Prepping dogs for new baby... need advice!

neeniebean82 · March 2010

Anyone else out there have a dog that gets all your (and DH's) attention? We have a chihuahua who's super-spoiled and are trying to think of things we can do to prepare him for the baby.

I know this sounds ridiculous, but we were thinking of getting a baby doll that cries. We're hoping that showing attention to a "baby" will help introduce him to this huge change.

Anyone else out there going through the same thing? I'd love any advice!

amy0105 · March 2010

Haven't thought to do that - but, I wonder if it will work!! We have a spoiled little doggie, too - see siggy - it's going to be interesting!

niccole_e · March 2010

Our dog was our first baby, so I know what you mean. if you think it will help then do it, my dog just got a lot of attention when we got home b/c of all the visitors and we made sure not to leave him out, he was fine. Actually when he heard the baby crying he just went upstairs, it turned out he wanted less attention when the baby was around.

Also remember to bring something home right after the baby is born (before you get home) to introduce him to the scent, this is always recommended.

Caryssa8 · March 2010

We have a 3 year old lab that is spoiled rotten! We have 9 nieces and nephews who come by every once in a while and he seems to love it when they are here. However, I'm not sure about a new baby who will be more demanding and who he won't be able to play with....

Do you have any friends with small babies that maybe you can watch for a few hours or maybe just have them over? I think that doll idea isn't bad, but what if the dog doesn't fall for it? lol!

emily0829 · March 2010

Someone gave this link to me and it was extremely helpful on how to prepare my three dogs for baby.

https://babiesandbeasts.blogspot.com/search/label/The MOST IMPORTANT post in here

LovePink2850 · March 2010

I'm sort of going through the same thing. I have a nephew to practice on though. Haha! My dog eventually got used to the baby being around and seems to not care anymore. Thankfully, he has an awesome temperment and plays ball with my nephew. We just have to remember to spend time with the dog as well as our nephew.

smbckr2 · March 2010

I have a feeling we are going to have a problem too. We have a 5 month old black lab. He will be a year old when the baby comes. We spoil him so much. He's like our baby now. We have friends with a one-month-old who brought her over last weekend. Our dog went crazy when I was holding her. He was barking and jumping at me, which is not typical for him. I think we will have a huge problem when our baby comes.

Buckets of Moonbeams · March 2010

We had a chihuahua-Yorkie mix that was our baby before K was born. She was miserable. Just so sad all the time, so we did what the Pets board would stone me for- we gave her to my retired, widowed grandma. It was 100% in the dog's best interest. My H and I missed her dearly for a long time, and it wasn't that we didn't trust her around K, we did- she was just SO SAD, no matter how much we did for her. My grandma was delighted to have her, and the dog went back to her old self in about a week. It was a good fit.

So obviously I'm no help. Our Brittany adjusted to the baby no problem. We had my mom bring some of K's clothes and blankets to both dogs while we were still in the hospital, and we had them meet K in "neutral" territory- in this case, my parents' backyard. K's crying never bothered the Brittany, and they are absolute best buddies today. The Yorkie-chihuahua is still nervous around K, even though they see each other at least 4 times a week.

serarose · March 2010

This was our vet's advice for our cats so I don't know if it would work for your dogs, but she did say to get a crying baby doll b/c studies have shown that the most upsetting part of the new baby for them is the crying, particularly when it's coming from you (that is, you holding the crying object). We found one for cheap at Toys R Us. She also said to bring a blanket that the baby had been wrapped in home from the hospital ahead of time for them to investigate.

jlthompson19 · March 2010

YOu could also just get a CD with baby sounds. I think animals are pretty smart and can tell the difference between an acutal human and a doll. I know my dogs would rip up a doll b/c they think that all stuffed toys are theirs, but I have no fear that they will try to rip up my baby.

bone2595 · March 2010

They have CDs that play baby sounds..and definitely bring something home with the baby's scent on it.

My friend is going through this with her cocker spaniel, who is the most well-behaved dog ever- and they are making sure to not keep the dog out of the room so that he doesnt feel left out.

Mostly I think it will just have a lot do with your dog's temperament! Good luck!

kategw · March 2010

The Humane Society recommends buying a baby doll and getting your dog used to it. I bought one about 2 weeks ago. It doesn't cry, but it is certainly helping our pup develop boundaries. When we get home from work, instead of fussing over the dog, we immediately go over to the doll and hold it, rock it, etc. When our dog responds appropriately ie, no jumping, barking, etc., we praise him. In a few days, he got used to it. Now we move the doll to different locations, the couch, etc. and pretend to play with it. We praise him when he acts appropriately and make him sit and stay until he does. It's a work in progress but he is learning quickly. I also bought the books, Childproofing Your Dog and There's a Baby in the House. They both have some really great recommendations.

kategw · March 2010

jlthompson19:
YOu could also just get a CD with baby sounds. I think animals are pretty smart and can tell the difference between an acutal human and a doll. I know my dogs would rip up a doll b/c they think that all stuffed toys are theirs, but I have no fear that they will try to rip up my baby.

There was actually a sad story in the book Childproofing your Dog, about a dog that mauled a baby because it didn't know the difference between the baby and the toys. Trainers recommend teaching your dogs the difference between their toys and the baby toys early on to avoid this type of confusion.

mysticporter · March 2010

We're pretty pet heavy (3 dogs, 2 cats), and I really think when DD was born we had an easier go of it because we had multiple pets who were used to sharing attention. Most of the people I know who have had dogs with real issues adjusting to baby had animals that were used to being the absolute center of attention, so I'd try and do what you can to de-spoil your dog (he doesn't always get to sit on your lap when he wants, whatever) and get him on a routine you set that you think you can maintain once the baby comes.

Mizz&Shizz · March 2010

I haven't gone through it yet, but we do have a dog and we are starting to think about those things.

Someone posted this blog entry that has a lot of useful info: https://babiesandbeasts.blogspot.com/2009/02/bringing-home-baby.html

DH and I bought a CD at our local independent dog store that has baby sounds on it, we plan on playing it randomly to get the dog used to it.

joolz425 · March 2010

i'm hoping to teach my dogs some useful tricks to help us with the baby haha. any ideas? my yorkie doesn't really like kids so i'm mostly worried about her, my other two dogs seem to be pretty chill around kids and babies.

baybcakes007 · March 2010

kategw:
The Humane Society recommends buying a baby doll and getting your dog used to it. I bought one about 2 weeks ago. It doesn't cry, but it is certainly helping our pup develop boundaries. When we get home from work, instead of fussing over the dog, we immediately go over to the doll and hold it, rock it, etc. When our dog responds appropriately ie, no jumping, barking, etc., we praise him. In a few days, he got used to it. Now we move the doll to different locations, the couch, etc. and pretend to play with it. We praise him when he acts appropriately and make him sit and stay until he does. It's a work in progress but he is learning quickly. I also bought the books, Childproofing Your Dog and There's a Baby in the House. They both have some really great recommendations.

This!! Yes I completely agree with this and DH and I plan on doing this as well!

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Prepping dogs for new baby... need advice!

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