https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:08:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born/page/2#post-266307 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 09:05:03 +0000 Lozza 266307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ali: There's actually data that shows that growing up around animals has a protective effect (fewer respiratory and ear infections, etc.) I thinks Mrs. Jacks posted about it somewhere?<br /> Livestock was most protective, but growing up around dogs was also significantly protective.<br /> So bring on the dog germs and dirt :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-266264 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:19:52 +0000 regberadaisy 266264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ocean girl: Why? Our pup still sleeps on the bed with us. In the early weeks we had planned on our LO sleeping in a By Your Side Sleeper which is a "bassinet" with a structured frame that you place on your bed. So before her arrival we had that in our bed with us to get the dog acclimated to it. She did fine with it.</p> <p>Unless you're planning on co-sleeping? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-266184 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:29:05 +0000 Cherrybee 266184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, thanks for all the replies!! I've got loads of ideas now - but the best thing is I'm worrying less about it - was feeling guilty, almost, for thinking about bringing a clean, delicate little baby into a house with hairy, dirty dogs! I'm particularly calmed by the picture of the veterinary professionals' baby being snogged by a dog!!! Warms my heart! </p> <p>Oh - and there's some seriously adorable dogs in here! Love! </p> <p>As promised, here are my two: Madeline and Gavin </p> [attach=2581/12/m95h0i.600x600.8e3e316f-fad0-4a5b-b34c-a7b66fd6569d.jpg] [attach=2581/12/m95h0k.600x450.SavedPicture--26-.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265889 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:24:21 +0000 lemondrop 265889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a house of two veterinary professionals- we did next to nothing to prepare our pets... a little embarrassing! It turned out just fine anyway!!</p> <p>We played some baby cries off the internet a few times, and brought home some baby clothes for the cats and dog to smell. </p> <p>We have an 11 year old neurotic Heeler mix, we mostly banked on that babies are immobile for the first several months, and it would give everyone time to adjust. The dog is a better mom than I am, he adores the baby- and follows him everywhere especially now that the baby drops food. One cat loves the baby, the other two are indifferent.</p> <p>[attach=1790/12/m94jgm.600x450.P8143232.JPG] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265789 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:34:23 +0000 Ocean girl 265789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: omg so cute!!!<br /> How did it go with the no-bed sleeping rule? This is one habit I would like to break, but I'm ashamed to admit that we like her up with us as much as I'm sure she enjoys it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265788 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:32:42 +0000 Ocean girl 265788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: haha, she is settling down a bit now! Less eating/destruction, more "keep-a-way" with things that do not belong to her!</p> <p>And YES - another fur-mom asked me at the vet if the gentle leader was a muzzle to keep Soph from biting! So annoying! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265784 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:29:48 +0000 mrsjyw 265784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>here are our furbabies: buddy the yorkie and bailey the beagle terrier. we've stopped letting them sleep on our beds, we have let them in the nursery so they can get used to it, but will likely keep a gate on for after LO is here... (we'll see).</p> <p>[attach=888/12/m94e5p.600x400.003.JPG]</p> <p>[attach=888/12/m94e5s.600x400.001.JPG] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265776 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:24:03 +0000 regberadaisy 265776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ocean girl: wow! She's quite a eater! hehe<br /> Also, love the gentle leader. Hate it when people ask if we use it because she bites. No, she doesn't bite! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265772 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:21:27 +0000 ladyfingers 265772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ocean girl: Thanks for the tip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265765 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:19:00 +0000 Ocean girl 265765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: we have tried the haltie but settled on the "gentle leader"... Similar idea. Sophie (60 lb black lab) was the worst puller and we had tried everything... Regular collar, harness, choke chain (I hated the choke chain because she still pulled just as hard and it seemed painful!) The Gentle Leader turned her into an entirely different dog... </p> <p>I am worried about Sophie eating toys... She likes to steal things... Socks, bras, shoes, napkins... She's eaten not 1, not 2, but 4 TV remotes... She also ate the better part of a window sill in our old house, the day before we had an Open House (maybe she didn't want to move?) Soph will be 2 in October and we have heard that they settle down after that. I'm not worried about her around babies or children - we have little cousins who she adores! She loves their hugs and returns the affection with kisses and snuggles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265676 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:13:31 +0000 oliviaoblivia 265676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: that's excellent! DH brought home a stuffed dog for LO last night and the first thing the dog did was try to take a bite out of it. Hopefully its better when the baby gets here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265673 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:11:31 +0000 regberadaisy 265673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: Amazingly enough our pup knows not to touch her toys. I don't know how, but she does! She usually will sniff them the first time she sees them but we'll say "no, baby's" and she'll leave them alone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265671 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:09:38 +0000 oliviaoblivia 265671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Overall I'm not too worried about how she will be with the baby, just with how many stuffed animals she will destroy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265669 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:08:57 +0000 ladyfingers 265669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza: OMG YES the leash training. Our dog sitter was telling us about something called a Haltie that pulls their head back anytime they pull or stop when you keep going. She is the best dog ever really, requires very little discipline if any, but she is TERRIBLE on a leash. As it is, I will never walk her along with the stroller. I'll baby-wear if I need to walk her when I'm home alone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265661 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:00:22 +0000 purrpletulips 265661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regerberdaisy-we have a 130lb newfie so squishing the baby was BIG concern. I forgot about the licking/drooling thing.</p> <p>I tried to post a picture before but it must have been too big, trying again. DD is about 6m old in this picture and we gave our dog permission to be on the bed before we did it (as you can see she wasn't nearly as thrilled as DD was). </p> [attach=2172/12/m94a0m.600x338.73712_1653783195152_6073455_n.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265655 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:54:49 +0000 regberadaisy 265655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@purrpletulips: we had the same concern for ours as well. She's a 65lb pit bull mix of pure muscle! But she really is a sweetheart, she just thinks she's a lap dog! It's funny watching her extend her head as far as she can to sniff the baby! hehe</p> <p>Honestly, at this point she's indifferent about the baby. But she is a little protector of her. If she hears M crying she comes running! We'll see how things change once M is mobile!