August Mummies 2011 - 28 baby boys, 14 baby girls, and 4 beautiful angels so far xxx

[Mark&Annie]

We've come to the realization we're going to have to get rid of our one dog when the baby comes. DH is devastated - he won't even talk about it

Seriously?? Why?? I'm sure you can find a way to keep it if you really want to. Sorry but I get upset when people say this If you want any advice, just ask! We have four dogs and 3 cats... the two can co-exist, even if they have to be kept separately for safety...

I know, I know and I feel awful saying it We got him when he was a year old as a rescue. He's come a LONG way since we got him (he couldn't go through doors and you couldn't make sudden movements, just very skittish). We have a very very small house and its been fine, but I'm getting nervous about the baby. We have a smaller dog and I think he thinks he's little! He's very doppy and is always throwing his head and paws around. The other day I fell down the stairs b/c he was trying to run past me and knocked me down. It scared both DH and I Please Annie - if you have any suggestions they're appreciated! The only good thing that could come out of it is that my brother in law would take him - at least we could still see him on a regular basis...

Yes of course your children always come first, I have soft as muck dogs but still err on the side of caution as they are big and clumsy sometimes! Before we had Joshua, we had two Pointers and a Beagle (we now have 3 Pointers!). We always had a gate on the stairs so the cats could get away from them if they needed some peace, maybe you could try this? When I was pregnant we decided to limit the time they were allowed to roam the house and restricted them to the utility room. After a long mornings walk they sleep all day anyway. This works really well for us, they have a run and kennel in the garden too for brighter days. Joshua likes to put his toys in through the bars and the dogs eat his toys They don't really play together yet, they still knock him down by accident! But they spend time when he's in a buggy and I used to carry him when I walked them before I got fat again! when we move, it's a much smaller house (but better location, hence the move) and the dogs will have to live permanently in a purpose built kennel outside. I feel a bit mean, but as I said once walked and fed they sleep all day, and there's no way I would part with them! As he gets bigger they will be able to play together in the garden, Pixi Beagle plays sometimes because she is the smallest!
I hope you find a way to keep your dogs, once children are a bit bigger, a dog is the best thing in the world to a child!

 

[Mark&Annie]

Argh!!! I just realised my ticker is moving waaaay too fast!!!

 

[moomin_troll]

times going abit too fast for me aswel lol

 

[mothercabbage]

:wave: girls, congrats on the scans everyone! its still sinking in i got the team i wanted!! kept saying thanx to OH for a blue sperm
its cute when babies do things at their scans, sucking toes is cute! our little man stuck him thumb up at us, seemed to be right after i screamed "iTS A BOY!!!"...he knows mummy was pleased...
thanx for updating 1st post tjw
as for the dog situ....agree with the other lady(sorry i forget who said it 1st)children come first!..and only you know what to do for the best, and as its only BIL getting the dog, will feel better as you can see the dog when you like and watch how he is getting on xxxx

 

[magicbubble]

We've come to the realization we're going to have to get rid of our one dog when the baby comes. DH is devastated - he won't even talk about it

Seriously?? Why?? I'm sure you can find a way to keep it if you really want to. Sorry but I get upset when people say this If you want any advice, just ask! We have four dogs and 3 cats... the two can co-exist, even if they have to be kept separately for safety...

I know, I know and I feel awful saying it We got him when he was a year old as a rescue. He's come a LONG way since we got him (he couldn't go through doors and you couldn't make sudden movements, just very skittish). We have a very very small house and its been fine, but I'm getting nervous about the baby. We have a smaller dog and I think he thinks he's little! He's very doppy and is always throwing his head and paws around. The other day I fell down the stairs b/c he was trying to run past me and knocked me down. It scared both DH and I Please Annie - if you have any suggestions they're appreciated! The only good thing that could come out of it is that my brother in law would take him - at least we could still see him on a regular basis...

could you not just keep him away from the baby until you are sure he wont react badly? we had a house rabbit (until the dog tried to play roughly with him ) but had baby gates everywhere to keep them seperate. unfortunately flopsy got the wrong side of one in the night and i came down to a horrible sight in the morning. thankfully no blood but fluff everywhere and flopsy on his back

anyway what i was going to say is i am starting crate training joey the dog so he gets used to having his own little space and doesnt feel the need to be round us constantly. i am also doing this because he was having accidents in the house. so far he is doing very well. we also have gates on the kitchen doors and stairs which is the room he mainly stays in. they would be needed anyway when baby can crawl. but i figured they will work well to keep dog seperate from baby when dog is not supervised.

dogs trust do a leaflet with advice on how to help dog get prepared for baby, i will post it on here for you

 

[magicbubble]

dogs trust advice:

People are often concerned about how a dog will respond to the arrival of a baby to the household. Below are some tips on what to do to make the transition easier for all concerned.

