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knotties with big dogs...

HAPPY4EVAHAPPY4EVA
in 3rd Trimester

How are you getting the dog prepared for the arrival? I am worried because we have an american bull dog and she is almost 1 now. She is very active and curious. I am worried about bringing baby home when she is around.

Also she sheds alot how are you handling that?

 EDD 02262010

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Re: knotties with big dogs...

  • BridgetkarynBridgetkaryn member

    I have 2 boxers and when we found out we were pregnant we started getting them used to being touched pulled poked etc... also, we have a couple of friends who would bring their kids over to play with the dogs to also help them get used to a baby...

     After LO arrives I am going to have DH bring a blanket home first to get them used to the smell of LO before... I have heard of some people getting a doll and using that, but that seemed silly to me... 

     Also, we have the bouncer, swing and pack-n-play set up already so they are used to those items...

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  • melody921melody921 member
    We have an overly exuberant Lab. We have been watching him with our friends' kids. We are setting up baby gear, so he'll get used to seeing it, trying to keep him out of the baby's room and will bring home a blanket so he can get used to the baby's scent before we're home for good.

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  • MrsHTMrsHT member

    We have two big dogs, a Doberman and a Pit Bull mix.  I have been playing crying baby videos on You-tube so they can get used to the sounds that they will soon be hearing.  They have the ability to go into the nursery which is in progress and smell around and anything new that we will be getting for the baby at the shower will be set up before the baby comes so that they can get used to that as well.  I am trying to get them adjusted to sitting at the top of the stairs or the bottom and letting us go up or down first and then telling them that they can come.

    I think we will do the blanket as well as I am sure this will help a little bit.  I know Lola my pit bull mix will just love the baby and give her nothing but kisses and be a little momma.  Cooper on the other hand will be a little jealous since he is an attention whore, so we have been giving them both a little less attention.  We have also been pulling on their ears and tails just to have them used to things the baby might be doing.

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  • Fuzzy8252Fuzzy8252 member

    We've got two shepherd mixes that are 5 years old, and I'm really not too worried. All of the furniture is set up in the nursery, which is open so they can go into and sniff around. Everytime we bring something new home, they get to sniff it out. And yes, I also talk to them about the baby and pat my bump at the same time. I'm not sure if this does anything, but I can hope!

    As for the shedding... this baby will probably come out with dog hair already on it. No matter how much I vacuum and sweep, it's all over the place. I've even taken to asking anyone who comes into our house if it smells like dog, and we've been lucky so far. I also think that shedding is just the nature of a shepherd, especially in the winter.

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  • MrsKlosMrsKlos
    imageBridgetkaryn:

    I have 2 boxers and when we found out we were pregnant we started getting them used to being touched pulled poked etc... also, we have a couple of friends who would bring their kids over to play with the dogs to also help them get used to a baby...

     After LO arrives I am going to have DH bring a blanket home first to get them used to the smell of LO before... I have heard of some people getting a doll and using that, but that seemed silly to me... 

     Also, we have the bouncer, swing and pack-n-play set up already so they are used to those items...

     This...but we also trained them to go up or down the stairs before us so we don't trip over them...and we are gating the door to the nursery so they can't go inside (baby will be sleeping there from night 1) but they can still hear and see what is happening...it is a swing gate that opens both ways.

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  • laurenrobbielaurenrobbie

    We have a pretty big dog - and a smaller dog. The bigger one will be more of the problem b/c he is pretty energetic, etc. We have set up a lot of baby stuff around the house and gotten him used to it. At first he was pretty curious and would sniff it all the time but now he is fine with it. Also we have some stuffed animals out in the nursery that he can get to, and if he tries to take them in his mouth we say no. At this point he knows the nursery is not "his" if that makes sense.

    We will bring a blanket home from the hospital so he can sniff it. Also, we will introduce the baby and the dogs in the front yard - so they can sniff and "approve" of him/her before we bring him/her in the house. I heard this can be very helpful so the dog doesn't think the baby is "invading" his territory.

    We played a crying tape one day but the dog was genuinely concerned so we stopped. 

    For the shedding - the Furminator system cannot be beat. 

