Furry Babies :)

mommywagner

I'm 4 months today (contrary to what my ticker says) and I've been thinking a lot about how to prepare our dog for baby's arrival.

We have a 1 1/2 year old Shihbi (Shih Tzu-Bichon) and he is spoiled beyond spoiled!!! He is our little boy and our first child  

I have no doubt he'll be wonderful with the baby. He is very tolerant of children. He doesn't snap or anything if a treat is taken from him or a toy and he doesn't mind being messed with while he's eating. We have a little niece and nephew and he's wonderful with them. The girl is getting bigger so she's a little rough with Blackjack but Blackjack just stays away from her. Our little nephew is just starting to walk and Blackjack will follow him around and just sit and watch him while he's playing. Blackjack will be taught from the very beginning to be gentle with the baby and vice versa (once the baby understands, obviously). 

We have to get Blackjack a seatbelt ASAP because he wanders throughout the car while we're driving. He knows not to go near the driver but I'm afraid he'll think it's okay to walk all over the carseat when the baby is in the car. 

I realize we need to set up the nursery as soon as we can to get him used to smells and things. It's a work in progress currently.

As far as sleeping in bed with us...we have a heated waterbed and Blackjack walks all over us throughout the night. The waterbed would make me way too nervous because of all the movement (even without Blackjack) so the baby will be sleeping in a cradle next to our bed in the beginning and a crib when it outgrows the cradle.

Is there anything else I should do to help better prepare Blackjack for the arrival of his little brother or sister?

SunshineShades

I think you sound like you are on the right track. We also have to start preparing our dogs for arrival of baby.

One thing I plan to do is have my mum make a blanket for tummy time. I want it before the baby`s arrival so I can teach my dogs when the blanket is on the ground they are not allowed on the blanket (they are huge blanket lovers).
Otherwise they likely will want to sleep on it all the time, walk all over it when baby is on it, etc. I want one blanket that we exclusively use for tummy time, because I figure they will learn from the smell and look that it is not their blanket.

The only other thing is if you allow your dog to jump up on the furniture whenever he wants (we do this as well), you may want to start teaching him to 'ask' first. I think dogs would figure out quick there is a baby on the couch, dont jump on it, but I think extra encouragement doesnt hurt.

mommywagner

The blanket thing is a wonderful idea! Blackjack is super possessive of the living room blankets because they're the ones he cuddles on. If someone is using a blanket that he wants, he'll pull it off of them. It's cute now but when a baby is wrapped up in the blanket or laying on the blanket, it'll be a lot less cute!

Thanks!!!

this decaf life

I have an absolutely spoiled German shepherd. She's always been good with kids but I know she'll be really jealous. I think we'll just need to make sure we take a little time every day to just give extra love to our dog because she's still important to us!

It sounds like you're doing everything you can! I'd just make sure to give a little time to your pup each day when LO arrives. 

spartyparty

I've read that you should set up swings and bouncers ahead of time and have them moving/playing music (whatever you'll have them do once baby is using them) to get the dog used to the commotion and not to touch them. I also heard someone should bring home an item of clothing that your newborn has worn at the hospital and have your dog sniff it to get used to the baby before you bring him/her home.

eb1113

Our dog could have cared less about the nursery.  We even bought him a bed to put in there.  He didn't start even sleep in there until this summer.  When he does, he sleeps on the a/c vent. 

 One thing we did do was set up DDs swing, just so he could get used to the new furniture item in the family room.  We also set up her pack and play (where she slept for the first month or so) in our bedroom a few weeks before she was born.  Again, for him to get used it to it.  

After DD was born, DH brought home a blanket that she had slept in.  He let the dog smell it and be around the smell.  Again, he didn't seem to care! 

Our dog was so laid back when DD came home.  When we first brought her home, we set her down (in her carseat) and let him check her out.  He first smelled her and then licked her face completely.