Getting my FUR CHILD ready.

jacyenglish13

For those of you with dogs, how did you prepare them for baby's arrival. I have an 80 pound lab who thinks he's our baby. I'm just wondering how I can prepare him for little Harper. Any successful tips/tricks that you ladies found helpful. 

SoonToBeMsP

We have two dogs and have been preparing them for a couple months. Nothing specific yet, but we have the nursery set up and so they are used to that new furniture. As soon as our tree comes down, we'll put up the PnP so they'll get used to that. 

We're also making sure they know their manners. No jumping up, no pushing past someone on the stairs, sit when they need/want something, etc.  

AliW220

SoonToBeMsP:

We have two dogs and have been preparing them for a couple months. Nothing specific yet, but we have the nursery set up and so they are used to that new furniture. As soon as our tree comes down, we'll put up the PnP so they'll get used to that. 

We're also making sure they know their manners. No jumping up, no pushing past someone on the stairs, sit when they need/want something, etc.  

Yup!  We have a 70lb lab too, although she doesn't think she's our baby, with her being large even her good intentions can be a disaster.  She's my SO's dog, he trained her extremely well. I've only lived with them for a year so it has taken some time for her to take commands from me. I've always been very consistent with her (leash doesn't get clipped on until she sits, never allowed in the kitchen, etc.), and she has certainly learned that I won't take her crap!!! 

One thing I learned from a few guys at work that has worked wonders:  when they are being naughty, a flick on the ear will get their attention. I've never been around larger dogs before this one, and she's such a workhorse that a spank on her butt doesn't even phase her.  But when she's barking, one little nick on that ear gets her to shut up and listen real quick! I don't like spanking the dog 1- because I'm not into physical discipline unless it's a get-spanked-or-get-hurt-by-what-you're-doing situation, and 2 - I don't want our 2yo to think it's ok to hit the dog.  It has something to do with that alpha dogs will bite the lower dogs ears?  Or so I've heard...

Sorry for the long post, I guess I'm chatty today

bigbear

Another good thing is to play different baby sounds. So baby crying, laughing etc so they are used to the noise. Start off low and then increase the volume.

Some even suggest that you take a doll and carry it around and teach them "gentle" around it...

We also have the nursery set up and make sure he only comes in when invitied. When he walks in calmly we praise him and we don't play with him in that room. It's all about being calm in there. Also no jumping and stuff like that. It is highly recommended to find one treat the dog really likes and only use it around baby so they know when they do good around the baby they'll get it.

Set up as many things as possible baby related and get them used to it. So any bouncy seats, rattles etc....

DEBBIE33CASEY

I honestly don't know if anything we did when we 'prepped' our pup for DD's arrival really made a difference.  She's an 8lb dog so I didn't have a big concern about her overpowering us and harming DD, it was more of a manners thing.  We kept the pup outside a lot more for the first couple of months but made sure to still spend time with her.  Special treats, foods, activities are nice.  I think the biggest impact you can make is AFTER baby is born, not necesarily before.

theladyjess

All the pps have given great advice.  I'd like to add, after LO is born wrap him/her up in a blanket for a few hours.  Have your DH or a friend/family member take the blanket home and let the dog smell it.  This way the dog can get used to the smell of LO without LO being there.  When you come home, wait until the dog is calm and then let the dog come over and check LO out.  He'll most likely smell LO and maybe nose him/her a bit before deciding LO isn't that interesting.

I have two mini schnauzers and pretty much nothing in the house is off limits to them.  When we got the car seat and stoller I put each of them in it so they could check it out.  I kept telling them, "This is Baby Sissie's seat.  This is for Baby Sissie."  I let them investigate everything and after they get a good look/smell at it they pretty much ignore it, although Henry really wants to chew on the toys that make noise or vibrate.

kmm2150

I will second the comment about setting up baby stuff, especially things that move/make noise, to get your dog used to them. If a room is going to be off-limits to the dog, or he'll be sleeping somewhere else, after baby comes, start that NOW so he has time to adjust.  As others have said, work on commands/obedience for things like not jumping, "leave it," etc. Also, if you have an extremely regular routine with the dog (walk every morning, feedings at the exact same time every day, etc.), you should start mixing that up a little- it may be hard to keep a regular routine with a new baby, so just anything that could be a big change for your dog try to introduce it now and get them used to it.

There is a blog that is often posted on the Nest's pets board: https://babiesandbeasts.blogspot.com/search/label/baby.  This is just about everything you could ever think of to do to prep your dog.  Obviously different dogs have different temperaments, and some adjust to change more easily than others, but there are some great tips here, as well as good info elsewhere on the blog for balancing pets and kids as our LOs start to get more mobile.

FarmvilleLover

We have 2 Bostons. There is baby stuff around the house already (bouncer, high chair, swing.  And we sit in the nursery and they come in there and lay on the floor and sniff around.  I'm hopeful they will be fine.

We'll do the whole bring the blanket home from the hospital thing too.

KitKat83

DEBBIE33CASEY:

 I think the biggest impact you can make is AFTER baby is born, not necesarily before.

I agree with this 100%.  I also think the whole "bringing home a baby blanket with the baby's smell on it" thing is completely pointless.  Animals are more intelligent than most people give them credit for.  More than likely, they are not going to think the baby is a toy, food, or a piece of meat if you don't let it sniff the blanket first. The baby is probably going to smell a lot like its mother, so they are already used to that smell.  No matter what you do, they are still going to sniff the baby, they're still going to be curious, maybe a little jealous.  It'll be an adjustment, no doubt, but I honestly don't think there's anything you can do (besides having proper obedience training) that'll prepare a pet for the new family member. Just patience and time AFTER baby comes home, they'll get used to him or her eventually    

mudluscious4

The major thing I've been concerned with is getting my dog to walk perfectly outside.  She's well behaved in the house and has already been very sweet and gentle with other people's kids/babies, but it will be a problem if I'm trying to walk with her and the stroller at the same time and she darts because she gets scared by an ambulance.  So I just try to take her out for long walks every day and keep her under control when there's a scary noise.

lp0

I've been trying to get our fur babies ready over the past couple of months. I started playing you tube videos of babies crying on my iphone so they could get used to the noise (it's super cute because they both turn their heads side to side trying to figure what that noise is), letting them sniff things in the nursery and telling them no when they try to steal anything (they usually go for the stuff animals but so far they've been pretty good), and no playing/wrestling on the couch or in the nursery.

Our friends had a baby six weeks ago and they've been over numerous times. Both dogs approach the baby like it's a bomb, lol. They are really curious and are very gentle when they go and sniff him. They have sneaked a couple licks in here and there but seeing them interact with the baby makes me feel confident they will be okay once our lo arrives.

luckylindy

We've been playing baby noises (courtesy of youtube) off and on to get her use to the noise. I need to drag out an old baby doll of mine to carry around as well. She's been around kids and has never had any issue so I am not too worried.