Dogs and babies?

[Mrsb3]

Surely having to walk the dog twice a day if LO is ill is no different to having to do the school run twice a day for an older child when a younger one is ill. I have a 25 minute walk to pre school with DS in all weathers and DD has to come too.

Also some parents like to take their kids outside to play whatever the weather, we've done a nature play in the rain. It's definitely doable, and to be honest the kids often don't care about a bit of rain.
Good luck with your dog proofing OP.

This is true, however they don't have to go to preschool though do they, and school permit days off in really bad weather. Also siblings are usually unwell at the same time. But yes it's almost the same, hard work. Ooo My kids love playing out in the rain too, it's such fun, the garden is open all afternoon for them come rain or shine. However they don't like playing out too much in below freezing temperatures during the winter months, and when it's Icey for days on end. They don't like slipping and hurting themselves.

 

[staralfur]

It's been -10 here lately and my kiddo still comes with us to the dog park. It's one of her favourite places! She bundles up in her snow suit and plays in the snow with the dogs. It's what she's used to so she has fun with it. Slipping on ice was a very normal part of my childhood growing up in central Alberta. You wanted to walk even 6ft down the driveway you were a goner. No, it's not always fun, but a part of life in cold climates and leaving the house in general.

 

[jessmke]

It's been -10 here lately and my kiddo still comes with us to the dog park. It's one of her favourite places! She bundles up in her snow suit and plays in the snow with the dogs. It's what she's used to so she has fun with it. Slipping on ice was a very normal part of my childhood growing up in central Alberta. You wanted to walk even 6ft down the driveway you were a goner. No, it's not always fun, but a part of life in cold climates and leaving the house in general.

My hubby is obsessed with creating outdoor winter fun at our house. We have a large property and it's on a big slope, so in the winter he sets up a huge "luge" track in the snow and you can ride a sled from the back of the property all the way down the switchbacks to the house. We flood a flat part by the house to create a skating rink, there's flood light so you can skate in the dark and it's right next to the hot tub for warming up. For this year he created a patio next to the rink area with a propane heater. He also sets up a tobogganing area with jumps. We don't even have a child yet! Friends and family love to bring their kids to our place in the winter because the kids can play outside for hours even when it's -20C (we are in Bragg Creek, just outside of Calgary). Slips and falls happen all the time, but after a bit of a cry and a cuddle the kids are back at it! The dogs love it too because they get to play outside with everyone.

We have purchased a chariot stroller and a cross country ski attachment so we can take our baby skiing with us. Added bonus is that the ski trails are in a "forestry reserve", not a park of any kind, so dogs are allowed off leash. We will be having a lot of family fun on the ski trails with the dogs and the baby.

Sorry, I have totally diverted from the OPs original question!

 

[Mrsb3]

Jessmke that sounds lovely, my kids are 1 and 2 so -20 is a bit cold for them. 1 year old not steady on feet enough for that especially however when they are 4 plus I'm sure they would love it!!

Also when it is over 100 i always make sure I keep them indoors and cool. Luckily I have a huge house, and huge play room and a great imagination for indoor play, pretend play, arts and crafts and fun learning. This summer when we had a heat wave 2 of those days were wayy to hot to let my kids out. Seriously overheating weather! So we made a okay house out of cardboard and painted it, it looked fab they still okay with it now. I wouldn't have been able to walk a dog those 2 days.

I guess it's what your used to though, as far as climate goes. Honestly I was nearly in tears sat 95 degrees and I didn't sleep a wink those nights until 5am when it got slightly cooler. I was a mess lol

 

[loeylo]

Tbh where I live is very temperate, we get snow once every year or so but the pavements are gritted well. We live 5 minutes walk from a park, when we were toddlers we went to the same park (I live round the corner from my childhood home) and we went out on sledges if it was cold or icy, brill fun. Rain meant puddle jumping and Autumn meant leaf collecting.in the summer we would sit and have a picnic.

I am a geography teacher so do looooads of outdoorsy stuff. There's also a dog and kid friendly cafe nearby. Loads to do!

 

[Mrsb3]

Tbh where I live is very temperate, we get snow once every year or so but the pavements are gritted well. We live 5 minutes walk from a park, when we were toddlers we went to the same park (I live round the corner from my childhood home) and we went out on sledges if it was cold or icy, brill fun. Rain meant puddle jumping and Autumn meant leaf collecting.in the summer we would sit and have a picnic.

I am a geography teacher so do looooads of outdoorsy stuff. There's also a dog and kid friendly cafe nearby. Loads to do!

We do that sort of thing too, we go see the cows and horses at the field and my son loves collecting leaves on the way to the park and splashing in muddy puddles. Just not everyday. I like my children to see other things than just nature, like the big shops where they like to get there own baskets and put different foods in- we chat about things we can make with our ingredients they love it. My dd loves the big department stores and all the glissery things to see and touch. We also go to the sports centre and do soft play and swimming, visit museums and go to toddler groups and playgroups aswell so they get to play with other children and build on the social and interactive skills, also it is good for me to talk with other mums there. I think it's about finding a good balance and what suits your family and situation.

