Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Hello all,

Here's my question - DH is a firefighter and works a 24+ hr shift. So every third day, it's just going to be me with the baby and pets for a long time. We are moving into our new house next week, which has a non-fenced backyard - we're planning on fencing eventually.
So, when I need to walk the dog and baby is sleeping - and I obviously don't want to wake baby up - what choice do I have - really only choice is too fence backyard (or hold dog on long leash) and let her go in backyard, correct? I really wanted to avoid letting dog poop in backyard, but there's really no other way I can do this besides waking up baby and walking, which I obviously don't want to do!

What do you do?

Thanks!

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Honestly..

I would go to home depot or kmart and get that white "fence" stuff to put around gardens (the kind that you stick in the ground) and "fence" off a small pen type area where you take the dog on the leash and only allow him to go there.

This serves two purposes, you are containing the poop and eventually the dog will ONLY go in that area and if you do fence the backyard, you wont have to worry about the rest of the yard.

My parents trained their rotty this way.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Probably not a popular answer- but I walk the dog when my kids are sleeping. I'm never far away from the house and I usually don't go more than 3-4 houses down. I always keep the house in my sight.

I can't walk my dog with the kids because she's skittish and bolts when she gets frightened. She tipped the stroller once and I refuse to allow that to happen again.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Thanks, Jen. I was thinking about something like that - fencing off a very small area so the poop is contained and we don't have to search for it all over the yard But isn't that white garden fencing really low? My dog will just walk over it Guess I'll have to stand out there with her in that one spot w baby monitor on hip! I really did not want poops in yard

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Message edited 8/21/2009 9:45:44 AM.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Well you could definitely just take the baby, even if the baby is sleeping. How many times a day might you walk the dog, twice? Am and Pm? YOur baby will easily get used to your and your dog's schedule.

My advice is if you do eventually want the dog to go in the yard, you should start that from the beginning otherwise the dog may not go in the yard ever (my dogs are like this).

If you must let the dog go in the yard, pick it up asap to prevent your dog from contaminating your yard should your dog have worms. Also...make sure your dog takes a monthly dewormer such as Interceptor, to prevent tranmsision of worms to your DC in the future. Talk to your vet about this.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

It's funny - I guess you could say that the dog is used to both - when we lived in NY, she was in a large fenced yard so she would just go to the bathroom in the yard. We've been in an apt for the past two years in FL, so she gets walked - and yes, she needs to walk a little before she is can pooped. We have spent the past two summers back in NY, so she does her business in the yard set-up in the summer - lol.

I know you were saying to just take the baby if I just want to walk - you think the baby won't wake up?

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Can't you just walk the dog in the yard (if baby is sleeping) so you can pick it up after her? I understand you don't want the dog going in the yard, but if you're picking it up immediately, it's not like you're going to have a poo collection out back.

My friend used to walk her dog with the baby in the bjorn.

Message edited 8/21/2009 1:23:45 PM.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

I would walk the dog when the baby is awake. Get the dog on your baby's schedule, this way you get to take a walk with the baby and dog. Everyone will get air and see the sights. I would use a baby sling or baby bjorn in the beginning- and baby may/may not sleep while walking and if the dog doesn't freak out incorporate the stroller on walks when you can handle it. Depending on the dog, sometimes it's tricky walking a dog with a stroller. I know it is with my dog. HTH!

Message edited 8/21/2009 1:27:06 PM.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

You would still take the dog on the leash into the little fenced area.. the fence is not supposed to keep the dog in, just provide a boundry. My mom had a rottie and she MUCH larger than the fence...

Re: Question for BTDT Moms - Walking Dog w Baby...

Fence. ASAP.

My DH works crazy hours and I couldn't imgaine having to walk my dog with a newborn or a toddler (which would probably be worse )

Or-my parents built a run in their backyard when I was a baby for their dog.