- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
February 2013 Moms
Puck1182
member
Anyone else's pets getting SUPER clingy???
Puck1182
member
My dog has loved snuggling with my bump pretty much ever since there was a bump to snuggle. He's normally much more bonded to my husband, because when we first adopted him, DH was working for a school district and it was early summer, so the two of them had lots of time to hang out together while I was at work.
But during the past few weeks I noticed that my dog wants to be in physical contact with me at all times, more so than DH. He knows how to lay on the guilt when we're going to leave him home alone, but usually as long as one of us is home with him he doesn't care if the other leaves. Lately, even if DH is at home, every time he realizes I'm leaving he tucks his tail, lowers his head, and gives me the sad eyes.
Normally he doesn't spend the night in our bed, just jumps up there to snuggle if we're reading before bed, then jumps down and goes to a couch or his bed in the living room (and he'll jump up there again in the morning to warm up after we let him out), but he's been spending the entire night up there, pressed right up against me the whole time. Last night was particularly ridiculous, because I kept waking up with indigestion (WHY did I go to Burger King for dinner?!?!) and every time, Elvis was practically on top of me and I had to push him aside.
He hasn't gotten possessive or overprotective of me or anything like that, so I'm not particularly concerned about him getting aggressive with other people or with the baby (he's seriously the most submissive dog I've ever known - he's a 50lb English pointer and the pet rats we used to have would chase him off the couch!), it just sort of amuses (and sometimes annoys) me. I'm not sure if it's just because he's interested in the baby, worried about me since he knows something is different, or somehow has figured out that he needs to get extra snuggles in now since he's going to have to share me with his "little sister" in a month, but he is definitely acting like a codependent weirdo lately. 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Anyone else's pets getting SUPER clingy???
Congrats to both my TTC buddies, Amberley18 and sb2006 on their beautiful babies!
This is exactly why I'm not worried about Elvis having an issue with the baby, he's so incredibly patient with small children and never shows a hint of aggressiveness. The only time I ever see him get cranky is if you make him move while he's napping, and even then it's more of a grumble than a growl as he reliquishes his spot. ;-)
Oh, and super cute thing I forgot to add in my original post! Now that LO is getting bigger, I can see that she loves him too already. Whenever he snuggles up to the side of my belly, I can see her move toward him and snuggle him back! I mean, I think it's mostly that she's gravitating toward his warmth, but it's seriously the coolest thing to watch.
Our 2 dogs have been clingy with me since the beginning (Baron, 4.5 years adopted and Mamba 2.5 years adopted), but now it's worse. When DH and I relax in the evening and kick our feet up in the recliner chairs, the dogs run to him to get the lift and then hop over to me. I usually have one stretched out on my leg and another across my belly. They don't like when I get up, but they keep my seat warm for me
Then, they celebrate by play-fighting on my stomach. Baby gets a kick out of this when the dogs are vocal with eachother. It's not even barking, but lots of grumbles and it almost sounds like they are trying to talk.
One thing that was very hard during 1st-tri was getting the dogs out of our bedroom at night. It wasn't a decision that DH and I both immediately agreed upon, but after much thought, we knew it was time to get the cling-ons used to sleeping in their own beds before the baby arrives. It was 2 weeks of door-scratching and night-howling, but we got through it and the dogs don't even come in our bedroom anymore during the day.
I miss snuggling with them in bed, but it's just better that they got used to this earlier rather than being shocked with it when baby arrives.
Fortunately/unfortunately, I'm working an average of 50 hours/week, so my poor little buddy is used to not seeing me all day (probably part of the reason he's so clingy at night). Odds are he'll probably get MORE attention from me when I'm home for maternity leave, so between that and the fact that DH has recently started working from home 3 days a week, he is going to think he's died and gone to heaven in about a month. Mommy and Daddy will be home more, AND he'll finally get to meet that little person he's been snuggling with in my belly. I think the harder transition for him will be when I return to work full-time in July.
Yep, us too! So glad to hear others are noticing this too, with their furbabies.
Our dog isn't very snuggly but the last month or two has been really needy. She always wants to be around and always wants to be rubbed.
THIS exactly!! I guess they're prepping us for the toddler years
I've been saying this about our dog for years, it's like having a furry toddler that never grows up. Right down to being woken up in the middle of the night when he gets earaches.