I have a four week old baby and two 2 1/2 year old westies. Due to a difficult birth, etc our westies have been at mum and dads since the night I went into hospital - I have not seen them since then and hubby hasn't seen them for two weeks.

Our family is going to be complete tomorrow - doggies are coming home and I am looking for any advice/suggestions/thoughts that you can offer to help ensure that doggies take to baby okay.

We also have a dilemma, until our baby was born, our westies were our babies (and they still are of course), sleeping in our bedroom and more often than not in our bed. Since they have been at mum and dad's our extension has been finished and we have moved into our new bedroom. Should, after them not being here for 4 weeks we try settling them in the kitchen at night (as although our bed has not been renewed our bedroom has) or might they resent baby for it...ie, baby arrives and we are banned from bedroom at night

.......sorry for the gibbering, am just getting really worried - want everything to go okay tomorrow

Thanks.

Oh thats easy to answer:

We had a cat when my son was born. Our landlord a shephard. Now our son came home. Me frightened. Why?/ It was a huge dog. But he greeted him very good. Later on my son could crawl he ate from the doggy bowl. The huge shep did not mind. But he mind when my son was trying to take his play stick outside the living room. ALso here he was very gentle. HE took the other site of the stick and was pulling gently. He knew that my son was trying to hold it tight. So the shep did not let loose but he stopped pulling. He waited, then when my son let loose then the dog took to stick and left with it. I never have seen such a gentle dog. This dog was abused. He came to our landlord. He was frighten. But the ice melt he was a very gentle giant.

You have to let the dog sniff at the baby. And all the baby stuff. If teh dog wants to lick at the baby so let him. Do not push him away. You hold the baby call the dog. You must make room for him to sit near you. In the bedroom: does the baby lay right next to you in bed bring the dog in too. Because he was there first. But keep an ear. If he starts to growl then he gets thrown out. Or in the doggy box.

But over all. Dogs do accept babie's. They knew that there is something before you knew that you are pregnant. Dog's can smell it faster then you can think off.

I had a labrador and a dalmatian when I had my son, and I had to be in hospital a week. When I was still in the hospital my husband would bring back the baby clothes (and my nighties!) and let the dogs have a good sniff at them, so they had a clue what the baby smelt like. Then when I got home at last I greeted the dogs first (what a wonderful welcome that was:) :)) and then did what the midwife told me - I put the carrycot on the floor and the dogs had a good sniff and lick at him, and then came back to me for reassurance when he squirmed and cried!

Bless them, they were wonderful. I made sure I let them come up and watch at nappy-changing, and feeds etc, so they didn't feel they were being pushed out. We'd sit on the sofa all together - all one big 'pack' together.

Bear in mind that terriers have more of a 'prey drive' with small creatures, so take care and watch how they react to the baby's crying etc. Try to keep their routine the same as much as you can, as it is very easy for them to feel jealous. I personally would have them sleeping in the kitchen, but then I like my dogs to sleep there anyway - it may be too late to try to move them now.