bringing home baby

[xoxogsd]

Not sure if this is the right forum to post this, but here goes…!

The countdown is on…less than 4 weeks until my due date arrives!! We’ve been letting Cougar spend time in the nursery, and he *knows* something’s up. I can hardly keep him out of that room these days (“but mom, there are so many stuffed toys in here!”).

So…I am seeking your words of wisdom for things to do both now and when the baby first arrives to help Cougar adjust well. The baby will be sleeping in our room for a little while. Cougar is a house dog, and he sleeps in our bedroom at night. We don’t want those to change. What steps should we take when we first bring the baby home?

For background, Coug is 13 mo old and has very high prey drive. I have no doubts that he will be really good w/the new addition to our pack, but I also want to do all that I can to help in that respect!

[freundhund]

Hi xoxogsd

Done this successfully 3 times and give talks on the subject for my gynaecologist. {people think they should get rid of the family pet when the partner is pregnant} Sensible gynaecologist have know each other for years.

Okay, to start do you have a pram, pushchair or stroller. If you do start by taking the pram and Cougar for a walk. <yes the EMPTY pram> Using comments to Cougar like "lets take the baby for a walk", isn't this fun taking the baby for a walk. However while he is on lead beside the pram he has to walk quietly. Start now so he doesn't pull when baby arrives. Both parents can do this.

Secondly go into the nursery with comments like "this is where the baby sleeps". But these are babies toys, these are Cougars toys. (Don't laugh, my dogs know whose toys are whose.)

With the car put the baby capsule/restraint in the car. Let's put the baby in the car, let's put Cougar in the car. If you don't have a divide between where Cougar is and the baby is for the first little while Cougar goes in first then Cougar then you drive straight off. If you have a divide it doesn't matter.

When you have the baby in hospital, get partner to bring Cougar in the car to the hospital. (leave Cougar in Car) With baby sneak (hospital's are a bit odd) down to car show Cougar the baby take high quality treats for Cougar saying look at the baby, reminding to be gentle and rewarding gentleness with treats. Also allow Cougar a good sniff. The go back to the hospital with baby.

With baby and Cougar in bedroom, should not be a problem. Cougar cannot be allowed on bed, if he is allowed on bed teach him off now before baby arrives. So that there is no association with the baby arriving. When feeding baby if breast feeding, sit down call Cougar over and get him to drop or sit at feet, give pats with free hand and toss him treats on the floor.

BASICALLY FOR THE FIRST 6 WEEKS WHENEVER YOU/PARTNER GO NEAR BABY QUALITY TREATS ARRIVE FOR COUGAR. THE BABY INDICATES PLEASURE FOR COUGAR.

Crying baby, this is where Cougar can become useful every time the baby cries you say " is the baby crying, lets go see" after a while you will find that Cougar will come and get you when baby is crying. After all when he encourages you to the baby there are treats.

VISITORS. Now is the interesting part. Mine have always been okay when the visitor is handed the baby but are not happy when the visitor goes to pick baby up from cot/bed. (A 6'6" male friend built like the proverbial barn, tried this and decided that picking up baby was not worth arguing with pearly white. I walk in said ok and handed baby over, dog immediately went back to his favorite place in the house under babies cot.)

As long as Cougar has basically sound temperament, there will be no problems. Just don't get stressed take time with both baby and Cougar.

If you are worried or need more advise please email me as I am more than happy to help.

Other's will have additional advise, as well, take all the help you can get.

GOOD LUCK with the new baby.

Post the board for more information when baby starts to crawl and then walk. ((But then I get ahead of myself)

Regards

Freundhund

[xoxogsd]

thank you! thank you! thank you!!

What great advice - we will start doing these things, as you've suggested. It's good to know that there's so many things I can do now, even before the baby arrives.

[Andi]

Hi Liz,

I never had to deal with that situation myself (didn't get a dog until my son was 12), but I remember reading a couple of good things about it. One is to buy a tape with the sound of a baby crying on it now, and play it to get Cougar used to the sounds. And the other was to have you husband bring home a blanket from the hospital so Cougar can smell the baby ahead of time.

We'll be waiting for those adorable baby and Cougar pics!

[xoxogsd]

Andi, any idea where I might find a tape like that? Of a baby crying.... I suppose I could ask my SIL to make one of her 7 mo old baby.

[Currmudgeon]

Andi said:

buy a tape with the sound of a baby crying

I'm dubious. Your baby won't sound the same.