Things to do in the months leading up to the baby's arrival:

Make sure your dog has a basic understanding of good behaviour. Brush up on his training so that he will lie quietly for short periods, won’t jump up, can walk on the lead without pulling and will come when called. This will make both your lives much easier.
If your dog has any behavioural problems, make sure that these are resolved before your baby arrives. Ask your vet to refer you to a good local animal behaviourist.
Make sure your dog is healthy and is up to date with his worming tablets and vaccinations.
If your dog is an ‘only’ pet, it is quite likely he is used to being the ‘baby’ in your family. Help him get used to being less important, by ignoring him and leaving him alone for short periods of time every day with a tasty long-lasting chew.
If you are planning to keep your dog out of certain rooms or areas of the house once the baby arrives, then start doing this as soon as possible. Ideally, he should not be allowed in the baby’s bedroom.
Teach your dog to walk calmly next to the pram.
Bring new items of furniture such as playpens, carry cots and highchairs into the house, so that your dog can get used to them.
Try to teach your dog the difference between his toys and those that will belong to the baby.
Try to get a tape recording of baby noises and play it in areas the baby is going to be most often, so that your dog can get used to these different sounds.
Develop a routine that you intend to follow when the new baby arrives and stick to it, to help your dog cope with the changes in the home.
Read on for what to do when the baby arrives

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/b/babiesanddogs/default.aspx


BABIES AND DOGS: WHEN THE BABY ARRIVES
If you're planning well in advance, read our section on what to do in the months leading up to the birth to get prepared. Read on to find out what to do on the day you bring your new baby home.

Try not to make a big deal with your dog about the arrival of the new baby. Teach him how to approach the baby properly and gently. Allow the dog to make safe initial investigations and approaches.
Help your dog to see the baby as a nice thing to be around. Give your dog treats and lots of praise when he behaves well around the baby.
Do not place the baby on the floor with your dog and never hit or shout at him for approaching the baby in the wrong way. Gently, show the dog what you wish him to do and reward him when he gets it right.
Make sure that your dog has enough exercise and things to do – a bored dog with too much energy can get up to all sorts of mischief while you are busy with your new baby. Do try to ensure your dog has as much attention and time with you as possible.
If you have any worries about your dog’s behaviour after the baby has arrived, consult your vet as soon as possible, who will refer you to a good local animal behaviourist.
NEVER leave a baby or child alone with any dog, no matter how trustworthy you think they are; it just isn’t worth the risk.

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/b/babiesanddogs/babiesanddogsadviceafterbirth09.aspx

 

[moomin_troll]

its not always so simple! the owner of the dog knows the dog best and if they dont feel the dog would do well in the home with a baby its not worth the risk at all!

if i still had our dog i no 100% she wouldnt do well with a baby in the house no matter what things i did to try and change that.

you cant just watch to see how a dog will act because its not that easy to stop a dog attacking a child

 

[magicbubble]

ours wont attack the baby but he is completely clumsy with his feet and can get over excited. we are going to have to do some serious training over the next few months i think to calm him down. to be fair he is still a puppy but has his first birthday in may. hopefully that would help with his bouncyness.

 

[Mark&Annie]

Yes but if you don't trust it - the two never have to be in contact?! People have kept dogs for work and hunting way before we kept them as pets, I'm sure they weren't allowed to play with the children. All I'm saying is where there's a will; there's a way. And yes, in this situation, the dog going to the BIl is a great substitute - but in many scenarios, the dog is given up to a rescue, to a very uncertain future. Perfectly healthy, lovely dogs are destroyed everyday in the UK because there just isn't enough room. I just want anyone considering rehoming their dog to remember this fact, it's not always going to find a happy home, it could be the end for the dog when a compromise could be worked out.
This is not a dig at anyone in particular!! It's just something I come across often, and feel strongly about as I deal with these situations a lot through my job.

