Dogs and newborns

[MiniVoid]

I'm probably not the only one whose a dog owner and then came to making babies and now there is a dog and a baby on the way!

Don't get me wrong I love my little boo to bits but she's a staff and she is giddy like a little adhd doggy and sometimes she seems to think she's only a tenth of the size she actually is.. Now she isn't massive, but obviously stronger and more jumpy opposed to the more relaxed/laid back dogs.. This just makes me a bit anxious coming home after birth and coping in the first couple of weeks after birth, because I don't think she's automatically going to understand she can't jump up or come to close to baby at first I'm deffo not scared she'll be jealous or vicious in anyway she's adorable with kids and more protective to kids rather then phased by them.. still she won't understand a new born is proper fragile and she can't be licking it's face and what not aswell I'm letting her know by giving loads of cuddles and attention that yet she get's less attention it doesn't mean she's not me friend no more to avoid any jealousy towards baby..
I'm thinking of OH carrying baby in when coming home as he's much taller than me and for some reason she's doesn't get to the same height of excitement when he comes homes than she does with me.. Again I cuddle her to bits when I came home and nursed her as a puppy, not to weird haha.. So for the first meet might be better off having OH carrying baby giving boo a good smell of used stuff from baby will do that too..


Question really is, how do you manage the first couple of weeks with a new born and a giddy staffy that's very much a mummy's girl! And how do you prepare?

 

[vinandbella]

Mine's more of a daddy's boy than a mummy's boy unless i'm sat on the floor then he thinks he can get on my knee (he's a staff but HUGE and 4 1/2 st)

When we've been with kiddies before the novelty tends to pass after a couple of hours, sure he'll attempt the odd lick as he trundles past (he love's toddlers) ears and cheeks are just the right height for a quick lick on his way past

Honestly I have no idea how we're going to play it when we get home, i'm planning on having the car seat and mose's basket and other bits and bob's set up for a few weeks and keep moving them around the house so it's not all new at once. We'll just come in as usual not make too much of a fuss and play it by ear. And god help us I also have a boxer but she's been there and done it before with my SIL

So basically after all that sorry can't help I have no idea but i'm in the same boat

 

[MiniVoid]

Glad am not the only one! But thats an idea knowing how theyll be used around the cot and stuff ) hadnt even slipped my mind

 

[tinks77]

I have 2 very giddy staffs
We left the pram & Moses basket out and about downstairs for a few weeks for them to get used to, I took an old towel with me to hospital which they used to clean up lo and then oh took home so they could smell baby. He left them sleep with it that night.
When we eventually got home, I went in first and went into the dining room to see my dogs (was in for 5 days) then hubby brought in the baby in the carseat and just left her in a corner of the room. Me and the dogs were still shut away for a while then we let them out and held them by their collars and let them go have a sniff around and see what was happening. We then locked them back up for bed (I was discharged at 9pm!)

We kind of repeated this over the next few days, always having hold of them and giving short intros. They only got nervous if she cried and we had to keep telling my female dog that she was ok and I wast hurting her.
After a few days they couldn't have cared less until she started crawling!

Now 15 months later they don't care, my female staff can get a but nervous but she takes herself away and my lo & my male dog are the best of friends. She sits on him like horse when he's laying down, she lays back on him and she gives him cuddled. She pats both dogs on the back and very rarely touched their faces.


Only downside is she pats our cat like a dog rather than stroke but I suppose you can't have everything lol


Mummy to Gracie 26/10/11

 

[MiniVoid]

Ah cheers! Downside with me is that our dog sleeps in our room and gets in the bed at the foot end.. She can jump a babygate! As we tried to keep her in the back room in a previous house for when we left the house.. But this results in her feeling anxious en with a bit of bad luck she soils the house.. I mean we've tried loads of times but the only way she's behaving is when shes with me or on her own when she can roam the house and we've had her from puppy so it's not like she's been treated like that from start cause its only the last year that i realised that this way its the only way it works for her im not sure if yours are big or not? I grew up with cats when i was born we had 11 of them haha but from a young age i know hurt them and they hurt you back, its easier being taught that way with a cat its not like they can bite ur face off, and im only ever bitten by shepherds en guard dogs in face, hand and leg but that must be part of th reasons why the thought makes me anxious!

 

[tinks77]

Although my dogs are shut out of the lounge I have a lounge/diner so actually just have a wide gate between the 2 rooms. They can get over a baby gate but fortunately they don't remember they can


Mummy to Gracie 26/10/11

 

[MiniVoid]

Keeping eachother happy enough! we used to have that we moved to a smaller but warmer house we might move and find it easier to give her a spot this house is a bit awkard to put her just outside our bedroom and she can open the living room door to get upstairs. I wouldnt leave baby with dog alone in the house anyway or even in the same room I think its the sleeping arrangements we'll have to sort out cause i wouldnt want anything happening whilst asleep even when baby is right next to me in a cot its a bit like having them sleep in between oh en yourself in the bed in't it and thank god i know her body language so its not like if she would react in a negative way that its going to be a surprise move to me if that was to happen but again i really dont think she will, think staffs are more protective towards children than adults haha

 

[tinks77]

Yeah I think day to day you can separate the dog from the baby and when baby is sleeping spend time with the dog but the sleeping arrangements will need to change. Might be worth changing now so its not associated with baby's arrival


Mummy to Gracie 26/10/11