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bride07
Ava Rose you are an angel!!!
Member since 3/09 6115 total posts
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How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
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.
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Posted 1/9/11 8:20 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
cinnabon
Complete..
Member since 6/10 1592 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
One of my dogs started to pee and poo EVERYWHERE, EVERYDAY. 6 months later, she still does, but not as much. As sad as it is, I wanna get rid of her cause the baby will be crawling soon and I can't have him crawling on a carpet like that.
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| Posted 1/9/11 8:31 AM |
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JChia
Mom of 2 Princesses
Member since 9/07 2540 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
My dog went through a period of depression too. Sadly she died last year - but she was not herself for about a year after DD was born. She then adjusted to having DD around.
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| Posted 1/9/11 9:54 AM |
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Mrs-D-Girl
Love my fur baby
Member since 8/07 5183 total posts
Name:
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
My dog is my little baby so I was so nervous when we brought DS home.
The first week, Bella would not come near the baby, she would lay on the floor and never in her usual spot on the couch. She was totally depressed, but we made sure we gave her as much attention if not more the first few weeks.
She still sleeps in our bed, I always greet her when I walk into the room and I made sure when company came to see the baby, they did the same. When I am holding DS I call her over to me and she sits next to us. I give her treats and award her probably more then I should, but it makes her happy.
When the weather was nicer we would go for walks and I always took the dog while DH pushed the stroller or vice versa.
She now adores him, licks him from head to toe if she was able to - LOL. When he cries, she checks to see if everything is ok and then usually runs away.
It gets better 
Message edited 1/9/2011 7:05:53 PM.
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| Posted 1/9/11 7:04 PM |
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MrsSpring
I'm a lucky mama
Member since 1/10 7585 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
the ignoring was the worst.
than i had to go back into the hospital so when i got home i think she was happy to see me.
i make sure that everyone who comes over says hello to her too.
Im the same way as you my pup(almost 3) is my first baby.
does you dog like treats. usually works
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| Posted 1/9/11 7:12 PM |
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MrsBurtch525
Year for change!
Member since 1/09 6017 total posts
Name:
Taryn
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
Ella turned into a mama. Everytime she came into a room, she would have to know where the baby is and come up and sniff her, maybe the occasional swipe of the tongue. She was very protective of the baby. We made sure not to change her routine at all when we brought DD home.
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| Posted 1/9/11 7:27 PM |
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OOSMommy
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/09 860 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
I have two dogs - one was overjoyed to meet DD, the other (my rescue dog with "baggage") was devastated. She kept looking at me like I had broken her heart. It was really hard to get through. She had a lot of anxiety issues including licking her paws neurotically until she actually opened a sore. It took her awhile to get adjusted. Now she and DD will play together. I won't say she LOVES her, but things were OK after awhile.
Just keep making time for your dog, take her on a walk alone, even just for a few minutes, and over time she will get better.
2 thoughts from my experience - first, I wouldn't be surprised if the squeaky toy behavior is anxiety related rather than her trying to compete for attention. The chewing motion may be her trying to calm herself. The constant crying is hard on them at first. Second is that my dogs did the worst during the first few weeks because they were up every time we were up. The sleep deprivation was just as hard on them. After a few weeks they stopped getting up with us in the middle of the night and started sleeping through it like lazy bums  - then things got much better.
Congrats on your little one and good luck with your first (fur)baby
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| Posted 1/9/11 7:35 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
Posted by OOSMommy
2 thoughts from my experience - first, I wouldn't be surprised if the squeaky toy behavior is anxiety related rather than her trying to compete for attention. The chewing motion may be her trying to calm herself. The constant crying is hard on them at first. Second is that my dogs did the worst during the first few weeks because they were up every time we were up. The sleep deprivation was just as hard on them. After a few weeks they stopped getting up with us in the middle of the night and started sleeping through it like lazy bums - then things got much better.
Congrats on your little one and good luck with your first (fur)
baby
So very true about the waking up of the pets and their lack of sleep. Interesting thought about the anxiety and the squeaky too. You may be right.
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| Posted 1/9/11 8:55 PM |
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
I would say my dog took about 6 months to adjust. She was just sad, and wouldn't sleep in the bed with us. She is fine now and loves DD.
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| Posted 1/9/11 9:00 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
Posted by cinnabon
One of my dogs started to pee and poo EVERYWHERE, EVERYDAY. 6 months later, she still does, but not as much. As sad as it is, I wanna get rid of her cause the baby will be crawling soon and I can't have him crawling on a carpet like that.
Does your dog get enough exercise to release pent up anxiety? Did you try a trainer? Dogs have a hard time adjusting too sometimes and it's up to us to help them through the change in their lives. They can't control their anxiety or emotions, they need our guidance, not for us to give up on them or give them away to perpetuate the anxiety cycle and lack of stability in the dog's life.
I highly recommend www.barkbusters.com
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| Posted 1/9/11 9:25 PM |
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BigB
C & J are 10!
Member since 6/05 5914 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
I was really very nervous when we brought the twins home. We have a pit/Shepard mix who can be aggressive at times. However, with the babies she was great! She was a little nervous and would cry when they cried. She slept under their bassinets and just loved them!
Never in a million years, did I think that would happen. 3 years later, she is very tolerant of them bumping into her, falling on her, etc....Although, I do think she loves when we are all out of the house now! LOL....
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| Posted 1/9/11 9:27 PM |
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renee92405
I finally hit 1000! woo hoo!
Member since 1/06 2294 total posts
Name:
Renee
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
My Boxer did really well considering this dog actually thinks I gave birth to him. Lol! This dog never leaves my side so I was definitly nervous to leave him for 3 days and return home with the baby.
