Preparing for baby

[Welsh cocker]

Prior to getting Wilma a fortnight ago, my husband and I spent a great deal of time considering the implications of raising a puppy and a baby at the same time (as I am currently 5 months pregnant). As dog lovers, it was never going to be 'should' we get a dog but rather 'when' ! Eventually we decided that we would get our puppy prior to the babies arrival so we had the time and attention to devote to training and developing her manners 

At 13 weeks Wilma already has a reliable sit, recall, and (less reliable) down and stay. Her toilet training has come on really well, with very few accidents. We are working on the 'out of house' howling but the nighttime crying has ceased and she now sleeps in the kitchen. She really is a star 

But I have read some horror stories about cockers and babies/toddlers on the internet and am looking for reassurance from others in similar position. Have any of you experience in bringing a newborn into the home of a cocker? Do any of you have jealous cockers around children? Any ideas on how to prepare my pup to reduce potential issues occurring?    Now Wilma is presenting as secure and settled in her new home, I want to start off as we mean to go on so she doesn't experience huge upheaval as she approaches the 7 month mark and a new baby is introduced to her.

Wilma starts obedience classes next week...to improve her training and as my husband will take a lead in this, I am hoping to start preparing her for less attention from me. I also socialise her as much as possible. She has met my 3 yr old niece (who is a little boisterous for her at the moment) and encounters other children at the park/pet shop etc. I also prepare her to be separated from me whilst in the house for short periods.

I would appreciate any other ideas/tips to prepare the puppy and also useful training commands that you think may be useful once the baby has arrived.

[emma_and_tilly]

I'm sure others will be on with more info than me....but sounds like you're doing all the right stuff! I would also put baby bits around the house, playpen if you'll use one (we did, just so baby was safe when we left room for the loo, put kettle on etc!) Moses basket, even put pushchair up occasionally so Wilma has experienced it, (could even walk it round the garden for her to see!)
Congratulations xxxx

[Lily Freya]

Lily came into our lives just as my first grandson was born.  As I looked after him for the first year of his life, whilst my daughter worked, I had to make sure I could keep both safe.

Never at any time did Lily hurt Joe, it was more a case of me keeping Lily safe from little hands grabbing out in excitement. Babies certainly don't understand that their grip can hurt the dog.

A playpen was a great aid, so that they both had space at certain points of the day.

As Joseph grew, the bond between child and dog became closer and closer.  Having said this, I would never have left a dog and baby together unsupervised no matter how much I trusted the relationship.

Lots of luck and happiness. Xx

[DarceyTheDog]

Darcey is fantastic with children. She lived with 2 toddlers before we got her and they both jumped all over her and she let them. When we have babies in the house she will go sniff them very closely and worried a few friend by how close she was but after a good sniff she leaves them alone.

[jasper_boy]

I know someone who is pregnant who got a dvd called Dogs & Storks which she thought was very helpful. Also, I think she got a CD of baby sounds to play over the last few months to introduce potential noises that the dogs wouldn't have heard before to prepare them 

[bluegirl]

My cocker was 18mths old when I came home with our first child. I told hubby to hold baby whilst I made a fuss of what was essentially my dog. After the fuss she noticed the baby and was inquisitive which we cautiously allowed. Bonnie however wasn't really happy with the baby, or the next or the 3rd one (3 in 4 yrs). There was never a time when I felt it was too much but I know Bonnie found it difficult sharing me and in hindsight for Bonnie things would have been less confusing for her if she had come after the children so she knew her place. We kept the same routines and if I couldn't walk her my hubby did when he came home from work. I encouraged her to sit with me on the settee through endless hours of feeding but she started to spend less time with me whilst the baby was with me and more time in her basket. I gave her her space and brought each child up to be respectful of her space too. She enjoyed the children more from about 2.5 -3yrs because she saw them as a constant source of food so had to watch them closely during this stage. Whenever we had friends over with children she was put in another room out the way because she just wasn't comfy with those children although she had never done anything. It protected her and them. I loved that dog with all my heart but she didn't like sharing me, so we managed the situation. I will also just say I never felt her to be a threat to the children she seemed more depressed than anything.

