Don't know where to ask but.... I'm having a baby and I have a dog

[SaraVO]

I have a three year old cavalier king charles spaniel. She is the queenbee at our house. It's funny but she is absolutely used to whatever lap she wants pretty much tells me when she wants her walks I have done a great job of putting her on a schedule but she can tell time and the only time she barks or gets demanding is if late. I have about a ten minute window with meals and walks and what time I come home. My husband has maybe given her a dozen walks her whole life. Oh, and I didn't choose her from the litter she chose my husband when she was five weeks old. She crawled on his lap put her nose in his neck and that was it. She wouldn't even let her siblings on his lap and that was after twenty minutes. She will let me touch him but she complains about it. And we have five months before a baby comes into the house. She isn't mean (she cries) and she loves loves children and babies the ones I've had her around. But I'm still worried. Any one else already make the adjustment with their dog? And how do I make it easier?

 

[Srrme]

We have two dogs. We never made any adjustments, to be honest. They adapted fine to the change.

 

[SpringCrane]

Our dog is like our first child, so I feel you. My dog wanted nothing to do with my son during the first few weeks. If we were on the couch with the baby, the dog would get up. After a few weeks he started to show more interest, and they're best buds now (especially since my son is able to throw the ball for fetch now). One thing that surprised us was that before, our dog was super picky about food. He'd eat his kibble, but you could lay a plate of bacon on the floor and he'd ignore it. Once my son started dropping food, he actually became more interested in food. We can still leave food on the coffee table and he ignores it, but if it's on the ground, sometimes he'll go for it. Interesting more than problematic.

One thing I'd just consider is if the dog is currently home alone all day and will be again after you go back to work, the dog might need help adjusting back to being alone after you are home all day with the brand new baby at first.

We didn't do anything to prepare our dog, but we did prepare ourselves mentally to deal with him acting out... but it wasn't an issue.

Oh, we keep a sign on our door that says to not knock or ring bell. It's the only time our dog barks, and deliveries often come after bedtime here.

 

[SaraVO]

I just don't know how she is going to handle not being the center of our universe. She doesn't eat anything until I tell her "dinner time" and she is disciplined. I'm worried about her emotional peeing which she does when scared or stressed I'm worried about her being more needy when she has to share attention and I'm worried about how she is going to act with all the baby stuff. My husband says he is just going to take over the dog chores when I need him to. But I don't want her to resent the new baby or start making messes all over my house because her doody walk is at ten and I didn't get her out side in time.

 

[SaraVO]

See the cuteness...

 

[staralfur]

We have two dogs and they both adjusted pretty easily. We made sure that we still gave them attention whenever possible and took them for walks without our LO (taking the dogs for a walk was usually my "get out of the house for an hour without baby" time). Dogs and a baby was no problem, dogs and a toddler has proven to be a bit more difficult.

 

[SpringCrane]

I actually looked for a nursery chair that was wide enough and had closed arm rests so my dog would be able to sit with us while I was nursing, because I was worried he'd feel left out. Ha! He never really sat with me on the chair though, but sometimes he'd sleep on the top of it while I was nursing. I mostly nursed on the couch during daytime anyway, and after the first few weeks he'd just snuggle up with me. I still managed to give him a lot of playtime. He really likes playing fetch, and we live on a quiet cul-de-sac with a grassy area across the street. I'd just put the baby in a carrier or even bring his bouncy chair outside and we'd play.

I'd start putting baby toys/furniture out and about so doggy gets used to it all. Some people recommend having someone bring home a blanket that was wrapped around the baby for the doggy to sniff before baby comes home from hospital... I think that's a bit overkill, but do what you think will help doggy feel happier.

Assuming all is well with you and baby after birth, it should be fairly easy to get into a routine that works for y'all and pup. And, my kid loved walks while in a carrier from the early days, so walking a dog shouldn't really be a big issue. Or a stroller will work, obviously.

Just be prepared for accidents. Do what you can to make your doggy happy, but it is an adjustment, and if adjustments usually disrupt her (like moves or visitors, etc.) then just be prepared to deal with it. She'll adjust.

 

[MumToEva]

I just don't know how she is going to handle not being the center of our universe. She doesn't eat anything until I tell her "dinner time" and she is disciplined. I'm worried about her emotional peeing which she does when scared or stressed I'm worried about her being more needy when she has to share attention and I'm worried about how she is going to act with all the baby stuff. My husband says he is just going to take over the dog chores when I need him to. But I don't want her to resent the new baby or start making messes all over my house because her doody walk is at ten and I didn't get her out side in time.

I'd suggest start making changes gradually now rather than springing them on her all at once whe the baby arrives. If your husband is going to be taking over caring for the dog more, get him to start now so that she is used to it by the time baby is here. And if the schedule has to change a bit too, like the time of her walks, feeds, etc, work towards the new schedule gradually. If there are any behaviours that you know you won't be happy with her doing (eg, I wouldn't wantmy dog up on the sofa with the baby personally, but everyone is different), work on those 2 - for example my Westie is happy to sit on his mat beside my leg providing he's beside me. It might be an idea to set up an area where she can retreat away from the baby too - we have a crate in the utility room which our dog goes to for a bit of peace, plus I have a stair gate over the utility room door so that I can separate them and knowthey are safe at times if needs be too - anything like that, put it in place now so she is used to it.

You might also want to have the baby things out for a while in advance of the baby arriving, and some people even carry around a doll for a while to get them used to something being in your arms / on your lap. Plus sending the baby's first clothes home with your husband before the baby arrives home to let her smell them, and making sure you give the dog your full attention when you first get home from hospital rather than holding the baby.