Dogs and Babies

I'm starting to get nervous about this - we have 2 labs, one will be almost 2when the baby is born, and the other will be 9 months - I know, we are crazy.......I'm getting nervous about the dogs and the baby - how did you train your dog not to take the baby's toys, or that the baby can't be touched/jumped on. Our labs are VERY friendly. I'm hoping the "newness" of the baby will rub off fast - but it is starting to make me nervous. I'm due in Aug. so we have some time, but just wanted to hear your thoughts.

Re: Dogs and Babies

We have a 90lb Bull Mastiff and when Jake was born we also had a 10lb Pommie.

Neither dog could have cared any less that the baby was now a part of our home. Seriously, the only thing that affected them was that they got less attention, especially in the beginning. It caused "accidents" in the beginning. We couldn't handle it with 2 dogs so sadly, we had to send the Pommie to live with my mom. Her shrill bark had the ability to wake the baby where as the the Bull Mastiff's low gruff bark did not.

For the first 5 months or so Meiko (the Bull Mastiff) paid no mind to Jake whatsoever. All it took was for us to tell her "no" once, and that was it. She never went near him.

Interestingly, as Jake started to finally notice her around 5 - 6 months, then she became a *little* more interested. Now Jake smiles at her when she walks by. He reaches out to touch her fur and squeals and laughs when he gets a chance to pet her.

And still, she pretty much leaves him alone, even if he's on the floor on his playmat.

But she's always been very very good with kids. I think it will depend alot on the personality of your dogs.

Re: Dogs and Babies

I have a lab as well and my lab is GREAT with the baby. She sleeps next to her when she naps and walks into her room and checks on her when she stirs. It is so cute.

Re: Dogs and Babies

I have been around dogs my whole life and now have a 3 yr old Chow, shepard collie(Caden) and a 2 yr old lab/terrier mix(Champ). Caden is seriously the best dog in the world and I have had him around my 2 week old nephew, 5 yr old neice and 9 yr old nephew. He is great with all of them. He will follow whoever was holding the baby(who is 2 1/2 now) and just sit next to them sniffing the baby. My other dog is much more rambunctious but he even calms down around small ones. I think they have a sense of these things. One thing I am happy about is they never go on our furniture or sleep in our bed so I don't have those things to worry about. I would try and have a friend bring over their child and see how the dog reacts. I would keep the dog on a leash so you can have control over the situation. GL

Re: Dogs and Babies

I read somewhere that you should have your DH bring home a blanket that the baby used in the hospital to give to the dog...so that the dog will get to know the baby's scent before he or she even comes home. When the baby does come home the dog will recognize the baby's scent...and will instinctvly watch over and protect the baby.

Re: Dogs and Babies

When i was a baby my parents had a dachsund and this dog only liked my mom and grandmother and he growled at everybody else even my dad. So my parents were worried they would have a problem once i was born but no problems at all. He also became very protective of me too, when my mom would put me down on the floor or we would be outside he would lay next to me and bark if anybody came to close. I think dogs just know.

Re: Dogs and Babies

Thanks everyone. I think they will be alright - they both love kids/babies....sometimes too much, and that is what I'm worried about. But I think they will both calm down when the baby is around. They tend to get very excited at new people, but the baby won't be "new" to them for too long.

Re: Dogs and Babies

I had my mom's dog staying with me for a bit she has a boxer what I did was I gave my FH one of the hospital blankets while I was in the hospital so the dog can get use to the baby's sent and believe it or not the dog still has a piece of the blanket. I dog didn't bother the baby at all the dog would actually run to either me or FH when the baby would cry to get our attention

Re: Dogs and Babies

We have 3 dogs, a pug,boxer and teacup chihuahua. At first they were all very curious about the baby but we slowly introduced the baby to the dogs and over did they did very well with him. At this point my boxer thinks she is the baby's mom. She follows him everywhere and is so overprotective of him. It's really cute to watch her with him