Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if this is in the right place, if it isn't, then I'm sure a admin could move it for me :)

I'm currently expecting my first baby with my fiancé, and I am currently living at home with my parents -- and our two small breed dogs, a Jack Russell, and a Cavalier (aged 11 and 5, I think!). I'm due in April, and I was just wondering how to make my dogs feel comfortable with a new baby in the house; the dogs are a major part of our family life, and I would like very much to keep them 'involved', I'm just not sure how to!

We've played crying babies from youtube, and apart from the occasional interested look over, and odd tail wag at the new noise, they rarely react. We've wheeled the pram around, and we currently have the moses basket (on a stand) in our front room, where it will be once the baby arrives, so the dogs can get used to it.

Our dogs are so placid that I don't believe that there will be a problem, I just want them to be comfortable with something new and interesting that makes a lot of noise.

Also, once baby comes, how do I go about dealing with Health visitors in regards to the dogs? Do I put them out, or show the H.V that my dogs are fine with the baby -- even if they try to push the idea that the dogs shouldn't be anywhere near the baby? -- because, apart from nighttime, if we go out, and if we have guests who don't like dogs, they are rarely crated.

Any advice, or guidance, would be greatfully appriciated!
kissthestarss.

There are two threads on this very subject that you may wish to look at:
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/135010.html
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?pid=1294344
Regarding dogs with very young babies.  Yes, I would keep them seperate at least until you are absolutely certain of their reaction, or very closely supervised at least.

When I had my last baby (she will be 18 in april ) we had 6 dogs in the house. We gave them plenty room to escape the dreaded noisy thing (baby ;-) ) if they chose to but they were never left alone with her. When I came home form hospital baby was in the pram and I met the dogs before she came into the house (hubby stayed outside with her). One they had said hello baby was allowed in. They were very interested but didn't push their luck. The only problem I ever had was when one of them guarded the pram and went for my hubby when he went to pick her out when she cried. I quickly intervened and stopped her (she was more my dog than hubby's) and she never did it again. Daughter learned to walk using this dog as a walking fame.

As to the HV, I was told to get rid of my dogs, my answer was 'they were here first, I'll get rid of the baby before them' Needless to say it didn't go down very well ;-) The HV is there to help and advise you , not to live your life. Though when she visits it would be best if the dogs aren't around, if possible. My lot were always interested in what we were doing and having 6 noses watching us strip and check baby was not much fun.

> As to the HV, I was told to get rid of my dogs,

Now this seems to be a common enough experience to make you wonder whether health visitors are trained to be anti dog/pet???  Too frequent to simply be an individuals dislike, surely?

Could this attitude be a contributory factor to so many dogs being put into rescue because of a new baby. 

As already said a new Mum is vulnerable and may yield to pressure they would not normally tolerate.

> Now this seems to be a common enough experience to make you wonder whether health visitors are trained to be anti dog/pet??? 

Not that I have ever hear.  A good proportion of the midwives and HV that I know are dog owners themselves. 
I think if is far more likely that they are going to advise sensible precautions rather than get rid of the dog all together.

Congratualtions - when are you due??

My baby is coming up to one and i have a miniature poodle. To be honest we didnt do a lot before hand. The nursery was ready and we let Fred have a sniff of everything but that was about it. I had arranged for my dog to stay with my parents when i was in hospital but i (stupidly) made the mistake of allowing Fred upstairs with me during the night when i was at home having contractions. In hindsight i should have left him downstairs in his own bed and not disturned his routine. Dogs are sensitive to change and pick up on things and i think Fred felt very unsettled and worried at seeing me in pain hence he didnt settle at all whilst at my parents.
If you have a common sense approach - give the dogs a big fuss when you come home, let them see baby and give him/her a good sniff and dont push them out because of the baby then you will be fine.
As for health visitors i wouldnt worry :-) Check they are ok with dogs when entering your house (as you probably would do or any other visitor) but take what they say with a pinch of salt. It takes a while to find your confidence as a new mum but YOU KNOW BEST!!!

Long time ago now since I had my babies, but my HV was very good, she said to let the dogs lick and smell the back of the babies head as they were very interested. She said obviously under supervision and not to allow them to lick the baby's face, but not to let the dogs feel pushed out, we had three dogs at the time, all were very friendly and non of the midwives or HV's had an issue with them.
If a HV is afraid of your dogs or very anti dog I would put the dogs in another room during the visit as the dogs will pick up the vibes.
With all the anti dog publicity these days a lot of people are genuiely afraid of dogs, and we have to respect people who come into our homes on official business.
On the other hand friends and family who complain about my dogs get short shrift I am afraid " They live here you dont."

I definitely agree with Dorcas.  My daughter´s son is now 2 years old and I was there when both the midwife and the health visitor made their first visits.  The whippet was in the room the whole of the visits and no comment or criticism was made whatsoever about the dog.  In fact the HV turned out to be a very helpful person when some early feeding issues arose.

As far as the dogs are concerned, as has been said, NEVER leave them unattended in the room with the baby.  It may be that the dogs will be upset by the crying of the baby but nothing´s worth the risk to either baby or your dogs´ lives by leaving them together without supervision.

Enjoy your baby AND your dogs!!