| Posted By |
Message |
Pooka
Oh Happy Day!!
Member since 11/06 5689 total posts
Name:
|
Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
Ever since getting pregnant, Yogi (our pooch) seems to know that "something" is changing. He has been great though. No problems with him at all.....until my shower 2 weeks ago. When we brought all of the stuff into the house from the shower, put the furniture in the room, and started organizing stuff in the room Yogi began peeing on the kitchen floor. I've read that sometimes dogs regress, but generally they get over it once the baby is born.
Well, last night I'm sitting on the couch with the laptop talking on LIF and Yogi comes right over to me, stares at me for a few minutes, and then pees on my feet!!!!!!!!  I couldn't believe it!!! Like he is marking me as his territory!!!
He has never been an aggressive dog and we have rasied him around children. So, I'm not worried about what he will be like towards the baby once he is born...but he seems to be demanding a lot of my attention lately. Asking to go outside constantly, running around the table with my shoes in his mouth so I chase him, standing in front of me and barking...the list goes on. Normally I have DH with me to help out but tonight he is out with his friend and I am home alone with him. What do I do if he demands this much attention once the baby comes and I am still healing from the birth?? I won't be able to get up off the couch and chase him or let him out every 5 minutes. Maybe its the fact that the baby is coming soon, with only 5 weeks to my due date, and I am feeling the pressure.
Anyone else get moments like this? And, if you have a dog, what are you gonna do?
|
Posted 7/29/08 8:41 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Candy Girl
Candy girl- you are so sweet!
Member since 11/07 6349 total posts
Name:
erin
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
I have no pets, hence no advice, but just wanted to give you a  . You should try cross-posting this with the pets board. I am sure there will be lots of great advice over there.
|
| Posted 7/29/08 8:46 PM |
| |
|
Goldi0218
My miracles!
Member since 12/05 23902 total posts
Name:
Leslie
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
Honestly, dogs have a very keen sense of smell. Ive known many women with dogs that "sense" the change. I am willing to bet he smells your hormones and the "accident" is a manifestation of this.
|
| Posted 7/29/08 8:48 PM |
| |
|
Pina929
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/08 584 total posts
Name:
Danielle
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
I know Stefan might not like this answer… but if he has to go out and you are home alone with the baby the dog either stays out side or gets locked in your bedroom. i have no tolerance for a dog that is going to cause you panic or make you scared while you are healing at home with an infant. Luckily enough my dog is used to staying in one room for long periods of time even when we are home that Meatball will just be staying in her new room A LOT when baby is born.
|
| Posted 7/29/08 8:58 PM |
| |
|
mommysboy
my beautiful baby is here :-)
Member since 9/05 1136 total posts
Name:
amanda
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
my dog knows something is different as well but all he wants to do is lay on me and cuddle..Not bad at all.. I dont know what to tell you. I hope the dog goes back to normal.
|
| Posted 7/29/08 9:01 PM |
| |
|
Pooka
Oh Happy Day!!
Member since 11/06 5689 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
Posted by Pina929
I know Stefan might not like this answer… but if he has to go out and you are home alone with the baby the dog either stays out side or gets locked in your bedroom. i have no tolerance for a dog that is going to cause you panic or make you scared while you are healing at home with an infant. Luckily enough my dog is used to staying in one room for long periods of time even when we are home that Meatball will just be staying in her new room A LOT when baby is born.
The only thing about doing this is that you are teaching the dog that the baby is # 1 (even though we all know the baby takes priority, the dog dosent want to hear that). So, this makes the dogs behavioral problems worse b/c they start to act out when they don't get attention.
We want to teach Yogi that having the baby is a good thing, not a punishment where he would get sent to hideaway when he normally has full range of the house. Like I said, I don't think that he will be bad/aggressive towards the baby. I am just worried about being home alone with DH goes back to work and I am not as mobile as I normally am b/c I am still healing.
|
| Posted 7/29/08 9:01 PM |
| |
|
Cherry77
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/08 399 total posts
Name:
Cher
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
you would be amazed how quickly the pooch will adjust. We have 3 dogs and I was extremely nervous, had lots of anxiety bringing the baby home after my csection and to my surprise the dogs gave the baby a few sniffs and licks when we walked in the door and then didnt really bother with the baby after that. When the baby would cry the dogs would come over to me and push their heads into me letting me know the baby needed me. It was so cute. They would also lay around the bassinet and immediately protected the baby. My DS is now 22 months and I think the dogs are more afraid of my son at this age because he steps on them and grabs their fur! Hve faith that it will all work out. The only thing I noticed in regards to the attention... the dogs know that when my husband comes home from work they all get his attention right away!
|
| Posted 7/29/08 9:06 PM |
| |
|
Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
I have 3 dogs, they are large dogs...
They def know something is up...however they have been very protective. They are always by my side...and they def can smell hormones, b/c my German Shepard is always trying to sniff my boobs...she started a few weeks before my boobs started to leak.
But I did try early on in my pregnancy to get them to stop doing little things, like jumping up on me when I come home, coming on the couch and on our bed etc.
He might be trying to assert his place, and do what you can to let him know that you run the show, b/c once the baby comes, he will have to know that he will be second.
|
| Posted 7/29/08 9:17 PM |
| |
|
Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
Posted by Bubbs
Posted by Pina929
I know Stefan might not like this answer… but if he has to go out and you are home alone with the baby the dog either stays out side or gets locked in your bedroom. i have no tolerance for a dog that is going to cause you panic or make you scared while you are healing at home with an infant. Luckily enough my dog is used to staying in one room for long periods of time even when we are home that Meatball will just be staying in her new room A LOT when baby is born.
