My two dogs

[Serendipity_]

Right, just found out I'm going to be a mom.

I have two Rottweilers. Both of them are 1 years old. The girl is pregnant (the puppies will be long gone before Flump arrives).

I want to keep them as me and OH absolutely dote on them. But people are saying we should get rid of them because of the baby. I know they get bad press, but the two dogs are absolutely beautiful and I love them both to bits. The girl is really lovely, the lad is gorgeous but a little boisterious but we're going to get him snipped so hopefully he will calm down.

I think its only like having two other kids.

Help

 

[babyblonde]

We have a dalmatian and a collie - both of whom are insane.

It's a personal choice I guess and only you know whether you can manage 2 dogs and a baby!

What I would say is just be aware that, as much as you love them, you can never ever trust a dog with your child as ultimately they are unpredicatable.

 

[Tenshineko]

As long as you can look after the dogs and a baby i would keep them.

 

[Serendipity_]

What I would say is just be aware that, as much as you love them, you can never ever trust a dog with your child as ultimately they are unpredicatable.

Yeah I would never leave them alone together.

 

[Snuggle]

Its definitely a personal choice. When I was pregnant with Maddison we had a Great Dane and a Cavalier King Charles. At around 7 months pregnant we had to rehome the Dane as she was throwing me to the ground all the time We rehomed the Cav not long after Maddison was born because he was really jealous of her and wasnt getting enough attention. To this day I regret my decision to give them both up in ways as I think if I had persevered with the Dane she would have calmed down and the Cav wouldnt have got jealous as he would still have had the Dane as company. I could be wrong but I always have that in my head now and cant get my dogs back. What I'm trying to say is, dont be too hasty to get rid of your dogs. If you do it the right way, it will all work out

 

[Serendipity_]

Its definitely a personal choice. When I was pregnant with Maddison we had a Great Dane and a Cavalier King Charles. At around 7 months pregnant we had to rehome the Dane as she was throwing me to the ground all the time We rehomed the Cav not long after Maddison was born because he was really jealous of her and wasnt getting enough attention. To this day I regret my decision to give them both up in ways as I think if I had persevered with the Dane she would have calmed down and the Cav wouldnt have got jealous as he would still have had the Dane as company. I could be wrong but I always have that in my head now and cant get my dogs back. What I'm trying to say is, dont be too hasty to get rid of your dogs. If you do it the right way, it will all work out

Thanks. I see what you are saying, we don't want want to do it, just the MIL is bleating on. Might tell her to bogoff

 

[ejjie]

We've got a collie and we haven't considered giving him away when the baby comes. He's only 1 and although he is a nightmare now I am hoping he does some growing up by next summer and is a bit calmer.... now I think of it though I might worry about jealousy because he is a mummy's boy!

 

[babyblonde]

We've got a collie and we haven't considered giving him away when the baby comes. He's only 1 and although he is a nightmare now I am hoping he does some growing up by next summer and is a bit calmer.... now I think of it though I might worry about jealousy because he is a mummy's boy!

Our collie is coming up to a year and a half old and is a TOTAL spanner! The only way we can get her to calm down is letting her run at the park every day (with everything that's been going on she's been a bit starved of attention this week). I think she will calm down a little as she gets older - but collies are notoriously bonkers!

 

[ejjie]

We've got a collie and we haven't considered giving him away when the baby comes. He's only 1 and although he is a nightmare now I am hoping he does some growing up by next summer and is a bit calmer.... now I think of it though I might worry about jealousy because he is a mummy's boy!

Our collie is coming up to a year and a half old and is a TOTAL spanner! The only way we can get her to calm down is letting her run at the park every day (with everything that's been going on she's been a bit starved of attention this week). I think she will calm down a little as she gets older - but collies are notoriously bonkers!

Yeah ours is the same he goes mental in open spaces but luckily we live out in the sticks so have got fields right behind our house...worried that I won't be able to walk him as much when our kids come along though...

 

[Tasha20]

I think you should asses the situation when your baby arrives, you dont know how your dogs will react.

Like the jealousy Snuggle experienced with her doggy, it can happen even to the most loyal and gentle dogs!

See how it goes

They do say it is best to have baby first and then dog ( so hieracy is established, dog under baby, not dog thinking its more important )

But thats not always how its done x

A friend had boxers and they were fantastic, very protective and wonderful with a baby around, but they knew there place

 

[san]

I have always had dogs with our children, over the years we have had german shepherds, a border collie cross and we now have a 3 year old german shepherd and a 2 year old border collie. I have always found the dogs to be great with the children, but the children were always taught to be kind to the dogs too. Actually our 3 legged cat was worse she used to scratch dd for nothing lol!

