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January 2012 Moms
My furbaby is in for a life change...
We have really been trying to include Shelby, our golden retriever/ lab mix, in everything we do for the baby. So when we read in Raeleigh's room each night, Shelby comes in and sits with us. She has learned which room to go to when i say "let's go to Raeleigh's room" and she knows she has to sit while she is in there and not get into her baskets. So i was feeling pretty good about myself that maybe it would be an okay transition for her. Then I brought out the carseat and put it on the floor. Shelby SAT IN IT like it was her special chair! PS she weighs 75 lbs!
What are you dog owners doing to get your furbaby ready for the new baby? Anything you are concerned about?
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Re: My furbaby is in for a life change...
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it the more it will elude you but if u turn your attention to other things it will come & sit softly on your shoulder."
BFP! 04/26/11 - DS born 12/28/11 - BFP #2! 04/02/13 - DD born 12/11/13 -
My Ovulation Chart
We've adjusted to leaving her outside the crate all day, even w/ me not coming home as I likely won't be able to do that with all my pumping times....although I just switched to a laptop and we do have a pumping room w/ a table so I might be able to go hide in there a few times a day and still work.
Our dog destroys stuffed toys so now she only gets hard rubber stuff and we've trained her to not touch stuffed toys. Once we get the gear we'll start putting it on so she can get used of it.
Cribs been set up a while, I've caught one of the cats in it twice and just took him out and will do the same w/ the other items. I just don't want them jumping in an laying on the baby if baby happens to be in one of them - just easier to teach them to stay out.
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Tizzle 10/07 ~ Boppy 7/09 ~ Chicken 1/12
Books read in 2013: ~ Audiobooks listened to in 2013: 3
Currently reading: The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
Currently listening to: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
my currently-reading shelf:
Oh man, ours too. They are my babies and have been since 2006 and 2008! Their worlds are going to turn upside down.
Thankfully ours are fully trained so we don't have to do too much. We'll have to make sure they don't get up in the glider, which will probably be the hardest thing. The other thing is more for Aspen- preventing her from licking too much.
Both our dogs have been around kids and are great, so it's just getting them used to having kids around 24/7
LOL! All I could picture was an oversized pooch sitting in a baby seat and spilling out everywhere. Hilarious!!
We had our dog's food/water bowls on a tray right near the entry way of the kitchen, we normally don't trip on them, but anyone new to our home does every time. So we moved them to the opposite side now before baby comes and we get up for those middle-of-the-night feedings and kill ourselves over dog bowls! I told DH better to do it now so fur baby doesn't think human baby is rocking her world too much. Once we have the nursery together I want to let her in there to sniff around and so I can let her know her boundaries.
Our dog is 50+ lbs and I am worried she just doesn't know her size. Obviously I would never leave our baby alone with her, but that is what mainly concerns me.
My little goofball born 1/2012
- Babies and Beasts Blog - What one mother did to baby proof her dogs. Incredibly thorough.
- Humane Society of the US's tips for introducing pets and baby
- NILIF -
Nothing in Life is Free - Positive way to assert dominance (and
ultimately peace) in your household. (Concrete ways to implement can be found here.)
These are some good websites, and I am very active on the pets board. They are really good about answering questions as long as you don't come in with a "I'm getting rid of my pet because of baby post"Thanks for passing along those websites! We dont have a specific strategy at the moment other than practicing walking with Journey and our stroller and letting him sniff bigger things like the car seat, stroller, etc.
Being in the city he luckily sees strollers, little kids and babies all the time. Itll be interesting to see how he reacts to crying though. When I get emotional all Journey wants to do is lick my face to make me feel better. I may invest in that crying CD...
One thing I am adamant about is NOT having a million people over right when we bring the baby home. I told DH that for the first 3 days no one is allowed to come over at all so Journey can get comfortable and familiar with the baby rather than overwhelmed with so many people around (hes a German Shep and they arent exactly known for being super laid back!).
