https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:46:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112832 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 11:02:25 +0000 littlejoy 2112832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two dogs and a cat. Kid LOVES the cat, and he tolerates her. </p> <p>One dog is huge and goofy, and will knock her over/step on her ... she's super sweet though, so we just keep a close eye on them together. </p> <p>The other dog is a wreck, ha. She's sweet, loves the baby, but if she gets close, the dog will huff and walk away. She does NOT like when LO gets close to the crate or her bed, so we just keep them separated. I think the dog snarled once, and it was our warning sign to keep a majorly close eye. </p> <p>I've seen mama dogs with their babies, and they are not always gentle. I am convinced that most dogs can adapt to a baby being in the house, but it's not without learning on everyone's part. The dog just has to test boundaries and learn the hierarchy (same with baby). </p> <p>It sounds like you're doing everything right. If you're feeling guilty for the dog, maybe add a couple extra walks each week, and lots of treats! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112794 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 10:13:31 +0000 Mae 2112794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: lol no problem! Twins are such a fascinating study on nature v nurture! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112776 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 10:01:35 +0000 twodoghouse 2112776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: Blake is the same way about but if me while nursing. It legitimately hurts and I will say ow really loudly and he just looks at me with this huge shit-eating grin. And how can I not smile back when he's so cute? But also he's brutalizing me so stop that! Blake does not understand nearly as much as Alice, which is hard because I can just tell her not to touch the remote control when I'm changing Blake's diaper and she'll put it down (and cry about it) but Blake doesn't understand or does not care about anything like that. I think his receptive language still has a ways to go. Sorry this is off topic! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112764 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:55:37 +0000 Mae 2112764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: yea if I had to use 100 words to describe fiona... gentle would not be one of them lol. I feel like she is a little behind on communication though... like I never think she has any clue at all what I'm saying to her. And I have been trying really hard lately to tell her "ow! that hurts mommy!" when she pulls my hair or scratches or pinches me or whatever. And usually she just laughs. And then I have to tell myself she is too young to understand because otherwise the only possible conclusion is she is a sociopath....... lol But I will continue trying! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112755 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:49:56 +0000 twodoghouse 2112755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: Yeah we're in a big gentle touching phase right now because Blake has gone wild child on us. I was just nursing Alice on the floor and trying to distract him with a book next to me but all he wanted to do was scratch the hemangioma on her head. :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112751 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:45:44 +0000 Synchronicity 2112751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: If only dogs had people logic! Lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112750 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:44:02 +0000 Mae 2112750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: good tip on practicing on other stuff! I hadn't thought of that but I'll totally start trying to do that with her. Especially on me because she is in a hair pulling phase and... ow. :) </p> <p>@MenagerieMama: hah we only put Stew's collar on for walks/going outside now! We learned the collar shaking thing very early.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112749 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:42:44 +0000 erwoo 2112749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hopefully that's all that he is going to do. When my first was born our dog was 8 years old so not young at all. My oldest is quite rough when he plays with her so she has growled at him many times before and has warn bit his little hands probably a handful of times since he was born so not bad. She's a very gentle dog normally so I've never been worried. I just taught my oldest to be gentle when he pets her and not to pull her tail (she really hates it when he does that!). In time she stopped growling at him. My youngest son is very gentle and she actually stands still to let him pet her. She never used to let my oldest son do that to her. She immediately runs away. :P</p> <p>As for what would I do? I would try to find time to spend with both of them together. Teach your LO to be gentle and guide her on how to play with him. Supervise for a while. I wouldn't want to completely separate them, b/c then your dog might feel more resentment the moment he remembers that she's taking up all of your attention again. Then again this all depends