ferguson_tom Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 With the imminent arrival of our first son I was just wondering if anyone has any hints on best to introduce the baby to the dogs. The dogs are both great with kids as I have nieces and nephews but just thinking how best to do it in my own house. Would it be better to have dogs in the house first and bring baby in or get baby in first then get the dogs in afterward. Thanks, tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 reckon i'd leave the dogs in first,then bring the baby in.that way it's just like someone that comes to visit,only the baby won't go home like a visitor does Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve0146 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 As above. Treat the new one as a visitor that does not leave. Ours is 8 months now and loves stroking the dogs. Still would not fully leave her alone with them though. It only takes a tail or ear pulling for it to go wrong, no matter how gentle they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ETO Posted November 4, 2012 Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm on a couple of dog forums and this comes up a lot. What often gets said is to teach the dogs to respect the child and his space and as the child grows to teach him the same about the dogs. That way there is no problems. If I was to ever have children I'd probably just teach the dogs to walk beside a buggy before hand, get them used to the sight of the cot and other baby things. Babies don't tend to do much for a while anyway, it's when they start crawling that you have fun.. I am very unfortunate to have two dogs that aren't keen on children. So having two young nieces is helping in teaching them how to behave. Benjie would never be trusted though, Louie just needs to learn that they are OK really and you don't have to bark and then run away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 4, 2012 Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm on a couple of dog forums and this comes up a lot. What often gets said is to teach the dogs to respect the child and his space and as the child grows to teach him the same about the dogs. That way there is no problems. If I was to ever have children I'd probably just teach the dogs to walk beside a buggy before hand, get them used to the sight of the cot and other baby things. Babies don't tend to do much for a while anyway, it's when they start crawling that you have fun.. I am very unfortunate to have two dogs that aren't keen on children. So having two young nieces is helping in teaching them how to behave. Benjie would never be trusted though, Louie just needs to learn that they are OK really and you don't have to bark and then run away. I will tell a story. About 14 years ago my wife was pregnant with our first child. At that time i kept my 13yr old very retired luncher in the house (a small cottage then). Now Kye was the last in a long line of our families line and she was very,very bonded to me. Although she had been with us both all her life she regular used to try and shove my wife out of the way if she sat down by me on the sofa etc. She was never guilty of a human attack though she killed just about everything else at one time or another, her grand dam (my uncles bitch) was very like in temprement. One day his bitch took hold of the nose of my cousin leaving him a scar he carried for the rest of his all to short life (another tale another time). Anyway i reconed she had another year maybee two at the most in her, the rumatics were taking thier toll and i hadn't seen her sprint in a few years or even jog in the last 12mnths. I made the hardest desision i have ever with an animal and i have to admit i cried for some weeks. It wasn't a risk i wanted to take and she would be in a total state in days if i left her or sent her off elsewere if you like ( i said very bonded) it was realy just a little early to make the curtain call but i had seen this bitch kill foxes and other large quarry without realy breaking her stride. we do have to weigh up the dog in question before we decide, a crying baby and a lack of doggy attention and a tired owner can soon conspire against us unless we are sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted November 4, 2012 Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 Just never leave a dog and child unatended. Iv seen first hand, a family pet, soppyer than a soppy thing,for no reason bite hold of the daughters face and violently shake her. Luckily there was no lasting damage, the dog was imeadiatly taken to the vets and destroyed. My nippers are not even left unattended with my spaniel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzypigeon Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 I believe it is the dog which is the deciding factor..... I bought my current lab dog when my daughter was 12 weeks and so was he.....they are best friends 3.5years on....he was taught very early not to nip or bite (play with her) the way he would with me.....she will feed him his food from her hand sometimes and he will not touch her.... I trust my dog with my daughter but that does not mean that I would leave them unattended together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted November 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Thanks for the replies everyone, we have had the baby stuff in the house for a couple of months now so the dogs are used to that and we also put stair gates on as soon as we found out she was pregnant so dogs have got used to being left in the kitchen some days and nights. There is no risk of me leaving them alone with him as much I trust them you can never be 100% sure so I will not take any risk. Before the baby comes home i am gonna take the dogs for a good couple of hours walk that way they will be nice and chilled, then as suggested go pick up the baby and get the dogs to see him as a visitor that never leaves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 best of luck with the new arrival anyhow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffd Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 When my wife was pregnant with our first my mum kept saying we would have problems as our JR went everywhere with me, mum was sure the dog would be jealous. First day back from hospital the baby asleep in cot mum and dad on settee waiting for the baby to wake up, baby made a little cry my mum jumped up to get to the baby and Pepper the JR leapt between them and gave me mum a right telling off. Mum apologised for what she had said about the dog. We had a further 2 children and they all came home to a house full of dogs with no problems but I have never owned an aggressive dog, I wouldn’t