.) We kept a PnP on the first floor so if we had to put either kid down and walk away for a few minutes we could put them in that and keep both the kid and the dog safe from each other.
I second the importance of playing videos of babies crying to get pets used to it. Our dog trainer also had us carry around a doll/stuffed animal wrapped in the baby blanket (rocking “Baby”) while the video of the crying Baby played. That way they get used to common actions taking place when the crying sound is happening. Luckily for us, our dog couldn’t care less whenever my son cried.
I’ve been encouraging her to come into the nursery and to smell the furniture and rewarding her for not running away from new things.
I plan on playing the YouTube videos of baby crying to get her used to the sound and bringing a blanket home from the hospital for her to smell. But if I had to guess, nothing is going to prepare her... and if she decides to hide from the baby at first until she’s more comfortable and gets curious, I don’t think that’s the worst thing ever lol.
When I go into labor, my in laws, who live 25 min away, have offered to come stay with or pick up the dog so we’ll take them up so she is taken care of.
Me: 33 DH: 31
Location: Castle Rock, CO
DD: 10.13.18
baby #2 due: 7.14.20
I have a RAV4. My dog is used to having the whole backseat to himself, but that won’t work with a carseat installed in the middle seat. He’s also impatient to get out when we get to wherever, so he comes over the center console (and me). He’s a long legged puggle, so both big enough to climb over everything (including baby), and, at 25lbs, heavy enough to be concerning if he decides to do so.
Edit for clarity.
ETA: hopefully once he's used to the carseat/baby he will just ignore them and lay down? Or throw him in the very back like @mamabearcj suggested?
@Sailing_Mama - That is a good idea.
TTC since 2016
Due: October 12, 2018
Location: Ontario, Canada
I’m more concerned with things like bells and little crinkle toys for cats since they have small parts.
I think we will have to watch the baby grabbing his toys more than the other way around...
No clue if this will work, but we will try it out!
She did however want to "save" my friends 4 year old from jumping off the dock yesterday. Poor little girl jumped and my dog followed on top of her. Luckily the girl was wearing a life jacket and my DH jumped in after them to pull my dog away but it was a little scary. I know Penny was doing it out of protection and a response to her squealing and going into the water "unexpectedly" but I hope she never does that again and understood our reaction. Luckily only a small scratch on the girls leg was all the injury and the parents recognized it was an rescue type reaction from Penny. The little girl doesn't seem bothered or scared of Penny and played fetch with her this morning.
TTC since 2016
Due: October 12, 2018
Location: Ontario, Canada
TTC since 2016
Due: October 12, 2018
Location: Ontario, Canada
Me: 33 DH: 31
Location: Castle Rock, CO
DD: 10.13.18
baby #2 due: 7.14.20
Me: 33 DH: 31
Location: Castle Rock, CO
DD: 10.13.18
baby #2 due: 7.14.20
Really glad to hear it's a common thing. Hopefully we can try to teach her it's not acceptable by us though.
TTC since 2016
Due: October 12, 2018
Location: Ontario, Canada
Anything baby related we've brought home so far has been wrapped in foil so that he'll stay away for now, he was starting to get interested in some of the plush toys people have bought. That's worked so far, but definitely going to have to keep an eye on it.
DH is mildly allergic to dogs and very allergic to cats. He has built up an immunity to Penny (I think because she sleeps on his pillow to assist with this!) LOL
Anyone else thought about this scenario?
TTC since 2016
Due: October 12, 2018
Location: Ontario, Canada
TTC since 2016
Due: October 12, 2018
Location: Ontario, Canada
He sees an allergy specialist, his pedi doesn’t prescribe it, but he was taking 2.5ml of children’s Zyrtec from 4-18 months because he was allergic to something in our old house.