[Welsh cocker]

Thank you all for the ideas. I will download that a cd to prepare the dog (and my husband  ) to the sounds she will hear in a few months. I will also ensure I get the baby stuff out weeks prior to the arrival so the change is more gradual for her. It is reassuring to hear that Darcey and Lily are both good with children. I'm sorry to hear about your doggy depression bluegirl... I think this is one of the main worries (besides the obviously risk to the baby). In hindsight, would you have done anything differently when your cocker was younger and prior to the arrival of your first to make it easier for her?

[bluegirl]

I don't think I could have done anything different, all the baby stuff was in place for when baby arrived, I'd stopped her sitting on my knee from around 7 mths but that was mainly because I was too big and there was no room left, but I still encouraged her to sit besides me. I had 3 sickly pregnancies so for the first pregnancy I was off sick from 5 wks until 20 wks and because I was a nurse they wouldn't let me work past 28 wks due to bad pregnancy so I spent a lot of time with her. Also meant that hubby was already taking her out walking on a regular basis because I couldn't walk either due to bleeding.
I just think with her she would have adapted better if she had come along after baby born and not before. I loved her the same but she felt things were different and I really tried to include her but it didn't help. I certainly was not a woman who doted on the "substitute child" until a real one came along, as but for my own children I'm an animal person through and through, never been any different.

[Lily Freya]

Sounds like you will be fine.  You are already thinking about things and putting things into action.  There will be ups and downs, naturally.......but you'll all adapt and find the balance again.

Looking forward to hearing all your news. 

[Sarahoverson]

Hi there, we didn't have a cocker when I was pregnant but I did have my two dachshunds who were about 10 months old when my son arrived. My husband took some of the babys clothes home to the dogs when i was still in hospital so that they could get used to the baby smell. once we came home they just sniffed him and that was it. They couldn't have been better. Also, i found they were very good at cleaning up baby sick (yuk!!) before i could get to it!! A playpen for baby (or dog!) was very useful too, and of course you will be buying baby gates anyway at some point so these are great once baby is mobile.

Our dogs are great round my son and all other kids, never jumping up and super gentle. When my son throws a tantrum (even tho he 6 now!) they just trot off quietly to their bed and keep out of the way of him. As for my son, it has been great for him to grow up with the dogs and it is interesting to see how because they've always been there he doesn't fuss around them and pester them. Good luck, I'm sure your girl will be fine. Our vets gave us some advice on how to manage a new baby arriving home to the dogs so your vet may be able to help too.

[Welsh cocker]

Thanks all. Your posts are really reassuring.
In the past couple of days she has developed some strength in her back legs, so my first 'baby friendly' task is to stop her spontaneously jumping up onto the sofa for cuddles. Although it is tempting to reinforce this with hugs at the moment (especially as she is only 5kgs so not causing harm), I need to prepare for the growing bump and impact of jumping on this, and the risks of her doing the same once she is grown and I am nursing a baby.

I don't want to stop her coming on the sofa, so am training to come 'up' on invitation only. My husband reckons this is confusing and thinks we she adopt a no sofa approach. Any people experience success with the former 

[Patp]

Thanks all. Your posts are really reassuring.
In the past couple of days she has developed some strength in her back legs, so my first 'baby friendly' task is to stop her spontaneously jumping up onto the sofa for cuddles. Although it is tempting to reinforce this with hugs at the moment (especially as she is only 5kgs so not causing harm), I need to prepare for the growing bump and impact of jumping on this, and the risks of her doing the same once she is grown and I am nursing a baby.

I don't want to stop her coming on the sofa, so am training to come 'up' on invitation only. My husband reckons this is confusing and thinks we she adopt a no sofa approach. Any people experience success with the former 

Personally I would treat her the same as if you had another toddler and get them to be part of the whole experience rather than excluding them.  Why not teach your dog that if she is allowed on the sofa, she is to settle quickly and quietly next to you without the enthusiastic jumping about?  That way, when you are nursing your new baby, she will sit next to you?

When I had my 3 children I had a lovely red setter and the only time we heard her grumble was when the midwife picked up the babies.  She was very good at walking next to the pram, but I am not sure if I have ever seen a cocker walk in a straight enough line

Not sure if it was the right thing to do, but my OH took my dog out for a walk before I came home with the new baby, then when they came home she was already in her moses basket and was allowed to have a sniff.  The first time she heard the crying noises sent her scurrying but she soon got used to it. (unlike my husband  ) 

If you can only train to settle (lie down and relax) and down and stay then things wont be too hectic.

I also remember asking the health visitor about having germs in the house when I had a dog and was advised that they were healthy germs!  How times have changed