Would you give up your dogs?

Question

Over a year ago I have rescued a wonderfull dog: a rhodesian ridgeback mix-2yr old female and after that a boxer-1yr old male. We love them to death. They are very well natured, people-loving animals. We put them through obedience classes.
We just found out that I'm pregnant. My In-laws want us to get rid of them, because it's "unsafe" and "unhealthy" for a baby. I'd never do that because they are my babies too. But do you think they have a point? Are me making the right decision by not giving them up?

Answer 1

DONT LISTEN TO YOU INLAWS - heed their consern, but if you want to keep you dogs, by all means keep you dogs. Don't let them guilt you into getting rid of your furry babies.

I have a 15month old and three dogs, I've had them since they were babies, one is 3yrs, 2yrs and 6months. I wouldn't have given up my pups for nothing in the world, they are part of my family.... I properly socalized my dogs to my baby and now we all get along fantastically, everyone is healthy and safe!

I'd recomend exposing them to children, and monitor how they act around children.... if they show any sign of aggression, talk to a professional trainer to see what they recomend or you might have to consider finding a home for the aggressive one. Talk to your trainer first and formost, many times fear is misinterperted as aggression.

ALWAYS supervise your children when they are with dogs, no matter how old they are, or whos dogs they are, from 1 week old to 12 years old, NEVER leave a child with a dog unsupervised. Way too many children are bitten and killed by dogs from Rottweilers to Pomerianians (I wouldn't tag one breed responsible). Never leave your dogs alone in a room with your new baby, sometimes they may view the new arrival as a rival to their established pecking order, and feel it is nesicary to exterminate the new arrival to get rid of the compition...... don't even tempt your dog by leaving them alone together, ALWAYS supervise and NEVER leave a dog and baby unattended. The majority of time is a miscomunication, when a is bitten. The reality is dogs can't talk and have sharp flesh tearing teeth, so naturally their teeth is what they use to communicate. Don't let this scare you, if you supervise you childs interactions with your dogs, you'll be there to prevent such accidents or nothing will happen at all.

As far as having dogs is unhealthy.... thats a load of poop! Make sure your pets are all up to date on vaccinations before baby comes, and stay current on vaccinations. Make sure you have a monthly dewormer/heartworm preventitive (heartgard plus - advantix) and also make sure you keep your pets on Flea and Tick Prevention ( Frontline Plus etc.). Always use practice proper handwashing with both you and (when your baby comes) with your baby after handling your dogs. Expose yourself to information on intestinal parasites that are commonly seen in dogs, and that way you are more aware on prevention, recognizing if your pets are showing symptoms of exposure, and you'll know how to treat them.

Well I could go on and on about getting you and your pups ready for a happy k-9/family with a new baby, but i think it will be better for you to check out these websites.

You are making the right decision about not giving up your pets!

http://www.doggonesafe.com/baby%20coming.htm

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/introducing_your_pet_and_new_baby.html

http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/worms.html

P.S. I have a Boxer he was the best with my baby! They love each other now.... Best Buds!

Answer 2

I am 12 weeks pregnant and I have 6 box turtles, 2 water turtles, 8 Betta's, 1 hermit crab, 50 gallon fish tank, two horse and 4 dogs. I will never get rid of them!! They are all my babies.

As long as your man is willing to help care for the pets and clean up after them then there is no worry.

Just make sure you wash your hands after playing with or handling your pets.

Also make sure they do not get on your lap and start to keep them away from your belly.

You can also try and get a fake baby that cries from the toy store so they start getting used to the noise. Carry it around the house and give it attention as you would a baby. This way they learn there is going to be something taking moms attention away.

When you do have the baby have your man bring home a blanket smelling like you and the baby give it to the dogs so they can smell it.

Then when you come home have your man hold the dogs. Let one at a time sniff the baby while being help. Praise them when they are being good. If for some reason they growl or snip correct them and take them out of the room.

Don't give them up they are part of your life!