 

[Tasha20]

sorry but coudl help but alguh about the cat, I find cats to be quite evil.

OHs mums cats hated Oli, though she did pull their tails a few times

 

[Serendipity_]

I think my dogs can sense I am pregnant. They normally jump up when they haven't seen me for a bit, but they haven't lately. And my bitch was licking my tummy earlier

http://img133.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 361dw8.jpg
Sammy

http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 376lr6.jpg
Reuben

 

[Tasha20]

Aww they are gorgeous!!!

Hun just see how it goes

 

[HollyHobby]

As long as you keep them seperate and always are there i dont see why not. i would never get rid of my cats. Personally i think kids and animals can be a good mix.

 

[meandthebump]

I also have two dogs - age 1 year and 4 years. They are such gentle dogs and i am really looking forward to having a baby join the four of us. I grew up with dogs and want my children to grow up with dogs too. However, when i was a baby my parents had a dog and when my brother and i were toddlers the dog turned nasty. It ended sadly with the dog going to 'live on a farm'. Sorry, don't want to sound negative. My two dogs are very gentle but even so i will keep a close eye on them with the baby - as someone else said, you shouldn't trust any dog 100% around children.
There was a recent topic in the 'ask a mum' section of the forum about bringing a baby into a home with dogs. There was lots of useful advice in there. One thing that was suggested was to think carefully now about any changes you will have to make and get the dogs used to that now rather than when the baby arrives. e.g. if the dogs sleep in your room, or lie on the sofas you may want to stop that now so that they don't associate any changes with the baby.
Don't get rid of your dogs hastily as many many dogs live completely contentedly with babies and children. I know rottweillers (sorry can't spell!) don't have the best reputation but you know your dogs better than anyone else.

 

[babyblonde]

Your pups are stunners!

My dogs stopped jumping up at me too - although they are doing it again now
It's amazing how intuitive they are.

I totally agree that kids and dogs can be a great mix - but that mutual respect needs to be there (i.e. the dogs know they can't get away with nipping etc, the kids know they have to be gentle and that the dogs aren't toys).

Our Dally is a child magnet - he used to live in a family with children and he obviously misses them as he is always trying to go off with people's children in the park

Think the secret is to make sure that the dogs still get loads of cuddles and fuss (and encourage people who come round to visit to do the same too) to reduce the likelihood of jealousy.

 

[babyblonde]

Your pups are stunners!

My dogs stopped jumping up at me too - although they are doing it again now
It's amazing how intuitive they are.

I totally agree that kids and dogs can be a great mix - but that mutual respect needs to be there (i.e. the dogs know they can't get away with nipping etc, the kids know they have to be gentle and that the dogs aren't toys).

Our Dally is a child magnet - he used to live in a family with children and he obviously misses them as he is always trying to go off with people's children in the park

Think the secret is to make sure that the dogs still get loads of cuddles and fuss (and encourage people who come round to visit to do the same too) to reduce the likelihood of jealousy.

 

[EllieBelle]

I couldnt rehome my dog, unless she was obviously going to hurt my baby, and of course I would never leave them in a room together!

I have a 14 month old collie, who follows me everywhere (as I type she is lying on my feet), she is definitely going to feel a little pushed out once LO arrives, but I am trying to make some changes now, so its not as hard on her later!

Its not going to be easy, as both the baby and collie need a lot of attention (and my dog needs a lot of exercise), but I have just employed a dog walker because Im struggling to walk the 3 miles a day of exercise she needs, and also she can then be walked after LO arrives for a while!

I think its all about how you can cope with the situation, more than what other people tell you to do!!

 

[Serendipity_]

There was a recent topic in the 'ask a mum' section of the forum about bringing a baby into a home with dogs. There was lots of useful advice in there. One thing that was suggested was to think carefully now about any changes you will have to make and get the dogs used to that now rather than when the baby arrives. e.g. if the dogs sleep in your room, or lie on the sofas you may want to stop that now so that they don't associate any changes with the baby.
Don't get rid of your dogs hastily as many many dogs live completely contentedly with babies and children. I know rottweillers (sorry can't spell!) don't have the best reputation but you know your dogs better than anyone else.

Yeah, the dogs used to sleep on the floor in our room but now they are in the kitchen. The boy dog was also raised with children and he, once seeing a child, cries to go and play with -them. My other dog always lies down by my niece.

It's just the food thing I am worried about, they are both obsessed with food, like most dog I guess. We've started moving them when we're eating now.

My OH will walk the mutts when I'm heavily pregnant, although I can do it now.

I'm just fed up with people putting their quids worth in