Dog and New Baby, Advice

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mkipp

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I wanted some advice on what you did with introducing your dog to the new baby. Our dog to this point was getting all the attention and had a great life. I just want to make sure that we are able to keeping including her in our lives. I would hate for my dog to feel not loved enough. This may be crazy, but looking for any tips. God Bless.
 
We have a Goldendoodle, 1/2 Poodle and 1/2 Golden Retreiver. She is 2 and is about 70lbs.
 
Remember to always supervise any interaction between the dog and the baby!

Be sure to walk the dog every day, and keep up with her excersize. It’ll be good when you walk the dog to put the baby in a stroller and have all of you walk together! Perhaps husband could push baby, wife walk dog?

Also, be sure to cuddle with the dog too! Just pet her, take her outside to play fetch, etc.

Be sure to introduce the dog to the babies scent. Give her a blanket that smells like the baby.

Dogs live in the moment. They can feel jealous, just like humans, but as long as you don’t neglect her (pretty much by playing with her, walking her, etc) things should be fine.

I own several dogs, and my niece and nephew have played with them since they were both months old!

BTW-I saw where you live from your profile. I’m right above your state! My bichon frise and Shih Tzu would love a playmate…so if you need someone to dog sit…let me know! 😉

Hope this is a start.
 
Make a point of giving the dog many positive experiences when the baby is present. For instance, whenever possible call the dog to you while you are holding the baby, and give the dog a reward. I know it seems like the opposite of what you would tend to do, but ignore the dog when you don’t have the baby, and play with, feed, praise the dog when you do have the baby. That way, the dog will feel that having the baby around is a good thing. The baby makes you happy!

Not all dogs are naturally good with babies. The first few months lay the ground work, but once the baby starts crawling, and taking toys, pulling fur and the like, it all changes. Make sure that when that time comes your dog knows that it is all right to run away. You don’t want the dog to feel trapped. In general goldens tend to be good with kids, but it is very individual.

It is wonderful that you are giving your baby the gift of being born into a household with a pet. Jesus chose to be born into the stable with lots of animals, but we can’t all be that fortunate. Teach your dog to imitate various barn animals (braying, mooing, clucking, etc.) so the baby can have a more Christmas-like experience.

Some of the above advice is good.
 
You’re off to a good start by just having a bigger dog, they tend to be more comfortable with kids. We have 4 dogs and have brought home 3 babies without issues. I think a major factor is your “energy”, the feelings you project. Start introducing the dog to baby smells like powder and lotion. Once the baby is born bring a blanket the baby has been wrapped in home while baby is still in the hospital. Let the dog sniff, roll, cuddle, whatever to get used to the smell.
 
As long as the dog is well socialized, it should not be a problem, but keep a normal routine with normal discipline and exercise. Dogs should not show dominance toward any people in the family or visitors. You should be the pack leaders.

Dogs are pack animals, they like big packs and will immediately accept a new member if you as pack leader accept the new member.

Your dog will see immediately how much you love your baby and the dog will love her/him too. There will be some curious sniffing, maybe licking up a food smeared face now and then. 😃

A bigger issue may be when strangers come over to see the baby, the dog will feel protective and may growl.

The question “will we have to protect our children from the dogs?” may also became “will we have to protect our dogs from the children?” Once the walking and exploration begins it is the dog you have to look out for! 😃

JB
 
You’ve been given great advice. One thing that I could add is get a CD of baby sounds – cooing, crying, et cetera – so puppy can get used to hearing those sounds. You might even get one of those dolls that’s baby-size and makes the noise – that way puppy can kind of get used to a little one being around. I’ve seen that on one of those dog training shows, but that might be going a little far in your instance.

One other thing I’ve had friends tell me they did is when they bring baby home from the hospital, leave baby in their carrier and sit on the ground with baby and let puppy sniff and greet the new pack member.
 
We recently had to get rid of our dog because she was getting too nervous and grumpy around the baby, once he got mobile enough to follow her around. At one point she bit his hand (luckily his little fingers went between her teeth, or something, because he wasn’t hurt) and I decided that was it, as much as I loved Little Bit and all the fun we had, I wouldn’t keep a threat to my son around. We also didn’t have the time we used to, so she had a lot of pent-up energy and didn’t get to run and play (border collie/blue heeler mix, lots of playing required).

I would say from what I’ve learned, is don’t freak out if the dog goes near your baby, don’t punish him for checking the baby out. If he gets too close for comfort, distract him with a toy or treat. Make sure every time baby wakes up, the dog associates it with something good happening–Daddy taking him for a walk, getting fed, getting a good belly scratch. That way he learns that baby is good, baby leads to good things. I wish I’d heard that about a year ago, before Little Bit started getting nervous about the baby.

Happily, even though we had to give our dog away, she’s with a new owner who gives her lots of attention and has a full yard to run around in. They sound like they were made for each other 🙂 Sometimes I miss my dog, but then again . . . not so much.
 
Our inside dog became an outside dog and she has loved it everyday. This is what the CCC teaches about animals. The very last paragraph sums it up.👍 I wonder with the almost worship of pets from liberals and the pet industry if Satan is helping foster this type of human behavior to keep some of us distracted from things that really matter, like praying with our children, giving the incremental money to the poor, even keeping us from praying more.🤷

"Respect for the integrity of creation

2415 The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity.195 Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man’s dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.196

2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.197 Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.

2417 God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image.198 Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.

2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons."
 
