how do i prepare my dog for a new baby?? please help.?

Question

i have an english bulldog that is almost 4 years old and has been the baby in mine and my husbands life. i am about 3 months pregnant and we are affraid that he will not like the baby and be very jealous, because he is VERY protective of us al the time. any suggestions to help prepare him would be great. thank you!

Answer 1

I've heard that setting up a play pen in the house during your pregnancy, and carrying around a baby doll a few hours a day will get your animals comfortable with the fact that they cant always be the center of your attention.

also if you have any friends or family with small children or babies have them over OFTEN, you and your husband could baby sit, even have them over night a few times .....My husband and I have our 4 & 2 yr old nieces and 1 yr old nephew over a few times a month so when baby comes our first son (the black lab) will be more comfortable having a little person in his house. I'm sure once your dog has bonded with your child he'll have a protector for life.

A word of caution you may want to contact an animal behaviorist because bulldogs are part of the pit bull family and maybe he or she would have some suggestions more breed specific! Best Wishes on your new arrival, I'm sure both your children will get along great!

Answer 2

Most of the time, if a dog is loyal, and loves its owners it will love the child too as long as you make him feel he is a part of it. Practice some, let him be around other babies, or pretend to have a baby. Use a doll, carry it around, talk to it..pretend its a real baby. Let it get used to crying if possible. Also, when the baby is born, let it sniff a garment of clothing or blanket that smells like the baby before you bring it home from the hospital. Pet the dog and be very affectionate with him at the first introduction between him and the baby. Set the carrier down with the child in it or hold the baby while on the sofa and let him smell and just "check out the new addition". Talk in a soft , encouraging voice and just explain it. He may not understand what you are saying, but he will understand tone. It may take some time, but most animals adjust. Just don't exclude him. Unless he's agressive, he will probably come around better than you think. i remember i did this with my lab....i had a doll that cried. Well once i did the routine, i went in my bedroom and put the doll in the closet. My lab sat by the closet door and perked her ears up, and ****** her head to the side and kept staring at me like...are you just gonna leave it in there?!!it was so funny.

Answer 3

We have two dogs and were very much worried as you are. Our first born was a bit of a shock to the doggies. My little (bichon) dog was a bit put off because he could not be on my lap 24/7. Both dogs adjusted wonderfully and became very protective of our daughter and now they just adore her. She is 5. Our newest is 7 months and both dogs are very good with him. I really think they can tell how much you love this child and want to protect it. Both dogs hated the Toddler stage but now they just follow Lainie around. Mostly hoping she drops something they can eat!! She is a new food source! Good luck and be sure to let the dog see and smell the baby from the get go. You know your dog well enough to know if it is going to be safe. Until you are entirely sure, never leave the room (to grab a diaper or something) without the baby being out of reach!

Answer 4

I'd get rid of the bulldog and get an Irish Wolfhound or Dachshund myself, yet I'm prejudice when it comes to dogs because of my own childhood. The best thing to do is to let the dog see and smell all the new stuff for the baby and even let Fido there listen to your tummy whilst baby is still inside. This way, he'll be able to figure out that someone is going to be showing up soon and needing his protection too! Plus, don't forget that dogs have an incredible sense of smell and can detect even down to one part per million of an order or scent molecule! Hes probably already smelled your body pheromone change and already realizes your going to (don't be offended please! I'm talking about Fidos' point of view here!) have your own litter soon enough. More than likely, if you've raised the dog properly, he'll be great around your soon to be new baby! Mazoltov by the way!

Answer 5

We don't have a dog, but my in-laws do. They have 2 Lhasa Apsos who HATE children. They always bark and lunge at kids, etc. Around 4 or 6 weeks old, we brought our son over for the first time (we were so scared that the dogs would growl and try to attack him) they were SO protective of him. I think the dogs could smell or at least sense that he was part of our family. When our son cried, the male dog stood under him and wimpered. Now my son is 3 and he and the male dog are best buddies. The female dog avoids my son and vice-versa. We have a new baby now and the dogs are fine around her, too.

Ask the hospital to give you your baby's first cap (the one with the blood and guck on it from when she or he is born) to take home for your dog to smell. This may help.

