How did you Dog react to your newborn??

How did your dog react?? Did it take awhile for them to adjust?? Will she eventually grow to love and enjoy our daughter???



We have a 3 1/2 yr old Golden Retriever at home. Our Daughter is almost 3 weeks olds. My dog has been so sad and depressed ever since we brought her home. She ignored me the 1st few days when I got home from the hospital. She is keeping to her self a lot. My husband and I take so much time to play with her, pet her, do tricks for treats, etc. Unfortunately, I do not take her for the walks I use to do, so DH is filling in and she just gets one less walk a day. She even had stomach issues and was throwing up for 2 days..which my vet thought could be from anxiety.

She will lick DD's hand and go over when she cries. However, sometimes when DD is screaming...our DOG will take a sqeaky toy and sit there sqeaking it for several minutes straight like she it competing for attention when DD cries.

It breaks my heart. She was my 1st baby, and I feel like I am breaking her heart. I literally cried when I walked in our home from the hospital b/c I knew it would be such a hard adjustment for her and me.

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

Frist,

I am sure someone here will have advice for you. if not, maybe an internet search?

The great thing is that she sounds respectful of the baby, just a little down and out.

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

.. OMG I am crying reading this .. This was me 19mos ago.. My dog wouldnt go near my DD at first.. She was depressed.. Then all the sudden she came around a little.. But I have to say I put so much effort and energy into this .. Every time DD napped I grabbed Lola and held her played with her .. Spent every minute giving her the love I used to. The only thing I did less was walk her also..

Fast forward to today... They love each other so much.. I trained my daughter to be nice and gentle and she does.. if she even trys to pat her harder than I think is ok I grab my dd and really let her know its bad.. Its funny she doesnt take me seriously when I tell her "no" about most other things but when it comes to this she really know I mean business.. Its funny I must give off some sort of venom or some thing: My dog to me is my child and I will always love her the same .. It would have broken my heart not to have this situation work out like ths..

My advice is to keep up the love.. Include your dog in everything .. Dont lose your patience.. You sound like you want this as much as I did.. Good luck.. FM me anytime

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

My heart breaks reading about what you are going through. We hope to have a baby in the next couple of years but in the meantime our dog is definitely our baby.

I honestly think that the dog will adjust with time though. They will grow to love each other - it's just an adjustment time. It sounds like you are taking the right steps toward making that happen.

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

I assure you she will warm up in time. Keep giving her love, attention, treats, include her as much as you can etc.

My dogs were VERY curious when I brought home DD. My female was very motherly, but my male was his usual crazy rough self. They circled the carseat like SHARKS. I have it on video...they were insane sniffing around her...

the first year was hard. I felt so bad for my boy dog. My girl was fine,sweet, affectionate. My male was agitated, and seemed sad TO me. Maybe it was in my head but he seemed so sad. We kept doing whatever we always did to include him, although it made it harder b/c he is a biter and a nipper too. We had a trainer come in, and once DD started walking he did much better. We kept working with him, kept including them, loving them, etc.
I made sure to cuddle and hug them whenever I could, when DD would sleep, let them sit in my lap when I would feed her, etc. I never wanted them to feel unloved, or pushed aside, even when it was hard, I was tired and my patience was thin.

Well, here we are now. From about one year old, I can see my male dog changed and is is happy. DD LOVES LOVES LOVES the dogs and they love her. DD loves them, you can see her eyes light up. She calls for them first thing in the am. And my male dog lays by DD, insists on coming in DDs playroom to sleep on the couch by her. We still take our dogs on outings with DD, to family's houses, etc. Never leave them out if they can come as we used to do. It is wonderful. Sometimes he gets annoyed with her but that's just him anyway.

Keep it up, keep including him and loving him and I am sure in time he will love your DC in time. Positive. Hang in there, it gets better, including your own sadness and guilt for your dog.

Message edited 1/9/2011 12:39:31 PM.

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

Thank you everyone for all your help!!!

I do see every day it is getting a little bit easier. I am just trying to take any free moment that I am not with DD to spend with our dog Lexi. Wether it's playing fetch, giving treats, ice cubes ( she loves), petting her.

Wow...Am I learning to multi task. I will be feeding DD and with my other hand petting Lexi. ( with purell nearby of course)

Thank YOU EVERYONE!!!

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

Posted by bride07



Thank you everyone for all your help!!!

I do see every day it is getting a little bit easier. I am just trying to take any free moment that I am not with DD to spend with our dog Lexi. Wether it's playing fetch, giving treats, ice cubes ( she loves), petting her.

Wow...Am I learning to multi task. I will be feeding DD and with my other hand petting Lexi. ( with purell nearby of course)

Thank YOU EVERYONE!!!

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

Posted by Diana712

Posted by bride07



The only bad thing now is My DD is doing what I do.. Kissing her everytime she walks by her .. Trying to pick her up.. FEEDING HER .. Very bad .. She is so fat now.. I try so hard to keep that under control..

You sound so much better now.. I even stopped purelling after a while .. My dog my house my baby my germs..

Awwe, I can only imagine how cute that must be with your DD!!! But bad that LOLA is getting a littl chunky.

Thanks for your help!! I do feel much better every day.

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

i watch my friends baby twice a week and we were very worried w/ our 80 lb beast of a dog . but we were totally wrong, our Jake is SO wonderful w/ the baby its actually quite scary. when the baby cries he gets all sad w/ the baby.

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

I have no advice but I worry about this every single day. I won't be able to stand seeing Petunia upset or depressed. It would break my heart. I will try everything in my power to include her in everything and just hope that she will be over the moon with the baby. I am sure it will get so much better and they will become the best of friends

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

Posted by chrisnjoe8108

I have no advice but I worry about this every single day. I won't be able to stand seeing Petunia upset or depressed. It would break my heart. I will try everything in my power to include her in everything and just hope that she will be over the moon with the baby. I am sure it will get so much better and they will become the best of friends

Re: How did you Dog react to your newborn??

Posted by Goobster

Posted by chrisnjoe8108

I have no advice but I worry about this every single day. I won't be able to stand seeing Petunia upset or depressed. It would break my heart. I will try everything in my power to include her in everything and just hope that she will be over the moon with the baby. I am sure it will get so much better and they will become the best of friends

Don't worry, please. It will work out if you want it to and are dedicated. If my dogs can adjust, anyone's can.