What to do with dogs during labor?

nursemullinax · January 2013

For all of you mommas out there with pets, what did you do with them during labor/recovery when you were in the hospital?

I've suggested to DH that he can just go home and let them out/feed them several times a day (we only live about 10/15 minutes from the hospital) or ask our neighbors/friends that live in the neighborhood to let them out. We're military and have no family close by that can watch the dogs for us, and the breeder that we got the dogs from has a no-kennelling clause in the contract so kennelling the dogs is out.

He says that the dogs won't like that b/c they won't get enough human interaction. I feel like, who cares, its a couple days, they can just suck it up. We both work full time out of the house so its not like they're used to having us in the house 24/7 as it is.

Any suggestions from moms who've been there?

RussianMommy · January 2013

DH and your neighbors can let the dogs out. They'll survive. This way DH can get some rest at home too

Heartstrings13 · January 2013

We've been trying to decide the same thing. I think that we finally have it nailed down... My MIL will be in the room with us during labor and my FIL will stay at our house during that time so he doesn't have to sit in the waiting room alone. If he decides to come down separately, my neighbor will be given a key and asked to feed them and let them out each morning and 2-3 times each night that I'm in labor (which will hopefully not be more than a few hours, right?! Wink

) Once the baby is born, my husband will just run home periodically to let them out, feed them and give them some loving. It will also allow him to bring home a hat that the baby wore so that the dogs can get used to his smell before we bring him home.

megamegan60 · January 2013

My mother is coming from out of town to see us in the hospital, we asked her to stay at our house so she can watch the dogs for us. Between your neighbors and your H, the dogs should be ok.

ehicks · January 2013

We had neighbors stop over and feed him and take him for a walk. They're two middle school aged girls and love our dog so they were excited. DH only slept at the hospital the first night so he wasn't too lonely at home. We work ft too and he's used to having some hours alone.

Between the neighbors and DH they'll be ok for 2ish days.

this decaf life · January 2013

We left a key at the front office of our apartment complex for a friend to take her but we live close to the hospital so DH could have run home if he needed to. I would definitely see if you have a friend that'll help out though, your dog will quickly forget that you weren't around for a couple days.

mben1119 · January 2013

DH went home and slept there each night to be with the dog. He would go home when I was getting sleepy, and come back to the hospital first thing after taking the dog for a nice long walk. It sucked, but it was what it was. How would the breeder know if you kenneled the dogs, out of curiousity?

bhjones1980 · January 2013

Out of curiosity what breed of dogs are they, I have never heard of a no-kennel clause in a breeders contract. Interesting.

We plan on having my Mother stay at the house during the labor process, we are only a few miles from the hospital as well and someone will need to stay overnight with the pup, he has never spent the night away from both of us or alone (ugh, spoiled).

That way she can visit in the hospital and then go to our house to sleep and such when needed.

Rose120 · January 2013

If you have no friends or neighbors who can help you can also find pet sitters on sites like care.com, who have been background checked, etc etc to come and take your dogs for walks or throw a ball with them or whatever and some of them will even stay at your house if you want them to.

nursemullinax · January 2013

mabenner1:
DH went home and slept there each night to be with the dog. He would go home when I was getting sleepy, and come back to the hospital first thing after taking the dog for a nice long walk. It sucked, but it was what it was. How would the breeder know if you kenneled the dogs, out of curiousity?

She probably would never know that we kennelled them, its just an integrity thing for me. I signed for this dog and agreed that I would not kennel it, and I don't want to go back on my word.

They're weimaraners, a very affectionate breed. Their nickname is "velcro dog" b/c they like to be by you all the time. They get stuck to you like velcro.

sthomas1222 · January 2013

The whole non-kennel clause is crap. We kennel at a place that does doggy day care as well so they get tons of human and doggy socialization during the day (like 10 hours of play time is included). We plan on laboring at home as long as possible so I'm worried we're going to be in labor in the middle of the night and I too have a velco dog but she's a mini aussie. She'll be worried and all up in my face but there's not much we can do b/c I don't trust anyone else to watch my babies (for numerous reasons I won't get into). So, right now the plan is deal with them however we can until the kennel opens, get someone to drop them off if hubby can't. And then we can either keep them at the kennel or just do the doggy day care part and hubby can go pick them up at night when he comes home to sleep. We're kinda winging it obviously lol.
But I definitely in your care would look into a pet-sitter or something. I understand the neediness of a velcro dog. Our babies miss us so much, even though I know they have fun while at day care they are sooooo happy when we come pick them up.

