What to do with my dog after baby arrives

carriecinaz · Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:42 PM

I have a 6 year old chihuahua who is like my child. She is very sweet, especially for a chihuahua. She sleeps with us every night and has 100% of our attention. The last thing I want to do is give her up when the baby gets here but I feel like she will be depressed because we won't be able to give her the attention she needs. I have several family members and friends who would take her in a heartbeat because she's such a great dog but I really don't want to

Am I being selfish? Is anyone else in this sort of predicament?

aliss · Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:48 PM

I would wait and see how the adjustment goes. Our Shiba Inu is the same but we are slowly teaching him (weening him?) from some dependencies. Of course, a Shiba is not the same personality as a Chihuahua, but they are still our babies. I won't be giving up my dog ever, but if the adjustment really doesn't work, you might want to consider it then. Even a dog trainer could help. Involve the dog - go for walks with the dog and the stroller together!

babybaillie · Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:51 PM

Why would you have to give her up?

I think u should just stop paying her 100% attention now, and gradually do less n less with her, and id stop her from sleeping in with u.

Its just like me i have a 4 year old who has 100% of my attention just now, and i wont beabel to do that when the baby comes. You just have to accomodate everyone and do ur best for them.

babybaillie · Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:52 PM

Why would you have to give her up?

I think u should just stop paying her 100% attention now, and gradually do less n less with her, and id stop her from sleeping in with u.

Its just like me i have a 4 year old who has 100% of my attention just now, and i wont beabel to do that when the baby comes. You just have to accomodate everyone and do ur best for them.

Bingles · Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:52 PM

Intresting thread. We have a lab/terrier and she has been like our lil baby for the last 2 years and my OH has her totally spoiled. I will be doing my very best to get her trained and accept the baby and I think she will she is a very placid dog but I know deep down if it comes to it she will have to go a thought I dont care to think to much about. I will go as far as getting proper lessons for her if we have to.

Kitty23 · Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:59 PM

There's no reason you need to give your dog up!

Get her used to not being the number 1 priority by spending time apart and generally not spoiling her! Plenty of people have dogs and babies

xxx

RSbabe · Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:59 PM

Aww hun

I want to get a Miniature Dachshund but my OH is unsure as he feels it would be unfair on the dog...but i cannot see how it would as my mum had a dog when she had me and we both gor attention and no-one missed out on love xx

aliss · Nov 23rd, 2009, 17:09 PM

It's ok not to spoil a dog and treat it like a child. After all, a dog isn't a child and a dog shouldn't be spoiled. Dogs are dogs - they have different emotions than people and feel best when they "know their place" in a family. I think, when people treat a dog like a baby, it leads to an unstable/unhappy dog. It isn't natural to them. I've seen so many "babied" dogs that try to attack mine or just can't socialize properly because they don't act like a real dog.

Give it a try and let the chihuahua know it's place - now - not when the baby comes, so it doesn't associate the baby with the change! The dog may feel better about it.

Minstermind · Nov 23rd, 2009, 18:13 PM

I don't know why getting rid of the family dog would ever be a question just because a baby is on the way. The only time I would see that as being a possibility is if the dog posed some kind of danger to the baby. Otherwise, why would it even be a consideration? It's just something everybody has to adjust to (having a baby), and that includes the dog.

LuckySalem · Nov 23rd, 2009, 18:19 PM

Please don't get rid of your dog.
I work with rescues and the amount of dogs that end up in a pound/rescue just cos a baby is coming is ridiculous. Obviously if the dog is dangerous then it needs to be rehomed but don't do it just cos you're pregnant.

Firstly, get thee to training classes (I'm taking our pup now and i'm fatter than you!! lol

)
Secondly, stop treating your dog as a baby - you have one on the way now.
Give her some rules, get her out of the bed and onto the floor etc, start now as you'll probably experience some seperation anxiety from her for doing it.

Good luck - she's your family remember.

Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:42 PM	#1
carriecinaz Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA Posts: 3,386	What to do with my dog after baby arrives I have a 6 year old chihuahua who is like my child. She is very sweet, especially for a chihuahua. She sleeps with us every night and has 100% of our attention. The last thing I want to do is give her up when the baby gets here but I feel like she will be depressed because we won't be able to give her the attention she needs. I have several family members and friends who would take her in a heartbeat because she's such a great dog but I really don't want to Am I being selfish? Is anyone else in this sort of predicament?

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Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:48 PM	#2
aliss AutoSignup (SAAB) BnB Elite Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Québec Posts: 14,796	I would wait and see how the adjustment goes. Our Shiba Inu is the same but we are slowly teaching him (weening him?) from some dependencies. Of course, a Shiba is not the same personality as a Chihuahua, but they are still our babies. I won't be giving up my dog ever, but if the adjustment really doesn't work, you might want to consider it then. Even a dog trainer could help. Involve the dog - go for walks with the dog and the stroller together!

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:51 PM	#3
babybaillie Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,018	Why would you have to give her up? I think u should just stop paying her 100% attention now, and gradually do less n less with her, and id stop her from sleeping in with u. Its just like me i have a 4 year old who has 100% of my attention just now, and i wont beabel to do that when the baby comes. You just have to accomodate everyone and do ur best for them.

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:52 PM	#4
babybaillie Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,018	Why would you have to give her up? I think u should just stop paying her 100% attention now, and gradually do less n less with her, and id stop her from sleeping in with u. Its just like me i have a 4 year old who has 100% of my attention just now, and i wont beabel to do that when the baby comes. You just have to accomodate everyone and do ur best for them.

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:52 PM	#5
Bingles Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 2,178	Intresting thread. We have a lab/terrier and she has been like our lil baby for the last 2 years and my OH has her totally spoiled. I will be doing my very best to get her trained and accept the baby and I think she will she is a very placid dog but I know deep down if it comes to it she will have to go a thought I dont care to think to much about. I will go as far as getting proper lessons for her if we have to.

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:59 PM	#6
Kitty23 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South East, UK Posts: 2,152	There's no reason you need to give your dog up! Get her used to not being the number 1 priority by spending time apart and generally not spoiling her! Plenty of people have dogs and babies xxx

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 16:59 PM	#7
RSbabe Pregnant (Expecting) Inactive Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bristol,UK Posts: 1,196	Aww hun I want to get a Miniature Dachshund but my OH is unsure as he feels it would be unfair on the dog...but i cannot see how it would as my mum had a dog when she had me and we both gor attention and no-one missed out on love xx

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 17:09 PM	#8
aliss AutoSignup (SAAB) BnB Elite Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Québec Posts: 14,796	It's ok not to spoil a dog and treat it like a child. After all, a dog isn't a child and a dog shouldn't be spoiled. Dogs are dogs - they have different emotions than people and feel best when they "know their place" in a family. I think, when people treat a dog like a baby, it leads to an unstable/unhappy dog. It isn't natural to them. I've seen so many "babied" dogs that try to attack mine or just can't socialize properly because they don't act like a real dog. Give it a try and let the chihuahua know it's place - now - not when the baby comes, so it doesn't associate the baby with the change! The dog may feel better about it.

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 18:13 PM	#9
Minstermind Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 2,376	I don't know why getting rid of the family dog would ever be a question just because a baby is on the way. The only time I would see that as being a possibility is if the dog posed some kind of danger to the baby. Otherwise, why would it even be a consideration? It's just something everybody has to adjust to (having a baby), and that includes the dog.

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 18:19 PM	#10
LuckySalem Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wrexham, North Wales Posts: 1,221	Please don't get rid of your dog. I work with rescues and the amount of dogs that end up in a pound/rescue just cos a baby is coming is ridiculous. Obviously if the dog is dangerous then it needs to be rehomed but don't do it just cos you're pregnant. Firstly, get thee to training classes (I'm taking our pup now and i'm fatter than you!! lol ) Secondly, stop treating your dog as a baby - you have one on the way now. Give her some rules, get her out of the bed and onto the floor etc, start now as you'll probably experience some seperation anxiety from her for doing it. Good luck - she's your family remember.

Status: Offline

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