Our dogs are our babies. They have always slept on our bed and used to be allowed on the couch, until our room makeover. We spoil them rotten and aren’t ashamed to admit it.
Ruby is a puggle, which is part pug and part beagle, and Jackson is a labradoodle, which is part lab and part poodle. We didn’t intend to own only fancy hybrid dogs, but that’s what happened. It’s embarrassing when people ask what they are when we meet at the dog park or on a walk.
We’ve known since we starting TTC that we would have to make some changes with how we treat the dogs before adding a baby to the mix. It took us over a year to get pregnant, but when we got back from our trip up to San Francisco this summer (where we conceived our baby), we finally kicked them off the bed.
Here they are on night number two of no-dogs-on-the-bed. They took some time getting used to it, but now they’re doing great! I have to admit, sometimes they jump up on the bed uninvited and sometimes I let them stay up there when I’m taking a nap alone. But for the most part, we’ve broken them of their, I mean, OUR bad habit.
So, what else should dog owners do to prepare for a baby? Here are some things I’ve read and heard about on the matter:
1. Ignore the dogs in the months leading up to delivery. I’m not talking about neglect here, but it is important to pay less and less attention to the dogs as it gets closer to baby time. This is most important for the mom, as she will be the primary caregiver for the baby, at least at first. This way, the dogs don’t blame the baby for the lack of attention they’re receiving because it started before the baby got there. So far, we haven’t really started doing this, though I am less likely to cuddle with them because it isn’t very comfortable anymore.
2. Get a crying baby doll and hold it while it makes noise. This will help get the dogs used to the sound of a crying baby and used to you having something cradled in your arms. Keep the baby in a safe place and never let the dogs play with it.
3. Arrange for someone to take care of the dogs during labor, delivery, and recovery. You can have someone on stand-by to pick up the dogs for a few days, or have someone come by your house to feed, walk, and play with the dogs when you’re gone. Be sure to prepare instructions ahead of time so you’re not worrying about relaying information over the phone while laboring. Our good friends own Jackson’s brother and they’ve agreed to take the dogs for a week or two while we get settled. They live pretty close, so hopefully they can come pick them up when we go to the hospital.
4. Bring baby clothes home from the hospital. After the baby is born, have someone bring home something that the baby has worn. Let the dogs smell it, but don’t let them play with it. No tug-of-war with the baby’s shirt, ok? Tell them to be gentle as they smell so they know that they are to be on their best behavior.
5. Don’t keep the baby room door closed all the time. If you decide that you never want the dogs in the baby’s room, put up a baby gate to keep them out, but that allows them to see what is going on inside. If you decide to let them go in and out of the room, give them their own spot to lay down and teach them to respect the baby’s things. This can begin before the baby arrives so you don’t have to worry about training the dogs while you have a screaming baby in your arms.
Overall, remember that this will be a huge adjustment, not just for you, but for all the members of your family, human or not. Have patience, but be firm as you introduce a new member to the pack.
Did I miss anything? What has worked for you when introducing a real baby to your fur babies?
Preparing Pets for Babies part 2 of 9
1. Babies and Pets by Mrs. Bee2. Fur Babies and Real Babies by mrs. tictactoe
3. Doggie House Rules by Mrs. Sketchbook
4. Making Blue Dog Family-Friendly by Mrs. Blue
5. Preparing the Pup by Mrs. Hopscotch
6. Kids and Pets by Mrs. Chocolate
7. introducing baby to our pets by Mrs. Jump Rope
8. Introducing Dogs to Your Baby by Mrs. Sea Otter
9. Introducing Your Dogs to Your Baby by Mrs. Garland
pear / 1837 posts
So, I have a problem dog and read up a LOT on dogs and babies, and I really REALLY recommend this website:
http://www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/
specifically these articles:
http://www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/2011/01/24/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-get-magnetized-to-dogs/ (and the rest of the 4-part magnetization series)
http://www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/2011/08/17/when-a-good-dog-is-a-bad-idea/
http://www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/2011/05/17/dogs-like-kids-they-feel-safe-with-ask-the-dog-part-2/
This website TOTALLY changed my strategy of how I want my child to interact with dogs throughout his infancy and early childhood, in a way that I think will be much safer and happier, ultimately, for both him AND dogs that he is around.
guest
I’m also concerned for what bringing baby home will do to my fur baby. I haven’t done the not sleeping on the bed thing yet. Good post!
pear / 1965 posts
Great post! Something I have been thinking about as well with us TTC and having four dogs plus foster dogs in our home.
@Lozza- thanks for the link. Will def be checking that out!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
I just have one question. HOW did you ever convince your dogs to sleep on the floor? Ours are so super high maintenance. One of them will pace the floor all night and pee if she isn’t allowed up. I figure most people don’t have that problem, though.
pear / 1837 posts
We had friends who taught their terrier that he was not allowed on certain blankets on the floor. He got in trouble for stepping on them, and after a while, he learned that if he wanted to go from one side of the blanket or mat or whatever to the other, he had to go around. Since he already knew those spaces were off limits, it was easy to pull those out when they had a newborn and wanted to do tummy time or have the baby play on the floor, and the dog knew he was allowed to sit by the side of the blanket and watch, but not come any closer.
I think it’s probably an especially good idea if you have bigger dogs with little to no concept of personal space and might accidentally step on the baby.
pear / 1837 posts
I also think that the most valuable thing you can do to prepare (way more so than practicing with a stroller or getting a toy baby doll) is to really work on basic training with your dog. If your dog can’t heel and walk calmly next to you on a leash, sit/stay on command unless you release him, understand and obey some form of “off” (like get off the couch or the bed) and “drop it”…. I’d work on this stuff before I’d bother with anything “baby-specific.”