GratefulDad said:
I wonder with the almost worship of pets from liberals and the pet industry if Satan is helping foster this type of human behavior to keep some of us distracted from things that really matter, like praying with our children, giving the incremental money to the poor, even keeping us from praying more.🤷/quote]

I am getting a little tired of every time a pet thread comes up there is someone saying that if you love and enjoy your pets that you automatically don’t care about human charities or that you put your pets above humans. And now if we enjoy our pets we’re allowing Satan to distract us??? Whatever happened to the old adage if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all?
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Nanny_PK said:
GratefulDad;5264280:
I wonder with the almost worship of pets from liberals and the pet industry if Satan is helping foster this type of human behavior to keep some of us distracted from things that really matter, like praying with our children, giving the incremental money to the poor, even keeping us from praying more.🤷/quote]

I am getting a little tired of every time a pet thread comes up there is someone saying that if you love and enjoy your pets that you automatically don’t care about human charities or that you put your pets above humans. And now if we enjoy our pets we’re allowing Satan to distract us??? Whatever happened to the old adage if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all?
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👍 Having shown dogs for almost forty years, I am constantly amazed at how little people know about dogs and how to train and raise them. Dogs were put on this earth to live with man and to be a companion. If one does not want that kind of relationship with a dog, don’t get one.
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mary_bobo said:
Nanny PK;5264339:
👍 Having shown dogs for almost forty years, I am constantly amazed at how little people know about dogs and how to train and raise them. Dogs were put on this earth to live with man and to be a companion. If one does not want that kind of relationship with a dog, don’t get one.
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What Mary said.👍
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Nanny_PK said:
GratefulDad;5264280:
I wonder with the almost worship of pets from liberals and the pet industry if Satan is helping foster this type of human behavior to keep some of us distracted from things that really matter, like praying with our children, giving the incremental money to the poor, even keeping us from praying more.🤷/quote]

I am getting a little tired of every time a pet thread comes up there is someone saying that if you love and enjoy your pets that you automatically don’t care about human charities or that you put your pets above humans. And now if we enjoy our pets we’re allowing Satan to distract us??? Whatever happened to the old adage if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all?
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What are you talking about? Are you a liberal humanist with no perspective or concept of a human eternal soul? Those are the people I am referring too. Have you not seen the liberal ideology where libs will fight tooth and nail to protect animals, spend millions on advertising to prevent animal cruelty or adapt a pet from a shelter and in the next sentence fight for Freedom of Choice to kill unborn Human Babies? A little mixed up I would say.🤷

Are you saying I have the wrong perspective here or the CCC statements/teachings are in error about pets?
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GratefulDad said:
Nanny PK;5264339:
What are you talking about? Are you a liberal humanist with no perspective or concept of a human eternal soul? Those are the people I am referring too. Have you not seen the liberal ideology where libs will fight tooth and nail to protect animals, spend millions on advertising to prevent animal cruelty or adapt a pet from a shelter and in the next sentence fight for Freedom of Choice to kill unborn Human Babies? A little mixed up I would say.🤷

Are you saying I have the wrong perspective here or the CCC statements/teachings are in error about pets?
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Protection of animals and Pro Choice have nothing to do with each other at all!!! When you make a statement like that, you are grasping for who knows what but it’s wrong and you are wrong to make that statement!

If you don’t like animals fine, you don’t like them. You must live in a sad world but that’s your choice. However, for those of us who love them and have them and treat them as a family member, that is our choice and you need to keep your opinions about that to yourself. The OP did not ask if it was OK for her to have a dog, she asked how to introduce it to her new baby. So, if you don’t have anything constructive to add to the topic, don’t post.
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GratefulDad said:
What are you talking about? Are you a liberal humanist with no perspective or concept of a human eternal soul? Those are the people I am referring too. Have you not seen the liberal ideology where libs will fight tooth and nail to protect animals, **spend millions on advertising to prevent animal cruelty or adapt a pet from a shelter and in the next sentence fight for Freedom of Choice to kill unborn Human Babies? **A little mixed up I would say.🤷

Are you saying I have the wrong perspective here or the CCC statements/teachings are in error about pets?
Click to expand...
Protection of animals and Pro Choice have nothing to do with each other at all!!! When you make a statement like that, you are grasping for who knows what but it’s wrong and you are wrong to make that statement!

If you don’t like animals fine, you don’t like them. You must live in a sad world but that’s your choice. However, for those of us who love them and have them and treat them as a family member, that is our choice and you need to keep your opinions about that to yourself. The OP did not ask if it was OK for her to have a dog, she asked how to introduce it to her new baby. So, if you don’t have anything constructive to add to the topic, don’t post.
 
Why are some people so defensive. I have had plenty of pets all my life.:rolleyes: Dogs, cats, snakes, hamsters, fish, scrimp, seahorses, sea urchins, sea anemone, etc. I have even saved lab mice and lab rats from experiments and made them pets. I have had pet rabbits and saved them from becoming Rabbit Ettoufie’(sp)😉

I am not ridiculing anyone, but this is what the Church teaches are re. pets:

CCC 2418: It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.

If you want to make a pet a member of your family go a head. I would rather make God the center of my life and spend time taking care of my wife and children. I stand by my statements and keep pets in perspective.:cool:
 
GratefulDad,

God is the center of my life too, I try to live the way he wants me too, but I fall short.

You fell short in this forum-I don’t think this is the place to ask questions about how we relate to our pets.

I give to both pro-life foundations, and no-kill animal shelters. I see NO conflict whatsoever in being a animal rights guy and Catholic.

This forum isn’t the place for this discussion though.
 
Rascalking said:
GratefulDad,

God is the center of my life too, I try to live the way he wants me too, but I fall short.

You fell short in this forum-I don’t think this is the place to ask questions about how we relate to our pets.

I give to both pro-life foundations, and no-kill animal shelters. I see NO conflict whatsoever in being a animal rights guy and Catholic.

This forum isn’t the place for this discussion though.
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Huhh.:ehh:
 
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