on your dog's personality. And don't forget to always reward (his favorite treat) with good behavior. You kind of have to train your dog again with a new baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112748 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:42:06 +0000 Mae 2112748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Synchronicity: thanks. I wish he understood that 99% of the time I am protecting him from her... not her from him! I feel like he thinks he's being punished when really mostly what I try to do is keep her from annoying him/stealing his toys! But I think you're right about the calm vibes thing. Deep calming breaths ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112747 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:41:37 +0000 MenagerieMama 2112747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I hear you! I probably would have done the same thing. My dogs are my babies, but...LO is my BABY! Mama's instinct will kick in :) But I'm sure he'll forgive you and you can process a plan for next time. I almost murdered one of my dogs in the early days when I had finally gotten LO to nap (after some horribly long process) and said dog got up and shook his collar and tags and woke her up! I think we're allowed to lose it occasionally ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112746 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:40:34 +0000 twodoghouse 2112746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: If you're not comfortable with her petting him at all, you can still practice gentle touching. We practice on stuffed animals, A and B on each other, on me (Blake has started excited hitting me, so this one is necessary), the couch, books when they are rough with them, etc. Do all those things NEED to be touched gently? No, but it practices their impulse control on things that aren't a 50 lb animal. We've been practicing since they were a out 5 months old. Alice seems to understand a lot and knows gentle touch means to open her hand up to touch (no hair pulling). Blake is still working on it (we've gotten to touching with one finger because he likes to point, but this turns to poking really quickly). Helo has much more patience for Alice than Blake and I think it's because he knows that she is gentler. But for every one time we practice gentle touches on the dog we practice 20 times on other things around the house. I don't think it's too early to start trying with Fia! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112745 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:40:31 +0000 Mae 2112745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wonderstruck: We have gates with cat holes but any hole big enough for the dog would be big enough for the baby unfortunately. With the exception of jumping on the couch, the baby is more mobile than the dog so there is no way to give him an escape that she can't access that I can think of. And we tried letting him have toys on the couch but he has a weird thing about only chewing on toys on the floor. After 400 times of pulling the baby away from him while he is chewing on a toy (because if he has one... that is ALL SHE WANTS) we just gave up and put toys away. He gets them during naps and after bed now. And if I try to put him in a separate area (like we half a section of main room gated off as "baby jail" and sometimes I put him on the other side of the gate from us so he can be in the same room but not WITH us...) he won't chew on his toys. He just lays by the gate annoyed he can't be with us/me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112743 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:39:34 +0000 Synchronicity 2112743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I'm not a dog trainer... take this advice lightly, lol. If you're really concerned, I'd see if there is a behaviourist in your area that can come for a consult! </p> <p>I think that if I were you, I'd prevent F from touching your pup at all right now. She's not old enough to understand gentle touches, and he is obviously aggravated by the situation (the snarl was a totally appropriate warning... much better than a nip, which is also unfortunately "appropriate" in dog world). Trying to force it seems like you're setting him up for failure. At the same time, I wouldn't keep them totally separate... I'd just be vigilant about making sure that F doesn't have hands-on access to him. </p> <p>It's also important for you to send out some "everybody is fine, everybody be calm" vibes while F and S are in the same room, because dogs really can pick up on the most subtle emotions. If you're nervous, he will react to that. It's important that you remain in charge of the situation, and that you let the dog know that, as the alpha, you've got his back, and he needs to follow your lead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112738 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:37:38 +0000 Mae 2112738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: I've read that too that snarling can be a good thing! Which is probably why I'm more in a solution-finding spot than a "holy shit my dog is going to eat my baby" spot. He can't really get 100% away from her (his legs are 4" high so he can't jump the gate or anything) but he can get up on the couch. She can't reach him there although she tries (that is what she was doing this morning). I