My dog has all kinds of problems, but I can’t tell you what a relief it is to know that, for all his craziness, he is well-trained. And that if I put the baby on the floor and tell the dog to sit and stay in a corner across the room, I know the dog isn’t going to move from that spot till I release him. And that I never worry about walking both at the same time because my dog does not pull on the leash and doesn’t get tangled up with things.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I feel so guilty whenever I see dogs and babies coexisting.
I left my pomeranian with my family in CA when I moved. He’s so spoiled and gets so much love and attention at home. Here, he’d be #2 to our LO and who knows how mean I might be to him if he wakes the baby up, pees on her stuff, etc.
I think it’s wonderful that you’re prepping your furbabies for your LO’s arrival. Hope the transition is smooth!
kiwi / 718 posts
ooh I’m hoping for a smooth transition too. we have 2 dogs, but 1 of them sleeps on the bed with us – a boxer {who is my baby}. we haven’t kicked him off, but he does sleep at the foot of the bed, now {most of the time} & I have not been giving him as much attention. he’s been going to the husband a lot more than he used to, so that’s good. best of luck to you & yours!
grapefruit / 4400 posts
These are such great tips! I’m mostly worried about the dog taking the baby’s toys/dolls… he’s done that already with our friends’ kids.
grapefruit / 4923 posts
what a helpful post! i know this information is invaluable to lots of dog/pet owners out there.
nectarine / 2458 posts
The idea of ignoring my dogs makes me want to die, lol. But that’s probably partially because my husband’s deployed so they’re the only ones here to keep me company on a daily basis.
I don’t plan on kicking them out of my bed. I actually don’t sleep well unless my 75 pound American Bulldog is laying on my feet. But I also don’t plan on co-sleeping with the baby.
I haven’t gotten a baby doll yet, but occasionally I’ll fake-cry like a baby. They both seem to think I’m just upset though, so they sit and watch me until I stop. But I guess having a dog sit whenever there’s high-pitched crying isn’t a bad thing!
I’ve also made an effort to let them investigate every baby thing I bring into the house. They are given the option to go in and out of the nursery as they please and I’ve started leaving baby blankets and clothes on the floor that they aren’t allowed to touch. The biggest challenge so far is the swing. I just got a (used) fisher price “cradle and swing” and they don’t like the noises it makes. But we’re working on it!
Great post! I know there are a lot of women who are nervous about this aspect of bringing home a new baby!
grapefruit / 4703 posts
I agree with Navy_Mommy – the thought of ignoring my pup breaks my heart
I sort of think that it might help if we let him continue to sleep on the bed – he’ll feel like he’s getting some alone time with us, since we won’t have baby sleeping in our bed. This is all hypothetical though, and who know what I’ll actually do, haha.
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
@Lozza: Thanks for all the links and tips! Our dogs are far from perfect, but they’ve been around many babies and we are not at all worried about them doing anything to harm the baby.
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
@mediagirl: It wasn’t too hard for us, they’ll happily (or not) sleep on the floor, but at first they did try to sneak up on the bed in the middle of the night. It took a couple of nights of us making sure we woke up and told them to get down each time they tried to sneak.
Have you tried using a crate? I know the practice is controversial, but if you get the right sized crate, dogs actually like having a place of their own to rest. We used them when both dogs were puppies and it worked very well. They still sleep in a (large) crate together when they stay at my in-law’s house.
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
@chopsuey119: I’ve read that the baby gets used to the dogs’ barks and noises before he or she is even born! That is helping me not freak out about the dogs waking the baby up every time they make noise. I also plan on using a white noise machine while the baby sleeps, so hopefully that will help with the whole sleeping-through-noise thing.
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
@Navy_Mommy and @rachel: I don’t plan on co-sleeping either, but I know that I’m not going to want the dogs to think they can just jump on the bed whenever they want to because the baby could end up snuggling with us at some point (I’m thinking weekend mornings and such). It does set a boundary for them which is important as more and more boundaries are set.
nectarine / 2458 posts
@mrs. tictactoe: I’ve read that too! Since reading it I actually let the dogs (well, my little dog, my big dog doesn’t bark ever) bark a bit before I tell them to be quiet to help “introduce” that sound to the baby in the womb, lol.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
Great post! We have two furbabies and are TTC. I don’t want them to feel neglected once a baby comes. My husband and I have already talked about different things we can do whenever I go into labor. I have a feeling I would get overwhelmed with our dogs here the first week we have a baby home.
honeydew / 7968 posts
i will have to decide what we’re going to do about my dog. =T i don’t think i’ll need to train her too much because she’s already been around babies and kids and she’s fine. plus, we don’t baby her, so she wouldn’t really see a difference.
coffee bean / 37 posts
Friends of ours had the same situation. The dog has an anxiety disorder to begin with and was very destructive, but has not been too bad since the baby came along.
The dog did get jealous in the early stages when the dad talked in baby talk to the baby, as previously he spoke like that to the dog to indicate play time.
But now the dog is quite content with the new member of the family, but does want to lick him constantly which mum does not approve of!
Also, she had a home birth with a pool, and no, the dog was not kept out of the room during the process.
Good luck, I think you’ll be fine!
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
Just saw this post as I am working on how to make our little “baby” more dog, less baby before the real babies get here. Good info! How did it go when the Baby TTT actually arrived? Any tips looking back?