</p> <p>Oh, I thought of a big one!! NO LICKING THE BABY! hahah Our pup wants to lick her all the time and we always say "hey, if you want to lick her it's simple. stop licking your butt! Butt or baby. You decide" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265626 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:17:18 +0000 purrpletulips 265626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Because we have a "giant" breed we did a lot of training when she first came to live with us - not allowed on furniture without an invitation, walking on leash beside/behind us not pulling. She has maybe barked 10 times in her entire life so we didn't have to worry about that. Our biggest concern was that she is so big and babies aren't so once DD was here we made sure to never leave them alone together if DD wasn't in an elevated item (such as swing or bouncy seat). We'd let DD lay beside us when we were on the floor with DD doing tummy time, etc and just reinforce boundaries using blankets. We didn't have any problems. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265598 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:52:40 +0000 sorrycharlie 265598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.M57: lol!! My dog hates the sound and smell thank god. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265596 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:52:30 +0000 Lozza 265596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. Basic commands: sit and stay. Our dog knows them by voice and by hand gesture, and he'll stop whatever he is doing even if we gesture from across the yard. It is really nice to be able to contain him without having to touch him.<br /> 2. Drop it/ Off<br /> 3. Leash training. DH is big on this- he skateboards and bikes with the dog, and that's just not possible if your dog is pulling or splitting obstacles or crossing in front of you, and it's really nice to not have to worry about those with a stroller, or even with a baby in a carrier. We pet sat for a friend's dog last week and it was a huge pain to walk the dog with the stroller since the dog was all over the place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265591 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:47:50 +0000 regberadaisy 265591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.M57: HAHAHHA that would totally be my dog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265589 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:47:11 +0000 Mrs.M57 265589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ sorrycharlie we tried the citronella bark collar too. At first our pup was terrified of it so she was quiet, but she eventually got used to it and barked and barked til her little hearts content enduring the soaking wet citronella face! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265588 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:46:18 +0000 sorrycharlie 265588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: lol, that is when I will be using the barking collar! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265580 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:39:35 +0000 regberadaisy 265580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: Sigh. The problem is when you're closed in the nursery/bedroom and the doggie is outside barking at god knows what and there is no one to tell her "quiet". Just a heads up :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265579 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:38:22 +0000 Mrs.M57 265579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We worked on no jumping on the couch before lo was born. We bought them special soft beds in a cozy corner. They've done well with a few slip ups, but I'm proud of them! Now excessive barking is another story, wish we could have gotten a better handle on that! </p> [attach=2010/12/m946ew.450x600.image.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265567 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:26:28 +0000 sorrycharlie 265567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: when we did training with him as a puppy, we carried around training treats (from petsmart, size of your pinky nail!) and did LOTS of "quiet." "good boy" treat - started with like, if he was quiet for 2 seconds, then gradually extended the time from quiet to treat. It worked wonders, he relearned the bad barking from my ILs damn dog! But I'd try that - then they know the command quiet, so she will hopefully only s top when she hears "quiet" instead of just never barking? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265566 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:25:02 +0000 LuLu Mom 265566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She has in past been the ruler of the house, but as we get closer to baby we have really started to inforce rules. Big one is not walking on top of hte couch (like a cat) because she will then just jump down on whoever is sitting there! </p> <p>We also have started to play the swing so she's used to the movemnt, as well as the rock n play. </p> <p>She is very spoiled (see picture) so she is going to struggle a bit, but she has been around my nieces enough to know what is okay and not okay! </p> [attach=1477/12/m945lq.450x600.kisses-for-daddy.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265561 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:20:48 +0000 ladyfingers 265561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: That's a good idea. Our issue is she ONLY barks if it's something she hears. She won't bark over random stuff in the house, or because she's not getting her way or anything. So there's not really a way to tell that it's not a good reason to bark, until some time has passed. I would hate for her to hear something, we use the collar, and then it turns out somebody is sneaking around our house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265555 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:17:59 +0000 sorrycharlie 265555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: @ladyfingers: We have a sheltie...notorious barking breed. He barks ALL THE TIME...if he thinks DH &amp; I are fighting he flips out. He's started barking from his bed I our bedroom when we are in bed if we are play fighting or tickling or whatever. I bought a citronella spray collar, and we use that when there are times I know he will bark and doesn't need to...for instance right before FIL gets home in his diesel truck (they live next door). He has learned the collar by sight, and when it's on him (even when it's off) he barks much quieter. We followed its instructions to only use during periods of nuisance barking, though. But other times (for instance, if I'm in the bedroom w him, door closed for ac, and DH slams frOnt door he will flip) I just have to get up and kind of put my body over him and do quiet/good boy. The collar = miracles, quiet = not working, so I'm not really full of great answers here :T </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265545 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:10:42 +0000 regberadaisy 265545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: @sorrycharlie: I have NO idea! haha we're still working on it and it's not working so well. </p> <p>@mrskc: almost forgot about that. We started putting baby stuff out as we got them so she gets used to them. Otherwise every time we pull something out she goes sniff crazy for <i>hours</i>. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-put-in-any-special-training-new-rules-for-your-dogs-prior-to-your-lo-being-born#post-265544 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:09:04 +0000 mrskc 265544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's a good idea to start training before LO arrives. Start breaking any bad habits you wouldn't like if the baby was around. So far all we've done is trained her to not enter the nursery. I think once we get more baby items like a swing or bouncy seat, we'll train her to keep distance from them. </p>