Is it possible to have babies with a dog

I could put our pup in the crate to prevent accidents while I tended to our baby. I found a few positive articles such as yours, but most saying how unrealistic this would be. Thank you for your positive article and your valuable advice on how to make it work with a puppy and a young child. Your post really set my mind at ease that it can be done to have both! Thank you! I was happy to come across this post, it makes me feel a little better.

I have been having serious doubts about adding the puppy to the mix. I feel like we can make it work, especially with my son being 9 and being able to take care of the puppy.

Thank you for this! I realize this article is older now but holy crap Is it relevant for me right now! I feel like neither one of them listen to me and o am a broken record. I feel like I am constantly saying no. So that fact that this phase will end is all that is keeping me going. Does it really take a year?!

Looking at getting a puppy to replace an older dog who passed. What kind of dog did you end up getting? So happy I stumbled on this old post! Everyone is so right in that people react very negatively to getting a puppy when you have littles. We are getting our great dane puppy in 2 weeks. My boys are older at 22 months and 7 years but I still get the negative comments. Will it be chaotic, yes. But I know that getting through the initial phase will be all worth it.

Thank you again for the positive take and encouragement! How refreshing to hear positive attitudes towards puppies and babies!

We have a 18 month old spaniel, 5 month baby girl and just added a 8 week old German shepherd to the brood and why not I am off for another 6 months so he will be kept entertained and have plenty of attention during his puppy stage plus I am going to be taking him training on a Sunday morning which gives me time out, will it be hard yes, will it be worth it yes especially as we have a dog who will deter burglars yet be a loyal member of our family when my husband is away.

People are quick to judge and be negative but your life is your life, live or enjoy it.. I think we are all insane! She is tiny and generally good natured, but between the potty mistakes and the excess of energy just when my energy level has plummeted. And my mothering instincts make me want to be too gentle and not alpha enough. But why did I not put this off until I was healed from giving birth?!? Even though this article is old, I am happy I found it. Oh and I also have a 6yr old yorkie.

So overwhelmed is an understatement and Im praying I can continue along. Hi, This article is great and your thoughts are good. I like your suggestions good Such as commit protection Love.

I am so glad you wrote this. Currently sitting in the tub with a 12 week old puppy laying on the floor and a 2 year old crying in his room. Nap time thank you for making me feel normal for regretting the puppy. This season will end! So thank you for making me feel seen and heard.

I know this is a super old post but we just went and picked out our Springer spaniel puppy, who were absolutely besotted with. We pick him up in 4 weeks. Just did a test last night and it was positive! Just came across this post! Husband and I had decided on getting a golden retriever puppy in 2 weeks he will be 12 weeks when we get him and recently found out we were pregnant. Your email address will not be published. Submit Comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Email Address. Check out the home page for more info on my offerings. October 15, And then we got a dog. When I was seven months pregnant. In the middle of winter. Invest I never realized how expensive dogs are before I owned one, and ours is only 10lbs! Protect It is very important that your puppy has positive associations with your children from early on. Love Treat your dog like any other member of your family because that is exactly what they are.

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I hope all is well in your busy, adorable household! Rhi on December 7, at pm. Krista on January 21, at am. Shannon on March 9, at pm. Katherine on July 12, at pm. Not that I, a mere millennial who hasn't touched a baby since probably , am in any position to lecture you on parenting. It's sad, of course, to have her far away, but she visits Brooklyn often.

Allie Jones, another Wire staffer, shared a sadder story. Her parents had a black lab named Murphy before she was born. Curious for another perspective, I contacted Steve de Eyre, a friend several years older than myself who is in the same position my parents were in some decades ago. He and his wife Emily have had a wonderful lab for six years.

They take Lily for long hikes on weekends, snuggle with her on the couch, offer first-class medical care. And now they're expecting their firstborn in October. We played through the CD of baby sounds that comes with the book, watching Lily to see how she reacted. True to her mostly lab lineage, she basically slept through the whole thing. Plus, Lily was adopted from a summer camp, so she's well-prepared to socialize with kids. And like Mrs. Cooke, she has matured since the puppy years.

But will it really get to that point? What Benedikt neglects to mention is that with some supervision, dogs are great with kids—especially labs. As my mom put it, "the dog usually loses some attention from the adult but gains attention from the kids"—and even as a baby, I adored Mrs. My earliest memories are of gazing down at her lovingly from a highchair as she waited patiently for glops of food to fall.

I don't know if I ever sobbed harder than I did when my mother told me she had died I was nine at the time. Sure, my brothers and I were never old enough to shepherd her to the vet or handle her pills, but we were perfectly suited to run her around in the backyard and help her get exercise. The point, then, is that my parents have been where Benedikt is now—not one kid or two, but three young boys and a dog under the same roof—and, despite banishing Cooke from the bedroom, are still appalled by such flagrant animal neglect.

This practice will make her happy to be around the baby and reward her for staying in her spot during quiet time. If you prefer, you can screw an eye hook into a baseboard to secure the tether. This practice will allow your dog to enjoy time with you and the baby but prevent her from jumping up or pawing at you. To some dogs, a crib might seem like the perfect place for a cozy nap! If she approaches the crib and spends more than a few seconds investigating it, simply call her to come to you.

If she complies, praise her warmly. Then take her by the collar and lead her away from the crib. Unwrap new baby supplies, such as toys, car seats, highchairs and swings, from their packaging and introduce them to your dog one or two at a time.

Let her investigate them, but if she picks them up, immediately redirect her attention to one of her own toys or chew bones. If you can, borrow clothes and blankets that smell like a baby to get the dog used to that smell, too. If your dog is sensitive to strange noises, she might become agitated or frightened when she hears the baby cry. To help her get used to the sound in advance, purchase a recording of realistic baby noises and play it frequently.