Answer 3

Some people do not understand that the animals in our life are our families too.. I personally do not think you should get rid of the dogs, the baby will come to love them and they will make great playmates for your child. And as far as the In laws thinking they are unsafe and unhealthy.. Do you feel unsafe and unhealthy? I thought not.. The dogs will adjust to the baby when it gets here, and i wish your baby a long loving relationship not only with his/her parents but with the animals in the family!
And just a tid bit.. the dogs will probably not be the only pets you have during your childs childhood.. i'm sure there will be lots of pets brought home.. bugs.. worms.. fireflies... a cute kitty.. a lonely puppy.. lol.. u get the picture...

Answer 4

No if they are not mean or aggressive dogs there is no need to get rid of them. Once you have the baby the dogs will or at least should take a protective role over the child. The only thing you may want to watch out for is the dogs in the child's room, you don't want them trying to help or wanting to get close to the child and trying to jump in the bed because then they could smother or unintentionally hurt the child. Usually though there is nothing to worry about. My cousin has 3 boxers and they are all inside dogs, she just made the baby's room a no go zone for them and it works out great. Congrats on your new baby and good luck getting your in-laws to understand.

Answer 5

I don't think so, they aren't like cats. I have heard of other dog owners that were expecting hired someone to get the dogs used to having a baby. a little example of what they did was, Where the dog owners would take like an extra baby blanket to the hospital during the hospital visit and then before the baby came home, they would take the extra baby blanket back to the dogs and let the dogs sniff it and get used to the babies scent. I have also seen on tv where their had been dogs that were protective over babies and saved their lives from stuff like sids and etc. My advice would be that if you don't want to get rid of them, then hire a trainer that would come to the home and help prepare the dogs for a new family member. I might not be much help but it might give you an idea to look into doing.

Answer 6

Do NOT get rid of your dogs!!!!!!!!! You're in-laws have no clue what they are talking about!!! Sometimes dogs get jealous that you have a baby. Most (90%) of dogs have no problems with a baby. Just watch the dogs and make sure the baby is gentle with them. If the dogs are well mannered and you don't let the baby hurt them (pull hair, ears, tail, etc.) they will love the baby and the baby will love them.

My parents had an old, old golden retreiver when I was born. He would lay under my crib and growl at anyone who walked into my room. He never attacked but he would warn people, "this is my baby". He even growled at my dad who raised him from a pup. A dog could be your best babysitter. Just make sure you keep an eye on them

Answer 7

I don't understand why people still think this way...it's very "old school." Just like the old wive's tale that having a cat in the home with a newborn is dangerous because the cat will "suck the baby's breath out." Silly.

As long as you introduce your newborn to the dogs, it should be fine. Make sure you are still giving enough attention to your pets, though. Sometimes when people have babies they tend to neglect their animals.

Tell your in-laws that it's your choice and you choose to keep the dogs.

Answer 8

absolutly not! Dogs are normally fine around kids (with supervision) if they are well behaved that is a bonus! the only thing to consider would be if your dogs get jelous easily, if they do, that would be the only time you should even consider getting rid of them. You love your dogs, they love you... they will love the baby, and chances are the baby will love them! my friend has a phyco dog with BOUNDS of energy, they had a baby and the dog totally flipped around and was very calm, carefull, and nurturing to the baby. Dont give them up, your in-laws dont know the dogs like you do. thats like telling them to give up a kid or something... it just doesnt happen! get the dog used to baby smells, put some baby powder on your hands or on the dogs bed or even the dog! let them check out the diapers and baby cloths. teach the dog boundaries. ex- no dogs in the babies room... or something like that. start to impliment them now so the transition to a new family member is gradual. before you know it you will be one big happy family! dogs and all!!

Answer 9

Large Dogs?

Answer 10

I don't know. My cousins adopted a half boxer half lab dog when I was living with them. So her first year with them I was there. And 4 years later I had my one year old son over at their house, and she just walked over and bit him in the face. He didn't even provoke her. She had also bitten a little girl that had visited. I think she was just very jealous. I'm pretty sure that it was the boxer in her. Because I have a lab who is 12 and my kids climb all over her, and she would never even snap at them. I'm not very familiar with the rhodesian ridgeback temperament, so I don't know about that. I just think if you're going to have dogs you should have more younger kid friendly dogs.