will definitely not let her reach after him on the couch anymore! (he never really seemed to care before). Also he doesn't really seem like he is in unusual pain but I'm sure he is achey. He's 10 and he has a generally crappy back (corgi problems!) so he often has a sore spot on his lower back. Thats one of the reasons we are so psycho about monitoring interaction between Fiona and him, because I never want to let her lean on him at all because I think it would hurt him. </p> <p>@avivoca: she isn't old enough to understand how to give a treat. Although she is definitely more interested in him than food so if I handed her a treat (or like, a puff, in case she eats it haha) near him she would almost certainly let him just take it out of her hand. so I guess I could do that, maybe in a while after I get a little bit of comfort about them being near each other again. </p> <p>@MenagerieMama: thanks. Probably I shouldn't have screamed at him. Mommy instinct. I did just try to call him over to snuggle with me and he gave me side-eye and left the room so I think he's annoyed with me right now. But I will try to love on him later when tempers have cooled a bit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112735 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:37:14 +0000 wonderstruck 2112735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @twodoghouse: that he needs his own safe space that she doesn't have access too - somewhere he can always have his toys out and know he's not going to have the little one all over him. I remember that my grandparent's dog had a large cage with a bed and toys in one room of the house, and us kids weren't allowed back in that room. I know there are baby gates with pet doors - maybe look into something like that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112728 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:34:07 +0000 MenagerieMama 2112728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 4 critters and while LO is not mobile yet I anticipate we'll have some flavor of this in the near future. I think the main thing is constructive management until she can comprehend gentle petting and your pup acclimates. Can you work on lots of rewards for your pup when he tolerates the not so gentle petting? Like if LO is petting him, maybe not perfectly but at least not pulling out his eyeballs, then he gets lots of love from you at the same time and/or treats? LO can learn that if she isn't maiming the pup she gets to keep petting, and pup learns that if he puts up with some hair pulling he also gets a belly rub from his most favorite person? Just thinking. And I think making sure you don't punish him for snarling is important. Being able to give that warning without going straight to biting is SO important, and it's great that he's a rescue (where you had no control over his puppyhood) and does that. We had a foster/attempted adoption dog a little bit back that didn't have that and she would bite without warning which was scary. We had to find a different foster home for her after our other dog had been too beat up and she finally bit me and attacked another dog at the dog park. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112727 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:33:54 +0000 Mamasig 2112727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I hope it's gets better. It's just so hard because you never really know how your dog will adjust to a baby. At least you have your parents as a back up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112725 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:31:08 +0000 snowjewelz 2112725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: hahaha imprinted on you :happy: Aww I know, our dogs were always our only baby before the human babies come along! I guess we have to realize it's just as much of an adjustment for them... He is probably like, why is mom giving all her attention to this creature and this creature is mean to me?! Why wouldn't mommy protect me from her and prefer me to her?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112723 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:30:12 +0000 Mae 2112723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamasig: yea it has only happened once. but it does make me nervous because even though I love him to death, my kid comes first and I don't want to wait for a real "incident" ya know? If we got to the point where I felt like he was a real danger to her we could always send him to my parents' house. I know they would take him, although I'd hate to do that but it is a Plan B if truly necessary. </p> <p>@Rockies11: thank you for the advice! I don't think I'm comfortable with LO trying to pet him at all right now. But it makes sense to me that gating him out of the room we hang out in all day would just serve to make him more hostile towards the baby. Luckily he is pretty lazy and I am still faster than the baby so I think I can stay between them pretty much at all times with effort. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112716 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:28:06 +0000 avivoca 2112716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dog Bea is almost the same age as Stew, and she's definitely gotten the shaft since H was born. We've never kept them separate though (our house really isn't big enough for that) and have just been extra vigilant when it comes to them interacting. It helps that Bea is still bigger than H, so I don't have to worry about H crushing Bea, but like you, we are teaching the gentle petting. </p> <p>Have you tried having F give treats to Stew? That way, he would start to associate F with good things. He does need to get used to being around her I think (but whatever you want to do is fine, that's just my opinion). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112715 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:27:38 +0000 mrscobee 2112715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a feeling this is going to happen with my dog when LO #1 arrives! I think your second idea sounds good. And getting more exercise than normal is a great suggestion to wear him out. Or sometimes there are dog whisperers who can do some increased training - that's what we are thinking we might have to do with our dog. Our dog is used to getting all the attention and is going to be SO upset. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112714 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:27:38 +0000 twodoghouse 2112714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does he have a safe space (crate, bed, etc) that Fia can't access? Maybe it would help to give him his own sanctuary that he can escape to when he gets stressed. It's a little easier for us because Helo can get it and out of the baby gate area himself (over the couch) so he can be near us but when it's too much he leaves and goes to one of his other dog beds. I don't know a ton about dog behavior, but I have read that snarling is actually a good thing because it shows that Stew is trying to communicate he is done with the interaction and isn't resorting to biting as a first instinct. It would definitely make me nervous though. I think I would try to keep them separate for a while so he has some time without Fia and can just relax. Make his spot outside the gate as fun as you can with toys or a special treat, maybe? Also, he doesn't seem to be in pain or anything does he? Maybe something else is going on that is causing his patience to be especially short. I know older dogs can just get those aches and pains, though. It may just be worth paying special attention to make sure he doesn't seem hurt or sick though? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112707 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:25:44 +0000 Mae 2112707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: thanks :) the problem with trying to love on him too much when baby is around is she sees me petting him and gets soooo excited and speed crawls towards me so she can pet him too. then i have to pick her up to keep her from petting (poking/pulling) on the dog and then he always whines because i just stopped petting him to deal with the baby! sigh. this whole mobility + baby-loves-dog thing is tough! I do think it would be easier if he was less obsessed with me. He was a rescue (got him when he was 4) and I think he had a rough life before I got him. I drove 4 hours to get him and by the time we got home he had basically imprinted on me and immediately followed me constantly regardless of who else was around from that day forward. I think he just wants to be the baby in the family! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112704 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:24:56 +0000 Rockies11 2112704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we had the same problem at 10 months, and hired a trainer that specialized in kids/dogs. She recommended that we keep them together, but under close supervision and to make sure LO was being gentle, and that dog had the ability to escape when overwhelmed. Keeping them apart tended to compound the problem. The other thing was to teach the dog a retreat command, and set up a space that she couldn't bug him in. So I did and it was a little hairy for a few weeks of always watching them, but it did work, and now they get along fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112702 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:24:39 +0000 Mamasig 2112702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When DH and I got married, we had 4 dogs between us. I was worried about that in the beginning, but they all got along great. No fights or anything. When DS1 came along, they got way less attention, especially from me. DH still gave them a fair bit, but it was less than they were accustomed to. Well the three males were ok with this change, but my girl dog was not. Slowly over time, she began to lash out at the other dogs. She would nip at them and always looked like she was ready for a fight. She never was agressive towards DS1, just the dogs. After a few months of her increasingly agressive behavior towards the dogs, we decided we needed to find her a new home. My fear was that one day, a big dog fight would happen near my son, and he would end up getting hurt. But I also knew that she was no longer happy because she wasn't getting the level of attention she needed. She required more. We ended up finding her a new home where she would be happier.