WorkinWeezel · January 2013

We live less than 10 minutes from the hospital, so H would come and go and let our dog out. He also slept at home, and often times his dad would drop his mom off at the hospital and then go home and play with the dog for a while and then come back over to visit me/baby. My parents helped out as well.

I feel the same way as you, he is alone while we're at work so he didn't really seem to care. I'm pretty sure he actually got sick of me being home after a while when I was on maternity leave LOL

Good luck!

bhjones1980 · January 2013

nursemullinax:
mabenner1:
DH went home and slept there each night to be with the dog. He would go home when I was getting sleepy, and come back to the hospital first thing after taking the dog for a nice long walk. It sucked, but it was what it was. How would the breeder know if you kenneled the dogs, out of curiousity?

She probably would never know that we kennelled them, its just an integrity thing for me. I signed for this dog and agreed that I would not kennel it, and I don't want to go back on my word.

They're weimaraners, a very affectionate breed. Their nickname is "velcro dog" b/c they like to be by you all the time. They get stuck to you like velcro.

We have a "Velcro" dog ourselves, and he has never been kenneled, we won't do it now since I think it would stress him out too much. He is 6 years old.

One of his best beds is a Weim named Blue, they are a riot together.

URMySunshine77 · January 2013

bhjones1980:
nursemullinax:
mabenner1:
DH went home and slept there each night to be with the dog. He would go home when I was getting sleepy, and come back to the hospital first thing after taking the dog for a nice long walk. It sucked, but it was what it was. How would the breeder know if you kenneled the dogs, out of curiousity?

She probably would never know that we kennelled them, its just an integrity thing for me. I signed for this dog and agreed that I would not kennel it, and I don't want to go back on my word.

They're weimaraners, a very affectionate breed. Their nickname is "velcro dog" b/c they like to be by you all the time. They get stuck to you like velcro.
We have a "Velcro" dog ourselves, and he has never been kenneled, we won't do it now since I think it would stress him out too much. He is 6 years old.
One of his best beds is a Weim named Blue, they are a riot together.

Is your dog a pit/English bulldog mix? I love the photo in your siggie.

bhjones1980 · January 2013

URMySunshine77:
bhjones1980:
We have a "Velcro" dog ourselves, and he has never been kenneled, we won't do it now since I think it would stress him out too much. He is 6 years old.
One of his best beds is a Weim named Blue, they are a riot together.
Is your dog a pit/English bulldog mix? I love the photo in your siggie.

He is an American Staffordshire Terrier

URMySunshine77 · January 2013

bhjones1980:

He is an American Staffordshire Terrier

Ahhh--that makes sense!

AimnJus917 · January 2013

We lived about 20 min from the hospital, but the in-laws came and picked up our dogs when I was in labor and kept them until we came home 2 days later. We had a bag of food and treats ready to go. This time we are planning a birth center birth so the max time I can stay is 12 hours. If we stay that long or I have to be transferred, DH will go home to let them out/feed them or we'll ask in-laws to take them again (esp. for overnight if it becomes necessary)

ggatlanta · January 2013

Yikes, I must be a mean dog mommy, because although I love my "velcro dog" like mad, sometimes she goes to the doggie hotel. I mean, I love my DH too but he has to go to work even though it sucks, and he has to see me in pain even though that's traumatizing for him. I can't prevent any and all occasions of discomfort or anxiety; it's too big a responsibility!

That said, I also will not send the furry baby to her hotel while I'm in labor, mainly because I can't count on being able to do so if things pick up in the middle of the night. Instead I'll plan for my mother, ILs, and DH to split the burden. Sweet pup will hate being alone, but it's not like I'll be at Disneyworld myself. We will both have to suffer a little! She'll forget my absence quickly once I'm home with her for six weeks, albeit with a baby in tow.

Pearls+Oysters · January 2013

I've thought long and hard about this, since we live 45 minutes away from the hospital, and the only person that lives close by (right down the street) is my mother and she will be with us during L&D...

