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Babies: 3 - 6 Months
My dog is jealous...anyone else?
Does anyone else have a dog that is not doing so well with a new baby in the house?
My dog was mine before I met my husband and she's a stray pit/mix that I adopted. She's always been high energy and does not calm down easily when she's excited, but she's overall a pretty nice animal. She's very smart so when she does something she isn't supposed to do, it's even more frustrating because she is doing it with purpose rather than just because she's a silly dog.
I hear stories of dogs either protecting the baby or being aggressive towards it. Shes neither. She acts like he's not there! She won't look at him, prefers not to sniff him, never tries to lick him. But, she knows he's not another animal and that he's a human and she knows his toys are not hers, it's weird. If I'm ever sitting without holding him she immediately tries to get her loves in adn get me to pet/cuddle her..it's kind of sad and so desperate looking! It's not like she get's NO attention, I try to be sweet to her but it's not the same, it never will be and she seems like she just isnt happy and isn't getting used to it. She sulks..I am worried that this will turn into aggression. I bought her this special bone recently and when I tried to pick it up and move it of the carpet while she was eating it she snapped at me and has never been food aggressive before. I don't know how it's all going to go once our son becomes mobile.
If it came down to a serious matter I would choose baby over dog any day, sorry, even though I love her. I really don't want it to come down to that!
Anyone else having dog troubles?
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Re: My dog is jealous...anyone else?
We are..and I'm not sure what to do about it. Our dog is a small Pomeranian/chihuahua mix that has major fear issues. She is afraid of everything (dishwasher, doorbell, other animals, people she doesn't know) and acts aggressively when she's scared.
We aren't really sure what she thinks of the baby. She likes to sniff DD, and when DD cries the dog barks at her. When the baby is on her playmat on the floor (with me RIGHT next to her, I never never leave the dog and baby alone) sometimes the dog makes a growl-ish whine kind of sound. I dont know if it's aggression or if she wants to get closer. Either way, we aren't letting her get any closer.
I'm also afraid of when DD starts moving. We are in a condo and I dont want to lock the dog up in the kitchen for lots of the day, but I will if it comes to that. Once we get a house it will be easier bc we will have a yard for the dog to play in. But for now, I'm not sure what we will do.
BLOG: The Quinntessential Mommy
Contact a trainer then!!! NOW before it gets worse! So many pets are relinquished and abondanded because families have babies. It's so sad. Especially pitty mixes. [I work with a rescue and at a vet.] People need to understand that there are going to be ups and downs when it comes to having pets and a baby. Everyone involved needs to work and try!! The dog will try if you do. And as far as the food agression goes ... your dog is threatened by the baby. "My bone, not the baby's!"
That being said, my dogs are rescues too and were mine before DH and I met. One was much slower in taking to the baby. She would urinate in the house, would freak when people came over, bark at everything ... just was a naughty dog. But they're both great with her now. It took time and patience. They're both VERY jealous still, and I imagine that will stay for a while, but DH and I take the time to make sure they still feel loved. As does everyone who comes over.
Don't just do nothing ... and don't give up!! You dog was your baby first and needs to learn that there is a new baby around! And that you love them both!
I have a cat- not a dog. But she has become very needy. When I am feeding dd, she will try to climb on me to get my attention. She was the same way when my son was an infant.
I do basically the same thing with my son who gets needy and wants attention. I give the cat and my son one on one time with me. I play with them, I hold them and I let them know I still love them. My dh laughs but an animal in some ways is like having an older sibling to your child.
Eventually, my cat got used to my son and didn't mind sharing time with him. Once my son understood what a cat was, he started playing with her and she loved having more attention. She is great with my son now and hopefully, she will be good with my daughter in a few months.
IUI- BFN IVF #1 -BFP! Allie is our 2nd IVF baby. Born at 36 1/2 weeks after pre-e again
One problem is that we can't afford a trainer, and another problem is that she is one of those animals where no matter how many walks she gets or how much playtime, she acts like she hasn't played in years 5 min after playtime is over haha. I do love my dog...I think she really needs alone time with just me and it's really hard to get that.
I have live in a townhome with one of those shared backyards and what O started doing is when no one is out there i let her run and fetch and play with me and she LOVES it! So get this...a neighbor for NO reason reported us.... It's my backyard, it just isn't fenced. I ALWAYS pick up her poop and she always listens to me immediately when I call her if someone comes out back. I'm so mad because I'm trying to find that "us" time and it's like crap like this keeps getting in the way. and OMG she needs to run. She's mixed with a lab.
I feel like the pp, I am kind of waiting and hoping it will work out while I do the best that I can.
Check with local rescues, especially bully breeds ones. Lots offer free training sessions. Or local welfare leagues or animal controls. Look into doggy day camps too ... great for high energy dogs.
Leash laws!! I live in a townhome too and we're not allowed to let our dogs off leash. I would never let them run and I have reported neighbors. Leash laws are for everyone's (pet's and people's) safety.
Sounds like your dog is getting worse, not better. Time could continue the downward trend. GL!
1ht
Dog puzzles are like a miracle for smart high energy dogs! You have to take the time to train/teach them but they love it and it burns so much energy. We have 2 shelter dogs who don't get as much exercise as they used to but we're doing what we can.
Try to have positive interactions with your dogs and baby - so they associate baby with good behavior AND good treats. And I'm not perfect as my boxer mix still walks on the baby blanket (when it's on the floor) and wants to lick ds all of the time, but I will play with them, give them treats (for tricks), play fetch, etc when I'm holding ds.
It's never too late to start training your dog around the baby. It's only going to get worse once our LO's start crawling, etc. Barring ds being deathly allergic, we'd never get rid of our dogs, which is why it's so important that I take the time to work with them now.
fwiw - I work full time, dh works evenings, so after work, I walk the dogs with ds each night, feed them, and take care of ds by myself. Granted, we're only walking a mile, but something is better than nothing.
We have 3 rat terriers, two of which are rescues with some baggage. Pony in particular was lunging at LO but then we realized its because he needed to smell him and make sure he was OK (especially if he was crying). Angus is pretty good with him too, we just need to watch because he gets pretty close to stepping on him because he is trying to get our attention...
I would highly recommend that you watch the Dog Whisperer or see if you can rent this DVD
https://www.dogsbestfriend.com/
The Monks of New Skete are wonderful in the way of helping out to train pups