</p> <p>I don't think you are at this point. Your dog has only done this behavior once, right? But I would just keep an eye on it and see if it escalates. Especially now that she is mobile, he may be having a harder time adjusting. Maybe it will all go back to normal after he gets used to it. I just have a low tolerance for that type of behavior with dogs. They are animals after all. My kids safety will always come first and if I have a fear of him hurting my child, I would not be comfortable. But I also have a BIL and SIL that have a blue heeler who has snarled at their kids, and they are ok with it. They say that is his way of telling them to back off. It made me nervous everytime I saw it!</p> <p>I'm not a big fan of keeping them separate long term. I just feel bad for the dog, especially if that's not the life he's used to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112692 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:21:02 +0000 snowjewelz 2112692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This hasn't happened yet since DD is only 3.5 mo and she doesn't seem interested in our dog for now... My dog is 9 so actually our LO/dog's ages are very similar! BUT, I don't think my dog is THAT obsessed with me. She def has gotten the shaft ever since DD got here, and gets ignored/yelled at way more often. We just got her baby may in and keep yelling at my dog so she doesn't go on it... Poor thing, she has no idea why! </p> <p>I would say to give him your undivided attention a few times a day if possible... But maybe having the baby around so that he associates LO w/ getting love from mom? Maybe give him more exercise than normal so he's more tired/mellow at home? I think unless this happens more, or gets worse, you should still encourage supervised interaction so they can get more used to each other and he can attempt to learn to tolerate it? But if it keeps happening or he gets worse about it then def keep her away for her safety! </p> <p>I am so sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-my-dog-hates-my-baby-wwyd#post-2112674 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:11:48 +0000 Mae 2112674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>(this is long... sorry..) Okay so maybe he doesn't hate her... but he is at least seriously annoyed with her right now. Which is unfortunate because she looooooooooves him. And that is sort of the problem. </p> <p>I have 10 year old Corgi. LO is 10mo. She's been seriously obsessed with him since around 3 or 4 months old. He has seemed mostly disinterested or sometimes curious about her. We let him lick her anywhere but the face or hands and try to encourage and pet him a lot when he is around her. He also still gets walks pretty much every day it is nice outside. And he still gets lots of cuddles whenever it is nap time or after bedtime or whenever the baby is entertaining herself and I'm not otherwise busy (admittedly-- this is not that often). </p> <p>But lately he's been having a hard time and it is not his fault. Ever since baby got mobile his life has sucked a bit. We put all of his toys away every time baby is awake because otherwise she makes a beeline for them and tries to chew on them which is both gross and also I worry about him thinking she is stealing his toys (he has never been people-aggressive but still, trying to be safe here). Also he gets stuck behind the baby gate every time she eats (because if she sees him she is too busy laughing and clapping to eat) and whenever she gets put down for a nap (again-- too excited to sleep). So that pisses him off because he's as obsessed with me as she is with him and he hates that he can't follow me 24/7 like before. Also the baby will. not. leave him alone. She is constantly crawling after him and trying to pet him (i.e. pull his fur). We are super vigilant about monitoring interactions and not letting her pull at him or poke him but we are trying to teach her gentle petting (a bit beyond her capabilities at 10mo...). And we try to encourage him to lay on the couch out of her reach to get a break from her (although he doesn't really try to run from her ever). </p> <p>So anyways. This morning he sort of snarled at her. No sound or lunging, but there was teeth baring. He was laying on the couch and she crawled over and stood up, reaching to pet him. He didn't have a toy or anything. I immediately screamed at him and he stopped and I grabbed her and we (baby and I) left the area. </p> <p>Sort of not sure where to go from here. He's a good dog, and he's never been aggressive with people, and this baby is sort of making his life suck a little bit right now. But also I don't know what more we can do... baby is here and I'm not putting her back where she came from so he's sort of got to learn to deal. </p> <p>I'm torn between (at least for a while?) keeping baby and dog totally separate. We have lots of gates so it wouldn't be hard. But I worry that will just increase his annoyance towards his life because he's being separated from me that much more. So then I think maybe I should let them be in the same room but make sure I"m always between them, don't let her attempt to pet him at all (at least for a while), and try to just love on him as much as humanly possible (challenging at the moment because i'm feeling angry at him for snapping, even though I do understand... sort of.. why he did it). </p> <p>tl;dr: good dog is annoyed by baby and snarled once... how to proceed?</p> <p>So anyways. Pet lovers... wwyd? or what have you done if you've had this situation? Thanks :) </p> <p>(Stew and Fiona at Christmas....)</p> <p>[attach=4140/15/nlevfo.600x384.Screen-Shot-2015-03-18-at-10.10.46-AM.png] </p>