It's been a while since I introduced my son to my then GSD. When we brought him home in the carrycot we let her sniff straight away with praise. We did not shoo or push her away at all. She sniffed and just left him and went to her toy. We always encouraged her and she and my son did become devoted friends. When he was crawling she was amused and worried!  We never had a problem with her I still did not leave baby and dog in same room together.

Now we are due our first grandchild and I'm wondering if things have changed? Ideas? Especially  as the baby won't be here 24/7 & my daughter in law still not keen on dogs. Our Cocker she has walked and says hello too.

Should I practise now with a doll holding?  Or just play it by ear and go with what "mom" wishes?
I'm panicking myself lol at holding a newborn it's been a while

hi
congrots on your new grandbaby
when we bought our little boy home 5yrs ago we sat car seat on floor the cats came for sniff hector and my old pointer dax were more intrested in me once the had cuddles they sniffed baby and came back to me
when baby stuff arrived we let pointers and cats see new stuff but they were more intresed in boxs
dax my old girl was very protetive over my baby and i.my little one had slight juandic so we sat out in sun if hector came near dax told him off
dax never really left my side
mother got dax when my brother was teenager so she was used to children
hector was 3yr at time and loved small person
my cats never really botherd we got pram and cot nets but did not need them
my little one was never left alone with pointers and cats
my little one and hector are best of friends
i think it is just common sense and nowing your cats and dogs

I'd get your dog used to a dog gate, across the doorway where grandchild will spend most time.

Then you can play it by ear depending on how child and dog respond to each other allow supervised access to each other.

Stair Gate on stairs already been up 2+ years to stop him going upstairs and give cats a breathing space. Used to have one in kitchen but put that awaya few months ago.

Thinking always supervised the worry I have is dog picking up my daughter in law wary of dog meeting baby.it's taken a while to stop waving hands in air when meeting him . I know she isn't dog friendly and encouraged my son to be calmer and not wind dog up in garden!
It's hard when your not the mom bringing baby in!

Congratulations!!
Play by ear and as you say you wouldn't leave fur babies and people babies together,
Just a word of advice here, (as a dog lover over a child lover)
Watch the baby's hands and feet, they can lash out something chronic, worse the older they get...I'm constantly petrified when my girl is around kids in case they hit, pull or poke at her... I'd go mad
I hope this isn't stating the obvious, but in my line of work (dog training) I constantly deal with dog/baby situation!! I normally want to hit my head of each wall in thier house
Hope you manage the holding part lol (I'm horrific at that too lol)
Best wishes
Jess

Thank you  mom over due now so we play waiting game.  I'll be on alert for a while re hands/feet waving about. I have travel cot ready for upstairs use and stair gate already on stairs (cats have their space away from dog. Funnily enough no one seems worried re the cats save me looking for cat nets! Both my cats hear a noise and run away fast!
Cooking for the parents to be tomorrow unless we have developments overnight.

Ahh bless, cats are fab never see mine unless it's dinner time or he want a hug :) same as my dog really, the two of them are just so independent lol... sometimes God help me I just want a black cat in my arms and an akita on my knee lol
Jess