 

[moomin_troll]

its great when people are confident in their dog but not everyone is. i do believe no matter how soft the dog u need to remember what that breed may have been used for. just like a person they can snap!

i remember when we made up our minds about rehoming our dog, she was amazing with zane but was so protective over him shed go for me and others everyday. i didnt have the knowledge needed to get her better. i rescued her from being abused which i was very happy about. atleas i no we gave her a good home for aslong as we could.

shelters wouldnt take her because she snapped at me and told me to put her down...which i wasnt willing to do. luckly we found her a good home and im always thinking of her

 

[CharlieKeys]

My mum didn't get rid of her two dogs when she had me and they loved me and was always lying nearby and things like that - so if I was lucky enough to have a dog I doubt very much I'd get rid - you'll only be able to see what they're like after baby's born and what if your dog is absolutely fine with your LO and as long as it's not left alone and unsupervised I doubt it would be a problem. What's your dogs temperament like?

 

[moomin_troll]

my oh grew up with dogs and loved it, ive been tempted to get a dog myself from a centre. it was a 10 month old rottie called wes who was playing high five with zane lol

a small dog wouldnt last a second in this house with zane but zane wouldnt last with a dog like wes, they were both too alike mad lol

 

[abs07]

Thanks for all the advice ladies - I really do appreciate it. Since we rescued him he's been a very, very good dog. My main concern is his doppy-ness and puppy like mentality (he'll be 4 in November). At any rate, this isn't something we're taking lightly and we're not making any decisions right now. It's amazing to me how much I will love this baby, more than my dogs! They've been our life for years now and this is such a hard decision But I thank everyone again for all the advice - we're reading up on everything we can get our hands on.

 

[magicbubble]

its great when people are confident in their dog but not everyone is. i do believe no matter how soft the dog u need to remember what that breed may have been used for. just like a person they can snap!

i remember when we made up our minds about rehoming our dog, she was amazing with zane but was so protective over him shed go for me and others everyday. i didnt have the knowledge needed to get her better. i rescued her from being abused which i was very happy about. atleas i no we gave her a good home for aslong as we could.

shelters wouldnt take her because she snapped at me and told me to put her down...which i wasnt willing to do. luckly we found her a good home and im always thinking of her

im glad you found her a new home yourself i do worry when dogs go to shelters that they may go to a home that isnt fully commited or able to look after the dog properly, even though thats where we always get our dogs from in recent years if i had to rehome joey that is the route i would take aswell - give him to someone i know and someone i can stay in contact with so i know how he is getting on we wont rehome him though - baby gates all the way.

my mum had dogs when we were babys and growing up and they could always be trusted round us. i would hope joey is the same but he really is very young still, very bouncy and has big heavy feet. hes just a bit too playfyul at the moment but who knows - he could pleasently suprise us and be able to have baby gates open

 

[moomin_troll]

zane loved having tilly around and she got so much exercise which ment so did i lol
im still so tempted to get a dog but dont want to give myself even more to deal with then i already do.

if i cud get a dog who was already perfectly trained id be happy hahaha

 

[SarahJane]

I just wanted to let you know my sad news so you can update the 1st page. Sadly, I gave birth to my daughter Evelyn on Sunday at 22+5. She was born sleeping. She is a gorgeous little girl who will remain in my heart forever.

Thanks to everyone on here for the support you have given over the last 12 months xxx

 

[moomin_troll]

I just wanted to let you know my sad news so you can update the 1st page. Sadly, I gave birth to my daughter Evelyn on Sunday at 22+5. She was born sleeping. She is a gorgeous little girl who will remain in my heart forever.

Thanks to everyone on here for the support you have given over the last 12 months xxx

omg im so sorry, i cant even begin to imagine what uve gone thru x

 

[mothercabbage]

sarahjane,cant imagine what you must be feeling! so sorry about your loss xxxxxx

 

[abs07]

Sorry to hear your news SarahJane, thoughts and prayers are with you! Xoxoxo

 

[xxyjadexx]

I went to the hospital today, i had my anomoly scan, it was nice to see baby again! he was wiggling around alot! its amazing how big he is now, i had a scan at 8 weeks he was a little blob! now he is a proper fully formed little baby! they confirmed im deff team blue which is a good job since ive bought a fair few boys clothes already!
I cant believe how fast time is going its my VDay in 9days, im full term in 14weeks and 2 days, and due in 17weeks and 2 days! its scary!
I have attatched a scan photo from yesterday