Lots of dogs and new baby?! Advice?

Question

Hi everyone, my husband and I are animal lovers and started rescuing dogs a while back. We have 5 currently that we love and adore that range in age and temperaments. They do have quite different personalities and I just found out I’m expecting. I’m crazy nervous on having a newborn in a house of this many dogs (with some who are temperamental because of previous living environments/abuse). Anyone else here have a house of animals with young kids? None of them are dangerous but I’m worried because some of them have never been around kids before.

Answer

I have three dogs! All ranging in age , breed , size and personality. I am pretty nervous as well. I dont really have a lot of advice just here to let you know alone! You can bounce ideas off me as well!

Answer

I was stressed about our dogs when I first found out I was pregnant too. We only have two but they are super needy...one is a year old and extremely high energy while the other is a rescue with some strange quirks. I'm 11 days postpartum now and they have been SO good it's incredible. Before baby came we tried walking around with a baby doll and didn't have good results - our young dog knew it was a toy and wanted to eat it haha. Dogs are so smart though, they know the moment you bring that little baby in the house that it's vulnerable and they need to be gentle. They will be curious but introduce them one at a time and they will adjust 🙂

Answer

I’m so happy I found this thread! 🥰
I’m 36 weeks and have two lurchers who are very high energy and quite demanding and I’ve been so nervous and worried about bringing baby into the pack that I’d stopped feeling excited about it. It’s really helped reading through all of the comments and has put my mind at rest a bit. 
I’m sure there will be tough days ahead, but just getting through day by day is my goal and pacing myself.

Answer

We took a class on adding baby to the pack and it was pretty helpful! We didn’t sign up till third trimester so jumped a few steps they would recommend from the first trimester but they were basic like mastering sit stay and leave it. Also getting them on a set schedule but by third trimester throwing that schedule out the window so they can get used to it ahead of time. She also recommended playing crying videos at the loudest volume that gets their attention for hours 🤦🏼‍♀️

Answer

We bought a baby doll and held it like a real baby to get our dog used to us holding a baby. It also helped us introduce boundaries with our dog when we were holding the baby doll. We started this a few months before baby arrived. It was so helpful when we finally brought our little one home. We also slowly started putting baby things out (pack n play, bouncer, etc.) a couple months before so our dog could sniff them and get used to them being there.
I also suggest bringing your dogs around kids of all ages if possible.

Answer

I have 4 dogs and we never had issues. We also do not allow them to be alone with her. They are animals so it’s better safe than sorry. It took a few weeks for them to get use to the new baby but now they love her. One is very protective over her, I was playing on the ground and my hair covered my face while I was kissing her her cane rubbing and barking at me like I was a stranger. Just watch them and their temperament. I also got my husband to bring multiple hospital swaddles home with her scent along with my breast milk and put it on their bed and in their crates to get use to the smell. Also bring the dogs outside while the baby is in the car seat to introduce them. Helps with territory issues and will make them feel better.

Answer

Exposure is key!!! If you have anyone that has young children I would bring them around. I also play baby’s crying on my phone daily so my dog and cat get use to the noise. I also set them up with a safe place they can go if they get overwhelmed. When you deliver make sure you
Get a blanket with the baby’s scent on it to take to home to them before you get home.

Answer

If you have any friends with children or babies and they are comfortable with it, start having them bring the kids around, introduce your dogs one by one in a close leash Incase anything would happen, maybe wash something baby in the detergent you plan on using on baby and start letting them sniff and be around the item and give them good praise when they are. My dr recommended when labor occurs for husband to bring home something baby wore and let it lay on couch or dog bed so they can begin to get used to the smells and they will learn.

Lots of dogs and new baby?! Advice?

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