https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:50:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-671353 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:43:56 +0000 Rescuemom10 671353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have four dogs, plus I am dog sitting for a year another dog (yes a year, guy is deployed)<br /> So with 5 dogs in the house and a new baby. First thing we did is intorduce the baby smell before we came home. DH took a blanket and the little hospital hat LO wore before we got home.<br /> Once we got home we let them all sniff her and inspect. The last thing I wanted to do is try to keep them away from her. I didnt want to create a "curiousity" of what this new small person in the house was. I let them sniff her, lay next to me still when I have her. They still all sleep out on the bed or in my room.<br /> Like I said I didnt want to create a curiousuty to LO for them. They dont even mind her now, there is no interest in her. I let her lay on the floor and they know and learned to walk around her. With 5 dogs they all range in temperment. They range from 6lbs to 60 lbs as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-667478 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:17:50 +0000 Happygal 667478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Prettylizy: very good points! I love this: ". . .I live by the motto 'set yourself up for success'. Don't let your good dog get a bad rap because you kid is driving them bonkers."</p> <p>I don't think easy going should mean not training the dog or letting them run wild....I guess I think of it more as a mindset. Perhaps it would be better put if I said a positive mindset, rather than easy going. I think a positive mindset is actually the first step in setting your dogs up for success. </p> <p>Dogs and children do need to be closely monitored. And you make a point I feel strongly about: don't let the dogs paw and mess with the baby, but don't let the baby mess with the dog! I cringe seeing pictures where people have their kids riding the dog like a horse, or pulling all over its ears. Most dogs do not like this, despite how cute it may appear to us. Getting a dog to respect a child's space means the child needs to also respect the dog's space. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-667455 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:12:54 +0000 Lozza 667455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@prettylizy: I totally agree about everything, especially the idea of setting your dog up for success.<br /> I think the toughest time for babies and dogs is about 11 months- 2 years or so, when kids are mobile and can go for the dog, but don't yet know how to appropriately interact, and just as much as I didn't want LO to get snapped at or stepped on, I want the house to be a comfortable environment for the dog where he's not on edge, wondering when this crazy and unpredictable maniac is going to come after him. When I separated LO from the dog, it was largely to give the dog that space and keep LO away from the dog, not the other way around! (Our dog is old and chill, and does not generally initiate interaction with LO unless LO has food). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-667407 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:54:12 +0000 prettylizy 667407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took dog/baby interactions very seriously because our two dopes (as much as we love them) are just that, dopes. They're big and excitable and don't know their size/strength. We started with limited interaction, LO in the playpen so the dogs could see and smell her without having access. The would do things our of curiosity like paw at her, so we didn't want that. Slowly over time they gained more access to her but always under supervision. Now that she is mobile, if I'm in the kitchen cooking and LO is buzzing around the floor the dogs are on the opposite side of the gates we have up. I do this for 2 reasons: 1- if someone knocks at our door, those dogs will jump over tall buildings to get there and LO's location does not concern them. 2- They are animals. If she crawls over to them to play with their collars (which she loves!) and bothers them, they only have a few ways to tell her to bugger off. It's not that they are bad dogs, on the contrary they are incredible with her, but I live by the motto 'set yourself up for success'. Don't let your good dog get a bad rap because you kid is driving them bonkers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-667361 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:42:42 +0000 yerpie110 667361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us, having a baby didn't cause us to add any restrictions to our dog. Our theory was he can do everything he was doing previously (he has full access to every part of the home, he sleeps on our bed, he's allowed on the couch) until he does something to lose our trust. However, what it did mean was an increase in monitoring and we watched him like a HAWK the first few weeks we were home with the baby. He's absolutely great with her though, and we can't wait until they can start interacting more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-667218 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:38:40 +0000 Happygal 667218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Septemberlove: I think there's a lot to be said about how your feelings affect your dogs. The most easy going dogs I know also have easy going owners. Not saying the two automatically go together, but dogs definitely pick up on their owners' emotions. </p> <p>It makes me happy to see so many positive responses here. It always breaks my heart when I hear about a dog being rehomed b/c a baby has come home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-666310 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:53:19 +0000 Protectlove 666310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two pit bulls that we have had for almost 6 years and our little girl is 8 months old today. They have been amazing with her! Of course they were very curious from the start. We had a home birth, which I think really helped them understand the addition from a primal perspective. The only thing we have to stay on them about is kisses- when she is in her jumper or otherwise they just have to steal a kiss. We are pretty frequently saying- "Not in the face!" </p> <p>We spent a good amount of time when the dogs were puppies enforcing the pack mentality and training them. I will say that having a baby really helped them find their most submissive roles in the pack. I never wanted to separate them because I thought it would only heighten their intensity and interest when they were around her- I wanted us to live together as a family. So far so good!