I asked my parents what they did with our dog when they brought me home and they just let the dog basically sniff me and that was that. We'll probably take the same laid back approach.
zachary happens! | little fish
We're going to train our cat to come onto our laps on command. Once he has that down, we're only going to let him on our laps when we give him permission. We'll at least give this a try, but he's not very heavy and easily moved if he's invading baby's space. I've also thought about using a doll wrapped in a blanket and teach kitty to stay off my lap when I'm holding it. We may just have to train him as we go.
We've also got him using a scratching post so he can take out any anxiety there and not on the baby. Once we get the nursery more set up, he's going to have a few months to get used to not being allowed in the baby room as I don't want him smothering the baby.
This is exactly what I have read to do. Change things as early as possible so the pet doesn't equate new baby with life changing entirely.
So cute with her sitting in the chair. I have two labs and we did similar things while trying to get ready for DS.
When he had the nursery funriture in the room, both of the dogs would go in and sniff. I also bought all of the baby products, like lotion, shampoo and powder and diapers so they got used to the smell.
After the shower we set up the pack and play, the swing, bouncer, and the stroller and had them sniff them. I also pushed the stroller around the house so they would know the movement of it. I had a baby doll that I would hold and place in the swing and pack and play so they go the idea that something was going to go in there.
When DS was born DH brought the hat home from the hosptial that they put on him right after he was born so it had a little blood on it, and both DH and I held DS with the hat on so it had our scents on it too.
Also when we came home, I came in first without the baby to greet the dogs and say hi, then I went back out and came in with DH and the baby.
Our dogs did great. Now Ryno, our 2 1/2 black lab and our son are best buddies, Ryno even has to come with me to get DS up for the morning or from nap.
My dogs live a fairly quiet life right now and I wasn't sure how they would react to a screaming baby. So I YouTubed "newborn cry" or something like that and played several clips at max volume. My Swissy didn't even wake up and my hound just cocked her head at it and then went back to sleep. Good to know! I'm sure it will be different in my house with my LO, but I'm not so worried about them. Started training my 80 lb Swissy not to sprint across the house when I call her for dinner or to go outside. Don't need to be knocked over while carrying the LO or when she's on the ground. Otherwise, she's very gentle.
I think my dogs will be very attached and want to sleep under or next to the crib.
Tucker and Trinity (each weighing in at a solid 100lbs) are getting a new fenced yard...
They won't completely be kicked to the curb, but I CANNOT deal with the hair much longer :-/
They have been allowed to go in the nursery a bit but have repetitvely been caught with the same package of pink socks! Also, they think her window has the BEST view, so any time I leave the door open... ohh TnT they are a mess!
Wee#3 - Miscarried 11/2015
Rainbow Wiggles Due 06/29/2017
I plan on having DH bring one of LO's blankets from the hospital for the dog and cat. They'll at least be used to his scent by the time we come home. I'll also be setting up the nursery as soon as possible so they can get used to it--though the cat will be banned as soon as LO comes home. I love my first fluffy baby--but she's pure evil.
We lucked out to some extent with doggie because she is extremely gentle and obedient. The kid would be able to yank her ears and stick his hand in her mouth and she'd just lick him uncomfortably (we'll try to keep him from doing those things anyway). She gets a little jealous but is redirected pretty easily.
Kitty is adventurous so once we do get baby things in the house in the common areas (we don't let her into our/soon to be Eliot's bedroom due to DH's mild allergies) we'll let her sniff everything and play with some things. We have a "cut that out" sound that she understands and usually obeys.
Crying sounds - found some on youtube (how strange is it to tape your baby crying for several minutes, btw) and the animals perk up... then go back to their ennui.
This made me LOL! We have only just started preparing the baby's room but we are only allowing LB in there when we are with him and he has to be quiet and calm at all times while in that room. No more rough playing, or chasing/chewing on toys there. When we have it set up more, I will put down a blanket or "spot" for him and work on having him go there automatically, but I am not too concerned with how he will take it. He is so easy-going.