I think a few things helped. First, we got him when he was 9 weeks old and I found out I was preggo about a month before we got him. So he first met me while I was pregnant. ( they say dogs can sense hormone changes.) And he knew. He was very protective of me as I got further along.
Also, while I was in the hospital, my DH would bring home the blanket that the baby was wrapped in so the dog would know the baby's scent before she got home. He did this for the two nights I was gone.
The day we came home, I walked in the house first alone. I gave the dog hugs and kisses while my DH waited in the car with the baby. A few minutes later DH walked in with the baby and we let the dog smell her and see her right away. No problems!
We made sure when people came over that they said hi to him first before gushing over the baby.
The only issue we had was when my parents stayed for 7 days when the baby was born, the dog peed on the pack n play twice. He was marking his territory. He never did it again.
My DD is 21 months old and they are best friends.
Sorry this was so drawn out.
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| Posted 1/9/11 9:47 PM |
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SweetOctBaby
LIF Toddler
Member since 4/10 459 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
I am dealing with a similar situation except mine is with a cat. I have two cats. The one who is my baby (the other loves my DH) is totally depressed since i brought the baby home and has been trying to mark his territory by peeing in her crib :(. He loves her, is purring around her and sweet with her but is also jealous of all the attention she is getting from me so he is trying to mark his spot by peeing on her things. Its disgusting but i cant even yell at him because i heard this causes more anxiety.
I have been trying to give him extra attention. It's so hard because like yours- he was my baby before DD came along. Actually before DD came along i couldn't imagine loving anyone more then my cat! LOL
Hopefully our animals come around. I love my cat so much i would never give him up! But something has to change.
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| Posted 1/9/11 9:53 PM |
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chickiemom
LOVE my boys!!
Member since 10/09 1473 total posts
Name:
Leanne
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
My German Shepherd (11 months old when we brought ds home) was amazing and has been since day 1.. She just knew... she is very gentle and calm around him. All we have to say is "baby" and she will sit and stay... all we did prior was bring home a blanket from the hospital every night to let her smell.. They are bestest of friends.. and ds now grabs every part of her and she doesn't move... I was very worried at first too... they will adapt.
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| Posted 1/9/11 10:15 PM |
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MamaB17
Back for baby #3
Member since 5/09 4065 total posts
Name:
N
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
Our dog (Male Lab 5 years old), was terrified when we first brought dd home. Every time she cried he would bark so loud (and he normal does not bark, ever). It was his scared bark (the one he does when we vacuum). This went on for two days, and he was over it. I was so upset. Stressed. I called my parents, and told them they might have to come get our dog. We live oos. Our dog had so much time to "get ready" too. DD was in the nicu for 6 weeks. We brought home clothes for him every single day. It did nothing to prepare him.
He got over it. Then did the whole depressed thing. However, he has that sad Lab face to begin with. Now they have a love hate relationship. He isn't thrilled with her, but protects her so much. Wants to be where she is at all times. I have to lock him out of her room at night, or he is in there waking her up. He sits, and we let her pet him. He isn't too happy with it, but tolerates it. He is a big mush. He gets very upset when she cries. I am sure once she is crawling he will just have to give up, and love her. Now she will roll so fast to him, and then as soon as she gets there he gets up. She loves him so much. He is working on it. Hang in there, they will get use to each other.
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| Posted 1/9/11 10:26 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
I have to add, my male would stare at the bassinet and bark like crazy when she would whimper and cry. That stopped after some time. He got used to it pretty quickly.
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| Posted 1/9/11 11:22 PM |
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cinnabon
Complete..
Member since 6/10 1592 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
Posted by Goobster
Posted by cinnabon
Does your dog get enough exercise to release pent up anxiety? Did you try a trainer? Dogs have a hard time adjusting too sometimes and it's up to us to help them through the change in their lives. They can't control their anxiety or emotions, they need our guidance, not for us to give up on them or give them away to perpetuate the anxiety cycle and lack of stability in the dog's life.
we didn't try a trainer. She's not a bad dog at all. I'm just giving her to my sister, so she will still be in the family. I'd love to keep her, but it's not even the poo and pee, it's everything. She's crate trained and never goes outside. She's a tiny little thing. She has even started to throw up randomly. Brought her to vet and everything is fine. It's just hard to keep house clean, take care of DD n DS all day and have to tend to 2 dogs. I'm physically drained. And when I say she pees, she pees on every carpet we own. I have spent prolly over 1k on getting carpets cleaned. Now we are pulling them up and redoing the hardwood floors.
Message edited 1/9/2011 11:46:56 PM.
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| Posted 1/9/11 11:46 PM |
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Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!
Member since 5/05 20046 total posts
Name:
Gerty ®
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
She was not too bad in the beginning actually. But when DS was about a year old and got really mobile, she started going in his room when we weren't home and pooping in there.
We put her back in the crate for a few days and she stopped.
I would really make an effort to walk her yourself...that was the biggest thing that we made sure of with Misty...that she got her walks and we played with her everyday so she knew she wasn't being "replaced".
BTW, Misty was 5 when DS came home.
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| Posted 1/10/11 8:15 AM |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: How did your DOG react when bringing home your newborn?? Advice
DH and I were just talking about this yesterday. He is very blah about the baby. I thought he would be excited. He is SO protective of my nieces and nephews, he would sleep under their pack and play when they slept over 
But with DD, he really doesnt care about her. He licks her sometimes but that is it.
DH still walks him. He still sleeps in our bed. We cuddle with him all day long! We cuddle him more than DD b/c she is usually in her swing/play mat/crib!!!
But he is just blah now and it breaks my heart every day  I wish he loved her!
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| Posted 1/10/11 8:19 AM |
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