The only thing about doing this is that you are teaching the dog that the baby is # 1 (even though we all know the baby takes priority, the dog dosent want to hear that). So, this makes the dogs behavioral problems worse b/c they start to act out when they don't get attention.
We want to teach Yogi that having the baby is a good thing, not a punishment where he would get sent to hideaway when he normally has full range of the house. Like I said, I don't think that he will be bad/aggressive towards the baby. I am just worried about being home alone with DH goes back to work and I am not as mobile as I normally am b/c I am still healing.
Bubbs, I totally agree. If you love your dog and want to keep baby AND dog happy, locking your dog outside, or in a room all day and banning him from the house/baby is not the way to go about making for a good situation. That won't lead to good things b/w dog and baby, or dog and you, that's for sure. The dog deserves a nice life too...and it's our responsibilty as loving pet owners to do our best to provide that, at least TRY to provide that. Dogs get stressed too, just like humans and it's our job as responsible loving pet owners to try to help our pets adjust just as we would help another child adjust to a new sibling. So I agree with your post.
To answer your original question, it sounds as if Yogi does sense a change or senses your hormones, and is responding in typical dog fashion. I am sure he will demand attention when the baby comes, but as long as you and your DH make efforts to give him as much attention as possible, eventually he will adjust. He sounds like a pretty well adjusted dog to begin with and if he has been raised with children, he will soon realize this is his new life. Also, I think sometimes dogs like babies more than we think they will. I know my dog will demand my attention (he does it now) but he will also love when the baby finally can play with him. I think yoru concerns are normal but just do your best with him and that's all you can do. He will adjust and all will be fine.
Message edited 7/30/2008 7:11:50 AM.
|
| Posted 7/29/08 11:34 PM |
| |
|
Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
Posted by Cherry77
you would be amazed how quickly the pooch will adjust. We have 3 dogs and I was extremely nervous, had lots of anxiety bringing the baby home after my csection and to my surprise the dogs gave the baby a few sniffs and licks when we walked in the door and then didnt really bother with the baby after that. When the baby would cry the dogs would come over to me and push their heads into me letting me know the baby needed me. It was so cute. They would also lay around the bassinet and immediately protected the baby. My DS is now 22 months and I think the dogs are more afraid of my son at this age because he steps on them and grabs their fur! Hve faith that it will all work out. The only thing I noticed in regards to the attention... the dogs know that when my husband comes home from work they all get his attention right away!
Great story, thanks for posting. I love my dogs so much that I know it will all work out, b/c I will do whatever I have to to make my house a happy one for all (baby, us and our beloved dogs).
|
| Posted 7/29/08 11:36 PM |
| |
|
Pina929
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/08 584 total posts
Name:
Danielle
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
I would just like to say i have the type of dog that does not jump, would never go near the table for food, lounges around, would not jump on the couch and is used to being in a room long periods of time from the minute we got him. Obviously we work all day and when we come home of course we give her attention but she still sometimes hangs out in her room or spends a lot of time outside. I always had intentions of teaching her this from the beginning so when the baby comes it would not be change for her that suddenly she is outside so much or in her room so much. So i guess when these things are not instilled from the beginning you will have a lot more trouble implementing them later on and i guess i can see how it would look like punishment. I just know Krista, you are a little person and you dog is a very large one that can knock you over. And when you are not feeling your best after returning home from the hospital with out help from DH because he is working, you will see how fast you will not want Yoigi around to much until you feel better and things start to calm down. And sorry I don’t care what anyone says about how great dogs are with children…remember dogs are ANIMALS and can turn at anytime especially when being spiteful or when instinct kicks in. So I will always be cautious and I have a little dog…I can only imagine with a big dog.
|
| Posted 7/30/08 7:57 AM |
| |
|
Diana712
RIP my beloved Brother Richard
Member since 5/07 6710 total posts
Name:
Diana
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
You sound like you love this dog very much! To be worried that you cant play with him and run around because you may not be up to it says alot..  It is going to work out! I feel your guilt.. Your a great dog Mommy you will know what to do!
|
| Posted 7/30/08 8:09 AM |
| |
|
Pooka
Oh Happy Day!!
Member since 11/06 5689 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Pregnancy and the dog VENT (kinda long)
I would just like to say that I, in NO way, was saying that Pina929 dosen't love her dog or will neglect her dog when the baby comes by putting her dog in a room all day. I know, for a fact, that Pina929 loves meatball VERY much and she is very well cared for and given much attention. Additionally, everyone's dog has their own personality and their own way of caring for them in their home. Meatball happens to be a very laid back dog (unlike my yogi  )
With that being said, I just want to clarify that yes Yogi requires a lot of attention. He is a high strung, hyper dog and he is very very active. We play all the time! My post from last night was a vent b/c I am getting anxious about how I will split my time between Yogi and the baby when he arrives, and how I will be able to physically handle Yogi's level of activity when I am healing from delivery. Yogi has been great with me since I have been pregnant. He is a jumper and is easily excitable. But, since the beginning it is like he knows that he can't jump on me. So, he actually hasnt! So strange! I know that he can sense my body changes and I am curious to see how he will be once the baby comes.
I appreciate all of your comments to assure me that my feelings are normal as an expectant mommy and a mommy to a great dog!
|
| Posted 7/30/08 11:02 AM |
| |
|