 

[staralfur]

It's been -10 here lately and my kiddo still comes with us to the dog park. It's one of her favourite places! She bundles up in her snow suit and plays in the snow with the dogs. It's what she's used to so she has fun with it. Slipping on ice was a very normal part of my childhood growing up in central Alberta. You wanted to walk even 6ft down the driveway you were a goner. No, it's not always fun, but a part of life in cold climates and leaving the house in general.

My hubby is obsessed with creating outdoor winter fun at our house. We have a large property and it's on a big slope, so in the winter he sets up a huge "luge" track in the snow and you can ride a sled from the back of the property all the way down the switchbacks to the house. We flood a flat part by the house to create a skating rink, there's flood light so you can skate in the dark and it's right next to the hot tub for warming up. For this year he created a patio next to the rink area with a propane heater. He also sets up a tobogganing area with jumps. We don't even have a child yet! Friends and family love to bring their kids to our place in the winter because the kids can play outside for hours even when it's -20C (we are in Bragg Creek, just outside of Calgary). Slips and falls happen all the time, but after a bit of a cry and a cuddle the kids are back at it! The dogs love it too because they get to play outside with everyone.

We have purchased a chariot stroller and a cross country ski attachment so we can take our baby skiing with us. Added bonus is that the ski trails are in a "forestry reserve", not a park of any kind, so dogs are allowed off leash. We will be having a lot of family fun on the ski trails with the dogs and the baby.

Sorry, I have totally diverted from the OPs original question!

Hey cool, we just moved to Calgary in September! I grew up in Edmonton and then moved to Vancouver for university and I must say I am very happy to be back where it snows!

Your property sounds amazing, that would be heaven for my LO I think haha, she loves the snow and everything wintery.

 

[Bebedeux]

Our 3week old DS and pitbul. We now have 2kids never had an issue we've 2persian cats never had a problem. Brought DS spit up muslin and Billy's still sleeps with it. My BF has a German Shepard again never an issue.

 

[twobecome3]

when lo was small I found the carseat was handy to plop her in with some toys clipped to the bar and easily move her from room to room. fits nicely in a small bathroom god I missed that seat when she outgrew it!

 

[loeylo]

Tbh where I live is very temperate, we get snow once every year or so but the pavements are gritted well. We live 5 minutes walk from a park, when we were toddlers we went to the same park (I live round the corner from my childhood home) and we went out on sledges if it was cold or icy, brill fun. Rain meant puddle jumping and Autumn meant leaf collecting.in the summer we would sit and have a picnic.

I am a geography teacher so do looooads of outdoorsy stuff. There's also a dog and kid friendly cafe nearby. Loads to do!

We do that sort of thing too, we go see the cows and horses at the field and my son loves collecting leaves on the way to the park and splashing in muddy puddles. Just not everyday. I like my children to see other things than just nature, like the big shops where they like to get there own baskets and put different foods in- we chat about things we can make with our ingredients they love it. My dd loves the big department stores and all the glissery things to see and touch. We also go to the sports centre and do soft play and swimming, visit museums and go to toddler groups and playgroups aswell so they get to play with other children and build on the social and interactive skills, also it is good for me to talk with other mums there. I think it's about finding a good balance and what suits your family and situation.

Oh of course we will do all that stuff too, we aren't with the dog 24/7 - he is used to being left when we are at work anyway and quite happily sleeps on our bed lol. I would obviously still have to do dog walks every day even if I am taking her off to the shops afterwards ...

 

[Monzter79]

Your dog sounds like a nice dog. That's great! "Within earshot" IMO is unattended.

If your dog can't be behind a closed door without scratching and damaging your home, it's not properly trained. I'd recommend putting in some safety gates or getting a crate, to make a space where your dog can go. It shouldn't be a punishment. Put a plush bed in. Give his favorite chew and toy every time he goes to his place. IMO every dog should know the "place" command, go willingly- and wait with manners to be released.

This will REALLY come in handy for you especially as your baby becomes more mobile. Our dogs are loved, fed, exercised, kept indoors, and treated very well. But, I'm not going to let them run all willy nilly preventing me from doing my housework or taking a pee for god's sake.

Your dog's role will be changing in your family and you should set him and yourself up for a successful transition.

I have two rescue pit mixes, one CGC certified with AKC, and a cat. I couldn't deal without them being trained.

Hope that helps!

 

[loeylo]

we tried a crate and he considered it to be a punishment despite it being the size of a double bed, it had all his toys, food and water, duvets, literally everything he needed. I think there is definitely an issue stemming from his previous home. It isn't that he "isn't trained" - he is actually super intelligent and obedient, but he can open our doors and almost treats it as a challenge to do so - he will sometimes open a door then go lie down without going through the door, lol.

It's not actually been an issue so far as my OH is still off work, however he returns on Monday and I am just planning ahead to then. We have ordered a safety gate which should help as he can see through it so hopefully won't have the same urge to jump over it or to try to open it ...

He already lies in his bed on command which is fine but his bed is in the living room which is where baby is. There's no room anywhere else for his bed (being a large dog his bed has to be pretty big obviously)