How is Cougar's general obedience? It's a bit late to do major training, but some tune-up can't hurt. You'll want the most obedience you can get, as it's hard to do a correction when your hands are full of baby.

If you keep up your vigilance (dogs, like people can be randomly stupid) and follow Freundhund's procedures, you have a great chance of everything working marvelously. We never did half of what he suggested, and had no problems.

In the end, a lot is up to the dog. You always want to maintain vigilance with children and dawgs.

[xoxogsd]

Hi, Dennis. We began formal obedience for Schutzhund a few months ago…so generally, his obedience is okay & getting better in terms of sit, down, heel and stay – especially if he’s on lead or I’m using cookie/toy rewards. At this point, I’ve been trying to do a little obedience work every day, even if it’s only “fun stuff” in the house. I'll be sure to keep doing the tune-up work for the next few weeks.

[Currmudgeon]

OK, his obedience seems to be on track. I'd keep working on obedience. The point, in this context, is not sitting in proper position, but reinforcing the owner-dog relationship and the fact that people are at the top of that totem pole.

AFAIC, obedience is dammnear a panacea.

[sandy]

Congratulations, Liz! You are going to have a very busy household in just a few weeks!

Just a couple of things that I remember from bringing home my first daughter with two goldens in the house. They tried to get their nose in her blankie/sleeper/diaper all the time! They loved the smell of her (imagine what she smelled like to them!) and would bury their nose in her whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Many times a sleeping baby was rudely awakened by a wet nose under her back while in her stroller or carseat. I can only imagine that a GSD would be even more extreme so be careful about putting the baby down where the dog can reach her and always strap her in, just in case her carrier would get tipped over accidentally.

Good luck and don't forget to have fun! Those baby days pass so quickly!

[JanisN]

We've actually NEVER had a problem with babies and dogs but we supervise VERY carefully.

Aaron (Toaster) came to live with us when he was 2 weeks old (now 7 months) and Enschi appointed herself protector of Aaron. When he's playing on the floor, she curls around him and protects him from the cats. When he rolls too far (in her view) in one direction, she starts nosing him to turn over and go the other way. All the dogs compete to see who gets to sit closest to the high chair.

My middle grandkids (now 4) learned to walk by pulling up on the dogs and the dogs would creep VERY slowly along.

Trouble signs to watch for would be Cougar tearing up the baby's toys and peeing/defecating on the baby's clothing, laundry, possessions or the baby himself. THAT is a real big trouble sign and action needs to be taken immediately. BUT Cougar is a lovely bred boy with a sound, stable temperament in a loving home. I honestly don't think you're going to have too many problems!!!

Even my whackiest dogs have loved the babies, particularly once they figure out that the little toes aren't chew toys. And ALL will sit down with the kids and watch cartoons or sesame street. <smile>

JanisN

[xoxogsd]

Jan, thank you for the vote of confidence! Cougar is a good boy, albeit energetic...and just always on the go-go-go. We are doing obedience and introducing him to as many baby things now as we can.

Sandy, thanks for the cold nose warnings. I'm passing along all this info to dh too.

I can't wait until the dog and baby watch cartoons together! what a cute thing to look forward to! I am feeling much better after getting all of this great advice.

[Smithie86]

Liz,

Will be going through the same in May (Hey, Janis and Dennis, guess what ;D ).

Baer is the inside dog and has also been around babies most of his life (friends,family and Ronald McDonald House, but never one of his own...

We are doing the stroller thing as well as exposing him to all the other baby stuff. Another suggesstion is have someone bring a piece of cloth (or something) home from the hospital with the baby's scent on it so that it is familiar.

Target has those lockable diaper disposers. We are getting one....

[xoxogsd]

Many congrats to you too, Sue!

I’ve got the “Diaper Genie,” and it sits perfectly INSIDE one of the cabinet areas of the dresser set behind a door. I figured that was a doubly-sure way to keep the dog from tracking down diapers!

[JanisN]

Sue, congratulations!!!!! I can't wait to meet your new little one, this is so exciting!!!!!

I forgot to mention one unpleasant part of babies and dogs... DIAPER SECURITY. Have a VERY good disposal system. Dogs can't resist diapers. UGH.

JanisN

[freundhund]

Sorry guys have to disagree, my guys hated Nappies.

And I trained them to put them in the bin. I promise No joke, but the look on the dogs face do you really want me to pick it up and carry it.

Congratulations Sue thats fantastic.

Regards

Freundhund