I'm guessing my brother will have to make a run for her dogs and for mine at least twice, depending on when we leave. My mother will then come home after delivery, and will care for all three dogs. I don't trust anyone else with my 8 yr old baby. He needs the comfort of his home, and kenneling is just not an option, I'm not driving a 30 min detour while in labour... in addition to him NOT liking the kennel.

doremi29 · January 2013

Is it bad that I have zero idea what we did with the dog last time around?!?! Embarrassed I mean, clearly someone went over to let him out, but I really don't know if we had worked something out or if my mom realized that we weren't thinking about the dog and went over on her own. Yikes!

DH stayed in the hospital the first night when I was still laboring but once I had DS, he went home at night to get some rest. He will do the same this time around as well.

dande2129 · January 2013

With DS, my dad took both dogs for about a week.

This time around, we'll have family/friends/FI come home to let them out and/or feed them. EXH may also take them while we are in the hospital.

ally2011 · January 2013

We are going to take our dog to doggie daycare. They have overnight "slumber party" boarding so he plays with other dogs all day and sleeps with them all night. If we do the non-slumber party nighttime option he barks all night and drives everyone crazy

It is weird to me that the breeder would have such a stipulation in their contract. Boarding dogs is quite normal and needed from time to time. I feel sure our arrangement would not violate that if you had a similar place near you as it is wonderful for dogs to get so much interaction and play during the day. Regardless however, I think that stipulation is over the top....people travel and can't always take dogs.

Another option would be to have a dog sitter come in a few hours a day to play with them, walk them and give them some love.

Besides not having to worry about ours, the best part of our plan is that when we pick him up he will be exhausted and low maintenance for a few days

amberdanielle68845 · January 2013

nursemullinax:

For all of you mommas out there with pets, what did you do with them during labor/recovery when you were in the hospital?

I've suggested to DH that he can just go home and let them out/feed them several times a day (we only live about 10/15 minutes from the hospital) or ask our neighbors/friends that live in the neighborhood to let them out. We're military and have no family close by that can watch the dogs for us, and the breeder that we got the dogs from has a no-kennelling clause in the contract so kennelling the dogs is out.

He says that the dogs won't like that b/c they won't get enough human interaction. I feel like, who cares, its a couple days, they can just suck it up. We both work full time out of the house so its not like they're used to having us in the house 24/7 as it is.

Any suggestions from moms who've been there?

by "no-kennelling" are they referring to an actual kennel where someone could take a dog for temporary stays or no kenneling as in "don't leave your dog in a dog crate for 8-10hour stretches while your at work?

sully1109 · January 2013

We are going to have my IL's come over in the morning and take them to the boarding facility where they will get doggy daycare and stay overnight as long as I am in the hospital. If I have to go into L&D in the middle of the night, my IL's will just come over early in the AM to let them out and feed them before the boarding place opens.

We don't have any friends that could come over during the day as they all work and we usually don't leave our dogs in their crates for longer than 4 hours stretches since I am at home.

nursemullinax · January 2013

amberdanielle68845:
nursemullinax:

For all of you mommas out there with pets, what did you do with them during labor/recovery when you were in the hospital?

I've suggested to DH that he can just go home and let them out/feed them several times a day (we only live about 10/15 minutes from the hospital) or ask our neighbors/friends that live in the neighborhood to let them out. We're military and have no family close by that can watch the dogs for us, and the breeder that we got the dogs from has a no-kennelling clause in the contract so kennelling the dogs is out.

He says that the dogs won't like that b/c they won't get enough human interaction. I feel like, who cares, its a couple days, they can just suck it up. We both work full time out of the house so its not like they're used to having us in the house 24/7 as it is.

Any suggestions from moms who've been there?

by "no-kennelling" are they referring to an actual kennel where someone could take a dog for temporary stays or no kenneling as in "don't leave your dog in a dog crate for 8-10hour stretches while your at work?

No kennelling as in the dogs will not be left in a commercial dog boarding facility. Only in a home environment.

LibbyHMeggy · January 2013

I used to pet-sit a lot during college... you could find someone young who lives near you (who you trust) and get them to pet-sit. A college student can basically be there all day writing papers and reading. I usually got paid $20/day. That way you can also have somebody house-sitting, getting your mail and watering your plants.

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