<br /> Best of luck! Don't be discouraged! Take it as it comes, have a plan but be willing to let it develop naturally.<br /> Congratulations! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-666298 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:49:55 +0000 edelweiss 666298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>p.s. they do bark at other noises, but luckily these don't seem to wake up LO (at least for now). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-666296 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:49:17 +0000 edelweiss 666296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have two pugs who sleep with us, and we didn't make any changes for LO's arrival. they still sleep with us, and we didn't block them off from the nursery (we still close both our bedroom and nursery doors when they are in the apartment by themselves because we don't want them peeing on the carpet, but that was always the case). we didn't bring a blanket home early that smelled like the baby--it was just a whole hog introduction.</p> <p>the first night was a little rough, in that they barked every time LO cried. which was a lot. it dropped off sharply after the first few days. for the next couple of weeks, one of my pugs would bark and jump off the bed in the middle of the night if she heard LO crying, and would run to the nursery. now, at 9 weeks, neither of them care much about his crying. </p> <p>they sniff him occasionally, but since he's still so young and can't interact with them, they don't seem to care much.</p> <p>love dogs and babies together! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-666266 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:39:02 +0000 MamaJ 666266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have two pitbulls that had never been around a baby before. They are completely spoiled and sleep in bed with us and on the furniture. I too was worried about how they would be. I didn't restrict them and kick them off the bed/furniture because I thought that would just make it worse. I didn't want their lives to have to change too much. </p> <p>They have been great with the baby. They pretty much ignore him. My MIL brought home his hat before we came home so they could smell it. When we brought DS home my MIL held him while the dogs sniffed him. They were a little freaked out when he cried at first but they got used to it. When I nurse/hold him I pet the dogs if they are near. I was also worried about putting DS on the floor on his playmat, but the dogs would much rather lay on the couch than be on the floor so it isn't an issue. </p> <p>I also take DS's hand and let him pet the dogs so they all get used to it. Like I said, they basically ignore him besides the occasional sniff and lick on the ears! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-666233 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:29:53 +0000 lomom 666233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is really reassuring to hear a lot of people say they didn't lock their dogs out of the bedroom or other significant changes. I keep hearing that we need to (from parents, coworkers, friends, etc.) but I feel like my basset will do okay (and probably be a little protective of LO). The mutt gets kenneled from time to time and I think we may just rely on that as an alternative if she struggles with LO. She was kennel trained from puppyhood so to her, it's a safe spot, not a punishment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-665258 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:33:59 +0000 LuLu Mom 665258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a small dog (12 lbs) and she knows she's not allowed in the baby's room and she didn't get to sleep with us when the baby was in our room. She's very hyper but knows that around the baby she has to stay back. She is very protective of the baby and is always laying right beside her if she's on the ground. She has done way better than we expected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-665142 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:13:29 +0000 mediagirl 665142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't do anything to prepare our bostons for our daughter's arrival. My parents brought a blanket home from the hospital but they both ignored it. When we brought her home, they sniffed her for about an hour and Thumper licked her face...constantly. Seriously, she is STILL licking her face whenever she can...mostly as a drive-by. </p> <p>Thumper was the one we were worried about because she's high strung and bonded with me. She has done great, though. She hasn't nipped at her, which was my big worry, but the licking ... I just can't get over the LICKING. So, I guess if licking is the worst thing, it could be worse?</p> <p>The dogs continued to sleep with us (we don't co-sleep with the baby) and none of their normal routine was changed. We do put up a gate every once in while if we need some no-dog time in the family room but other than that, their lives didn't change much. I think that helped with their transition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-665109 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:03:01 +0000 bunnylove08 665109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a very friendly pit bull and when we brought DD home, we put her car seat on the couch and let our cat and dog sniff her feet. They pretty much ignored her for 3 months and now she is their favorite person. We did not restrict our animals we just monitored them and they have respected her space. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-664452 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:11:54 +0000 immabeetoo 664452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septemberlove: we've tried to include our dog as often as possible - we figured blocking him off or restricting him would make it more stressful and more likely to act out or be jealous. He's adjusted really well and just accidentally runs over him once in a while if he's laying on the bed and the dog can't see him. We were stern but not harsh and now he pops his front feet up to check if the coast is clear before jumping. He never slept with us before but he does now! He sits t my feet while I nurse too. LO has finally adjusted to his sporadic barking and doesn't wake from it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-664352 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:18:58 +0000 Boheme 664352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since we are doing modified co-sleeping (Arm's Reach co-sleeper as opposed to actually in the bed) our dogs are getting the boot from our bed a little at a time. Our large dog doesn't make a lot of noise at night, but he sleeps on a bed on the floor so he's good to go... but our two yorkies sleep in the bed and I'm going to transition them to their own bed on the floor before the baby comes. If they can't learn to stop barking randomly throughout the night they may have to sleep in another room. I feel REALLY guilty about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-664300 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:36:52 +0000 Lozza 664300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really like this trainer's blog and Q&amp;A for guidance on dogs and babies: <a href="http://www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/</a></p> <p>I generally think that the most important thing you can do to prep dogs for babies is to make sure they are well-trained. My current dog is an older basset mix and can't physically get on the bed, but I wouldn't necessarily object to him being there (we've never co-slept... if we ever did, I would ban the dog from the bed), AS LONG AS he only got up when invited, and got down immediately when instructed. I think a really sold sit/stay command is really important, especially if you have any dogs that are inclined to get up in people's (or babies) space. Some friends of ours also worked with their energetic terrier on learning in advance that there were certain things that were absolutely off-limits... they got a blanket they were going to use as a playmat-kind-of-thing, and taught the dog that he was never allowed to walk on it- if he wanted to get from one side to the other, he had to go AROUND it. And they worked with him on which toys were his and which toys he was not to touch. And that seemed to work well for them.<br /> But yeah, I think working on reinforcing the fundamentals (sit, stay, drop it, off, good leash training, sit/stay until release at mealtimes rather than jumping around, etc.) is probably the way to go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-664296 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:31:50 +0000 MamaBehr 664296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I actually didn't notice any issues with our dogs and LO until DD began crawling. When she was itty bitty they just hung out and maybe got a little under foot. However, crawling is when they started growling and stuff, but they got over it really quick. I was worried we were going to have to get rid of the mutt, but he stopped and now he is great around our kids (we have had another one hahaha) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-664291 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:28:15 +0000 littlek 664291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two dogs, a chihuahua and a Pomeranian. The Pom is not especially kid friendly and the chihuahua is nosey. The chihuahua sleeps under the covers with me and the Pom sleeps under the bed. We didn't change anything when our son was born. However, now that our son is almost 10 months we are teaching him "gentle touch" when it comes to the dogs. We figure the dogs will adjust to him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-664289 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:25:59 +0000 photojane 664289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a CRAZY dog, and he's actually been great. He sometimes gets excited and forgets she's there, so he gets close to her face, but we just watch her carefully when he's playing. He is very protective of her already, and it's really sweet. He still sleeps in bed with us (on our pillows!). I was nervous too, but I think it's a learning process for the pups. We let our pup smell her and be near her whenever he wants, and we try to give him lots of attention so he's not jealous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dogs-and-babies-i-need-advice#post-664284 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:15:32 +0000 lomom 664284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two dogs, a basset hound and a mutt. The basset hound is very friendly and laid-back but he loves to give kisses and he will jump occasionally when he gets REALLY excited (which is usually just when he sees the mutt jumping too, she's much more agile than him and a much smaller dog too, ~12 pounds whereas the basset is ~55 pounds).</p> <p>DH and I keep going back and forth on what to do about the dogs once the baby arrives. Right now, my basset sleeps in bed with us, by my toes. The mutt sleeps next to DH or under the bed. She's not very friendly to anyone but DH and I do worry about how she'll be around the baby. </p> <p>What did you do with your dog(s) once LO arrived? We've talked about putting up a gate and blocking off the hallway where our room and the nursery are, but we don't really love that idea since we're so used to our dogs sleeping with us. </p>