But honestly if *these* dogs like our kids your bulldog will not have a problem with yours. From what I understand, bulldogs are very loyal. A bulldog is what my husband and I would love to get if we ever decide to get a dog.

Answer 6

There are a couple of good suggestions here. One is taking home a blanket or piece of clothing that the baby has been wrapped in/wearing before actually bringing the baby home. I've read to have one spouse go into the house first when bringing home baby, giving the dog attention, then bring the baby in. My baby was born at home, and the dog was staying with my parents (she stayed with them for one week). We did the blanket thing, and Daisy slept with the blanket! When Emlyn was a week old, we took her to mom and dad's rather than bringing home Daisy, so that Daisy and Emmie could meet on "neutral" ground (not Daisy's "home turf"). They got along very well. Daisy sniffed Emmie's feet and then very gently kissed them :o)
We tried to make sure that we still gave attention to Daisy, and when I would have to be devoted solely to Emmie, my husband would give Daisy attention. During feedings, we would give Daisy a treat, so that she viewed it as a positive experience. She doesn't get the attention that she got pre-baby, but she's not neglected, which is important. We also just tried to have her around the baby as much as we could - since we know the dog so well, we felt that we could manage the situation - we kept the baby's face away from Daisy at first just to be sure, but allowed Daisy to sniff her.
Now Emmie is 7 months and LOVES Daisy. Daisy will sleep next to her on the floor while Emmie is playing, and allows Emmie to pet her and grab her, etc. If Emmie is going too far, she either moves away, or eventually, will look at myself or my husband and growl gently, at which point, we stop the baby from beating on the dog, and gently reprimand the dog (for growling, just so she knows not to go any farther). She is being taught that she's still a member of the family, but she's the low man on the totem pole in the pack. She has never shown aggression, ie. tried to snap at the baby, etc. She's protective of her, and seems to instinctively know that the baby is her people, even though Daisy has been replaced as the baby of the family.

Answer 7

This will sound mean, but gradually start giving him less attention. When the baby arrives, you aren't going to have much time for the dog at all. If you have been paying less attention to him before the baby comes, it won't be such a difficult transition.

My dog was the same way. He's very intelligent, and has always known instinctively how to behave around children. For several months, he wouldn't go anywhere near our son. We let him him sniff the baby, but he kept his distance until he felt comfortable around him. He's more protective of our son than he is of us.

Answer 8

Keep showing him the new things you buy for the baby. If you're going to be changing something, like for instance, not wanting him in the baby's room, start it now. When your little one is born, get your husband to bring home a hat/blanket that the baby has worn and let your dog sniff it/sleep with it to get used to the scent.
When your bring the baby home, have someone else carry tha baby in, so that you can greet your puppy!
Hope this helps. We did all of the above with our 10 y.o. basset and it worked nicely.

Answer 9

Congrats! I even have had my dogs or 12 years, hes a small mixture and intensely spoiled via me. i replaced into very worried approximately him once I found out i replaced into pregnant with my daughter, he relatively dislikes little ones. I examine on line someplace that the main suitable element to do is enable the dogs inspect each and every thing if obtainable. the bouncer, the swing the child mattress ect. so its no longer without notice new and not for him. my dogs looked at everyhing! additionally in case you would be making differences like have been the dogs will sleep or consume of it he will now no longer be able on the settee then you definately might desire to make those differences now in the previous the child. That way they wont think of its simply by infant you made the diversities. I additionally accept as true with sending abode blankets and garments the child had worn in the previous you return abode from the wellness midsection. I did this with my dogs and the day i introduced my daughter abode he smelled her as quickly as and then walked far off from right here and his interest replaced into on me finally be back abode. additionally make some time for Doggie. even however you have customer paying interest to the dogs and helping, the dogs will easily need your interest and your like to help in the process the diversities. remember canines are %. animals, it would take some cases in the previous your dogs learns the order of the recent %.. ** basically remember no count how trusting or loving your dogs in line with danger, by no potential go away you dogs on my own jointly with your infant!** stable good fortune!

Answer 10

Oh, just get rid of the dog! Just kidding. Do you have children around the dog ever? I would have family and friends bring their little ones around- if it is safe. you could get a babydoll that cries and in front of the dog hold it and treat it as if it were a real baby. Maybe the best thing would be to have a dog trainer come to your home to observe your dog and give you suggestions.