Okay so I've had my black lab since she was 3 months old. She's now 4.5 years old. Since becoming pregnant she seems to be very strange around me... but only when I'm doing belly stuff. If dad is talking to the baby, if I take the Doppler out to hear him, whatever it is, she'll then start doing her "pay attention to me" growl or she will blatantly jump up next to me and push her head into my hand when I'm trying to touch my belly.
I know I read most dogs get overprotective, but she seems to be going the other way. Anyone else had this problem, and if so, what worked for you? I wanna shake this behavior as soon as possible before baby arrives.
PS She's a very nice, very calm black lab. Never ever violent or unpredictable.
Re: Puppy Problems
It's probably a good time to enroll in a training class since there's time before baby to strengthen your bond with your dog.
Disclaimer (before anyone gets their panties in a bunch): our dogs are always supervised with DS. We know each dogs personality very well. You should never allow your child(ren) to walk, climb, sit on your dogs
I do dog walking/sitting full time as one of my jobs and the labs I work with are by far the best with kids. Just make sure you work with her, if you give her up because of jealousy it'll scar her for life and make it harder on other families. (I know you didn't even suggest that as an option but I've seen it happen to many dogs! Their behavior is easily changed, some people are just unwilling or too afraid to try) anyways, I hope you find a solution soon so you don't have to worry! That's just my advice on it, extra attention and positive rewards when someone else is Paying attention to baby and not her
Lovely story though! My first dog ever was a pitbull. He had actually been rescued from someone who was trying to train him to kill people, obviously it didn't take because I'm still here.. He showed me nothing but love and was the apple of my eye for 9 years, (my dad got him when I was born) we still talk about him every night and I have his pictures framed, dogs are seriously the most amazing creatures. I love hearing stories of pits or mixes having a happy and friendly life!
For fun, this is one of the dogs I work with, her name is Daisy, and this is Sarah, a girl who WAS afraid of pitbull a (because her mother is one of THOSE people *insert eye roll*) Sarah asks about her every day and she nearly cried when I told her Daisy belongs to her owner and Sarah can't keep her. Lol
I love the looks I get when I tell people I have pits around kids. It's funny. Some people are ridiculous. I'll always have a pittie in my house
Be perfect.
I just rescued a dog 3 months ago that I know is already good with kids. She is so amazing, people keep giving me the credit but it's honestly mostly just her temperament. Give me rescues over teenage puppies any day!
If their aggression gets too bad you will need to stop walking them later in your pregnancy. You don't want to risk them pulling too hard and have to face either falling and getting hurt or letting someone or some dog get attacked. We have a few dogs on my route who get a little fiesty and I've already been told that before my third trimester they will be taken over by a sub . It's much safer for all involved. I don't know how aggressive they get exactly, but I'd hate to hear about any of you getting hurt.