Whenever you play the recording, give your dog plenty of attention, treats and anything else she likes. After 5 to 10 minutes, turn the recording off and ignore your dog for half an hour or so.

Do this several times a day. If you try this procedure and find that your dog seems really afraid of the recorded baby noises, you may need to start with the volume very low. When she gets used to the sound at a low level, you can gradually increase the volume. Remember to give her plenty of delicious treats, like bits of cheese, hot dog or chicken, every time she hears the baby sounds.

The doll can also help you practice caring for the baby and interacting with your dog at the same time. Some dogs will jump up when you lift a doll and hold it your arms.

A good solution is to ask your dog to stay in a sit or down whenever you hold, lift or handle the doll. You can use the doll to teach your dog to gently give kisses.

Praise your dog for any kind of gentle contact with the doll, and give her plenty of treats. To prepare your dog for this inevitability, accustom her to the types of touching you can expect from your baby, including grabbing, poking, pushing and pulling. Poke your dog gently and then give her a treat. Gently tug on her ear and then give a treat. Gently grab her skin or pinch her and then give a treat. Later on, when the baby does these things, you can say the same phrase.

With repetition, your dog will start to anticipate tasty treats and simply look to you each time she gets pinched or grabbed. Practice these handling exercises four to eight times per day, and use especially exciting treats, like cheese, chicken or hot dogs. Training sessions can be short—about five minutes long. When you start your training, be very gentle. Over time, make your touches more intense, like they will be when the baby delivers them.

Some dogs have never seen a human crawl, so it can be an intimidating experience—especially because crawling puts a person right at their eye level. Accomplishing this is easy! Crawl toward your dog. As soon as she lifts her head to look at you, pet her and give her treats. Everyone in the family should participate in this exercise. When your baby comes and your dog is completely comfortable with this new game, incorporate the baby into the picture, too.

Have him sit on your back, supported by your partner, when you crawl. Remember to cuddle your dog and give her treats so that she continues to enjoy this strange, new human behavior! First impressions are important. Your dog should have pleasant experiences with your baby right from the start. When bringing your baby home from the hospital, send everyone else into the house first so your dog can express her usual excitement to see people.

It may help to prepare these treats in advance and keep them in a container near the front door. If you seem nervous and jumpy, your dog will pick up on your feelings and may become nervous as well, thinking that the bundle in your arms is something to worry about. Instead, speak to your dog in a soft but cheerful voice as you walk into the house. Have your helper distract her with plenty of treats so that her attention is divided between them, your baby and the other people present.

The helper can ask your dog to respond to obedience cues, like sit and down, using the treats to reward her polite behavior. Praise your dog for any calm interest in the baby. Avoid scolding your dog. Remember, you want her to associate the baby with good things, not your displeasure. Whether you choose to allow your dog to investigate the baby right away or to wait until a later time, orchestrate the event carefully. Choose a quiet room, and sit down with the baby in your arms.

Have a helper leash your dog and bring her into the room. Again, avoid nervous or agitated behavior. Talk to your dog in a calm, happy voice as you invite her to approach.

Convince her that meeting and interacting with her new friend is fun, not stressful. If she wants to, let your dog sniff the baby as you continue to speak softly to her. Praise her warmly for gentle investigation. Even if your dog seems curious and calm, you may feel a little nervous about letting her get close to the infant. Initially, you might feel most comfortable allowing only brief interactions. Then gently interrupt her investigation by praising her and asking her to sit or lie down.

Reward her for complying with a few small, tasty treats. Your helper can hand them to you or deliver the rewards to your dog himself. If you like, repeat this sequence a few times. Then have your helper distract your dog with a new chew bone or a food puzzle toy. As the baby settles in, continue to focus on associating him with good things for your dog. Try to give your dog lots of attention when the baby is present. When you feed the baby, you can feed your dog, too. When you walk your dog, do your best to take the baby along.

This strategy, though it requires some skillful multitasking on your part, teaches your dog a valuable lesson. Obviously, giving both the baby and your dog attention at the same time is easier if there are two adults in the home. Your dog can be with you, but try to ignore her most of the time. It can be really hard to care for an infant if your dog insists on being underfoot.

To make things easier and safer for everyone, you can teach her to move away when you ask. Over your next few training sessions, gradually increase the number of steps your dog must take before you toss her a treat. Eventually, you can wait until she moves several feet away before you toss the treat. When your baby starts to crawl, for example, you can use the cue to teach your dog to move away from him when she feels uncomfortable.

Keep a dog bed or comfy mat in the room where you usually feed the baby. You can reward her for doing a nice down-stay on her bed, tossing a piece or two of kibble every few moments. Alternatively, you can give your dog an exciting new chew bone or food puzzle toy to work on while you care for the baby in the same room.

Encouraging calm, controlled behavior now will pay off in the weeks and months ahead—as your baby becomes more and more interesting and exciting to your dog. If someone in your family has time, consider taking your dog to a group obedience class or hiring a private trainer to show you how to teach the basics in your own home.

A well-trained dog will make your first few days, weeks, months and even years with your child much easier! Baby sounds, especially those that are very loud, may upset and confuse your dog. Most dogs simply learn to ignore them, but some need extra help. If your dog seems distressed when the baby makes noise, associate the sounds with things your dog loves.

If the baby squeals or cries, toss a tasty treat to your dog right afterward. In fact, they predict the delivery of food! Some dogs are nervous about babies or even a bit afraid of them and go out of their way to avoid contact.

If your dog seems a little worried about the new member of your family, you can teach her how to touch the baby with her nose on cue. This exercise will give her a safe way to interact with him and get used to his scent, appearance and sounds—without being forced to stay close for more than a few seconds at a time.