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  • sarahmae8sarahmae8 member
    We have a greyhound and an aussie shep mix. Both are fairly active and since I have young cousins they have been around kids and we can trust them. As far as getting them used to the changes, as pp have said, we have everything set up and we let them smell things. The greyhound is a very curious dog and we don't want to stop him from checking things out. Once LO has arrived, DH will bring home a blanket that the baby has been wrapped in and let them smell it and reward them for being good. Then once LO comes home we will let them smell the baby. Keeping them from him will only make the dogs feel excluded and that is not at all what you want them to think. Don't send them away to your parents house for a week or kennel them. That will only cause more problems.
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  • ~CoCo~~CoCo~

    Our dog was always good w/people and kids, but had never been around little babies. We didn't prepare before DD arrived; just continued letting doggie investigate everything we brought into the house (baby gear-wise).

    When DD was born, DH brought home one of her knit caps before DD and I were released, and let the dog check it out. When baby and I got home, we let the dog sniff her from a distance of a foot or so, and had her stay at least a few inches away (no kisses or close sniffing) for about three days.

    When the dog had gotten used to DD's presence, and was no longer overly-curious, we let her get closer. Doggie would 'sneak' kisses when we let her, and always seemed to respect baby's fragility. Now that DD is 14mos+, she and the dog are BFFs. They ADORE each other, and it's awesome.

    As for the shedding? Can't help ya. Doggie sheds like a mother... We just vacuum as much as possible. Kid always has dog hair on her, regardless.

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  • creed612creed612
    We have a 6yo rottweiler.  She's a love with people (other dogs are 50/50).  She has no clue how big she is.  We've gotten a doll that cries, dressed it in a diaper with powder and a washed onesie to try to get her used to the smells.  She's allowed to show interest in the babydoll, but if she gets pushy or jumpy, she gets put in her "place", which is her dog bed in the living room.  I'll have DH bring home poopie diapers and blankets from the hospital, and then it's just going to be a lot of practice and vigilance when we get home ! 
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  • ~CoCo~~CoCo~

    imagecreed612:
     I'll have DH bring home poopie diapers and blankets from the hospital, and then it's just going to be a lot of practice and vigilance when we get home ! 

    LOL- God bless your husband if he does this. It's overkill, but if it makes you guys more comfortable, go for it!

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  • USCgirlUSCgirl
    I have an American bulldog too! I have seen her around other infants and she is very gentle. Sometimes she does put her paw on people, which we are trying to stop by correcting her when she does it. Besides that, we are not doing much else before. I will be asking my family to take the dog on a long walk the day we come home to make sure that she is tired out and this will help her with her excitement when we get home. 
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  • USCgirlUSCgirl
    Oh, as for the shedding- there isn't much you can do. I do plan on trying to make sure that she goes to the groomer near my due date (possibly asking my family to take her there while I am in the hospital). If it doesn't happen though it is not the end of the world. My dog will shed no matter what, so hopefully the baby will not have an issue with it. 
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  • Ms.FitzMs.Fitz
    Good question.  I've been wondering how to deal with our husky/beagle mix.  She's not huge, only 45lbs but, she's just over a year old and very energetic.  DH will be bringing the cap home for her to smell.  I hadn't thought about the crying baby sounds, I'll have to check that out.
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  • BBachmannBBachmann

    I have a huge Lab and a Border Collie.  I've had family and friends bring their kids over.  They are very good with kids around.

    The Lab is very gentle while the border collie likes to direct them around the back yard.  No nipping, just running in circles around them trying to streer them in the right direction.  It's pretty cute.

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  • salinaterrisalinaterri

    I have a lab and we are preparing him by putting baby powder on a blanket and letting him smell that; I don't want to wait until the baby comes then he will freak out...but I am sure he knows already.

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  • TwiloTwilo

    Well I have tried to be less attentive, but I suck at it. ;)

    I also tried to carry around a bundled up blanket and baby talk to it.  Felt pretty ridiculous, but it was nice to see my dog wacked his tail like crazy on the ground but didn't get up or try to approach me.  I really should do it more than once though.

    We have also set up furniture and let him explore the baby's room (it won't be off limits) and will bring home a blanket for him to sniff before.  We will be introducing him as soon as he settles down from seeing me and won't restrict how he chooses to say hi.  Obviously we'll be very closely monitoring but a little slobber, hair or heavy dog breath is not going to hurt the baby and my dog is not a licker. We don't want to make getting close to baby off limits, but of course that means never leaving the 2 unattended, which you shouldn't do anyway imo.  We will also make sure to give the dog loving not just when baby is sleeping so he doesn't associate baby with being ignored.  Berners are known for being gentle, but he is just SO darn big we will always need to watch. ;)

     

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