have one in the house no matter how good a worker it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted November 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 Thanks for the responses everyone, our little one was born on the 10th hence why I have not been on here much at all. So far him and the dogs are getting on really well, the dogs know when to leave him alone etc and haven't shown any signs of aggression at all. I have been quite relaxed with the dogs and they have quickly learnt the boundaries but are quite affectionate towards him. No worry of me leaving him alone with the dogs - the recent story of the JRT was very difficult reading as my baby is virtually the same age as the poor littleun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 24, 2012 Report Share Posted November 24, 2012 Thanks for the responses everyone, our little one was born on the 10th hence why I have not been on here much at all. So far him and the dogs are getting on really well, the dogs know when to leave him alone etc and haven't shown any signs of aggression at all. I have been quite relaxed with the dogs and they have quickly learnt the boundaries but are quite affectionate towards him. No worry of me leaving him alone with the dogs - the recent story of the JRT was very difficult reading as my baby is virtually the same age as the poor littleun. I am assuming "no worry of me leaving him alone with dogs" means exactly that you wont ever do it? i dont leave my 7 yr old alone with what might be the least aggresive lab in history. Congrats on starting what will be the greatest and most exiting adventure of you life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted November 24, 2012 Report Share Posted November 24, 2012 I love the ones who give it "my dogs are fine with kids", or "my dogs are not aggresive" If u have a baby in the house, take the dog and re-home it. Id rather have u cry over ur dog having a new home, than the risk of buying flowers every sunday morning.Simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted November 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2012 Thanks Kent yes you are correct they will never be left with the baby or even when he is a child alone with them, as for MMs response I think that is a bit drastic I have always grown up with dogs and been safe yes it is a risk and you can never be totally sure, i am not niave and know the damage a dog can do but taking your child to the park where he could fall off and seriously injur himself is also a risk but I will be taking both my dogs and son to the park to play as its a risk worth taking for him to have a full life full of different experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 24, 2012 Report Share Posted November 24, 2012 I love the ones who give it "my dogs are fine with kids", or "my dogs are not aggresive" If u have a baby in the house, take the dog and re-home it. Id rather have u cry over ur dog having a new home, than the risk of buying flowers every sunday morning.Simple. the op has acted responsibly from before the birth as such i feel your comments are out of place. read the thread. its like saying remove all risk from the home when you have a baby. Once you do that you have no heating, no cooking etc and the kid is taken into care as a result ! I can totally garantee at least one run to casualty for Tom and his new born coz thats what we all do, the staff get used to it at the hospital and when your on your next baby things are far more chilled out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 24, 2012 Report Share Posted November 24, 2012 I love the ones who give it "my dogs are fine with kids", or "my dogs are not aggresive" If u have a baby in the house, take the dog and re-home it. Id rather have u cry over ur dog having a new home, than the risk of buying flowers every sunday morning.Simple. ******** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 ******** Thanks, i know im a star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 yup one who hasn't the first idea what he is talking about with that comment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asa Bear Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 I had a flat coat as a pet for @3 years before my first son came along. He went everywhere with me and we were concerned he might be jealous when my son came home from hospital. However we couldn't have been more wrong. He was very protective of the baby, preferring to be with my son rather than my wife or me (unless I picked his lead up). If you treat it as the norm the dog will accept it as the norm. You sound sensible enough just keep your eye on the dog. Each one is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 If you have any doubts over your dogs just kennel them outside, and I am thinking you must have or why post the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 yup one who hasn't the first idea what he is talking about with that comment Do you have kids? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Do you have kids? Yes 2, and 4 dogs (at the moment) and I agree with al4x's sentiment about your post suggesting dogs should be re-homed if a baby comes along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 (edited) my fully trained cocker bit the wife out of the blue after 4 yrs made a right mess i also have a 9 and 11 yr old even though it was totally "not like her" she went my wife was only putting her food down i would never have a dog in the house with a baby or child anymore at the end of the day they might be your companion but they are not human they are animals just ask yourself "WOULD YOU LEAVE YOUR CHILD WITH LIONS AT CHESTER ZOO WHILE YOU GO FOR A PINT".......... if there is anyone can say they trust there dogs they aint gotta brain sorry if this offends but after training dogs for 18yrs ive seen it happen 3 times now with dogs i would have least expected to have.. i cant say what will happen ,if anything but ask yourself worst case sinario would you put your childs life before a dog before any jokes about the wife it was not funny you cannot believe the mess she made of her leg... Edited November 26, 2012 by delburt0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Yes 2, and 4 dogs (at the moment) and I agree with al4x's sentiment about your post suggesting dogs should be re-homed if a baby comes along. Well, i hope nothing ever happens to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 my fully trained cocker bit the wife out of the blue after 4 yrs made a right mess even though it was totally "not like her" she went my wife was only putting her food down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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