I am 13 weeks pregnant and starting tp "plan". I have normal concerns about our dog and bringing a baby in our family. Now of course my baby will come first, but anyone who owns a pet knows they are just as much a part of the family. Our dog is a rescue dog and we've had him for almost 2 years now, even though it seems like we have always had him. He is a hound.lab mix and weighs 58lbs. Big boy and really sweet to us! He loves our neighbor and people that he sees VERY often. He doesnt like other dogs and ONE freak time tryed to attack my step-sister for NO reason. :( He was going through his developmental stage and she kinda barged into the house, so I dont know what 2 think... It hasnt happened since. He has sat and let little kids pet him but sometimes he gets startled and jumps back. Being scared can lead to aggression, which is natural, but I cant have it happening. I trust him fully that nothing will happen. But mistakes can happen. What can I do to prevent bad behavior with baby?
2007-03-20 05:24:59 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
I love this question. I was somewhat in the same boat as you, but I was barely preggy when I got my dog. She was a husky mix, and the sweetest thing in the world! She loved my baby to death and would've been all over him if I let her! lol
Here's what I'd sugest -
First, make sure to spend as much time with him as you can now. It will make that bond as strong as possible, before the baby comes. When the baby comes, have your hubby bring one of the baby blankets home, with your's and the baby's scents on it for the dog. Let him get used to the scent. When you come home, carefully let him smell the baby. He won't preceive the baby as "a little person" yet. (that's not till baby walks - then you may have to worry! lol) He will think of this noisy thing in your arms as an extention of YOU. At least that's what you'd want him to think. Make sure he knows the pecking order also. After you feed Baby, he can go out, or get fed etc.
You know how your dog is, and you know how to read him well, by now. Follow his clues. He will tell you. There's no real need to get scared about bringing baby home. Take your time, and make sure he knows everything's cool. Dont show your fears about him. He knows. Just be sweet, and take it one baby step at a time (no pun intended!)
Good luck, and CONGRATS!!!
;o)
2007-03-20 07:25:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Introduce them slowly.Don't leave him with baby unattended.As the baby gets older , don't let baby annoy him or hurt him accidentally.Always show the dog a good amount of attention when the baby is around till baby is older and you know dog can be trusted. IF dog shows any amount of aggression to the baby...Find him a new home.Sorry but there are times that it is all you can do.Better safe than sorry but most the time with love and patience a dog will come to protect the child.But as with any case that is not always the case.
2007-03-20 06:25:12 · answer #2 · answered by Dixie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You still have time so I think it would be worth hiring a professional trainer to work with him on situations that startle him and socialization skills around children. The professional can give you some good honest advice about how well your dog will do with an infant, and later a toddler in the house and help you work with the dog to get him better used to confusing situations. I think it would be a good investment for you, your dog and your baby and hopefully head off future problems.
Call the rescue you got him from or your local humane society and get some recommendations for trainers that use gentle training techniques. Good luck and congratulations on your soon-to-be new addition to your family.
2007-03-20 05:32:51 · answer #3 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
NEVER, EVER under any circumstances allow a dog and a child to be alone. EVER. I have had dogs that were all trained in protection, police, sports dogs etc for 27 years. Hundreds of them came and went and in all that time I have only had 1, only one of them that I would trust with my babies. I am interested if the dog is the nicest dog to ever exist in the entire universe, if that dog so much as growls or looks at the baby funny, he is gone, that second. There are no second chances when it comes to my children, none. And especially with a dog from a rescue that I know nothing about, No thank you. Please keep in mind that the baby comes first, dogs come and go but there is no price on a babie's life and health.
2007-03-20 06:10:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Before my mom had me, she had two big dogs who were known to bite strangers very often. So when I was born, she would hold me in her arms tightly and my dad would hold both dogs down to the ground and for a few minutes my mom would show me to the dogs. After... I think she said two weeks the dogs wouldn't growl at me or bark at me and would merely stare at my mom with me in her arms when she walked by. Now, only one dog is still alive but he's an old sweetie.
I don't know if that helped, but if you try to get your dog used to someone else, in an unharmful way, after a while your dog will accept the new born in the family.
Good luck and congragulations on your child!
2007-03-20 05:36:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