I don’t want to call Ceaser- September 15, 2011
I feel like I need to give an update on the status of baby-dog relations in our house. Now that Charlotte is walking, a few things have changed and we need some advice from more seasoned parents of canine and human babies.
Since the first Christmas we were married back in 2005, Ginger has been top dog around our house. We always joke that our little rescue purposely looked innocent and sad to lure us into becoming the suckers who pick up her poop, buy her organic treats, and carry her around. Like all expectant parents we swore she would never be dethroned and that she would always be our
“original baby.” All things considered, I think we’ve done a pretty good job, but I’d be lying if I said Ginger still got the same amount of walks. (We used to walk her, no exaggeration, 4-5 times a day. She’s down to 2 now.)
When we brought Charlotte home from the hospital Ginger was intrigued by this new little creature and protective of “her baby.” She never minded people picking up the baby, but Dave and Trish’s dog got near Charlotte when she was a newborn in her bouncy seat and Ginger lost her doggie mind!
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| Baby, meet your dog. November 4, 2010, the day we brought her home. So tiny! |
Ginger gave the baby a daily sniff as she grew into a roller and a sitter. She became a little more weary as Charlotte crawled and cruised her way into later infancy. When she became a mover, she wanted to pull up on Ginger and grab and pull at her hair. Now, our new little walker is like a stumbling drunk and falls on Ginger all the time. The poor dog is such a trooper.
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| The gruesome twosome back when Charlotte was about 4 or 5 months old. |
We try to monitor the baby around dog at all times. We DO NOT let Charlotte around Ginger while she’s eating food or treats because Ginger is very territorial about her food. Ginger loves sitting under the high chair for sure. We’ve only had one little incident where Ginger barked and gave a warning snap to Charlotte when she grabbed her tail. I still feel like a walking baby is cramping the dog’s style. So I’m thinking of consulting a professional. We don’t need Cesar Milan. I don’t think it’s gone that far and we’re not in the Greater Los Angeles area, so I think a home visit from the Dog Whisperer is out.
I wish I had heard of Dogs and Storks back when I was pregnant. There are consultants in our area and I’m wondering if anyone has ever used a service like this. How can we teach the baby to be more gentle with the dog? How can we keep the dog from being nervous around the baby when she’s stumbling around? Anyone out there have experience with this?
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| A girl and her dog. It’s a beautiful thing. |
You're on the right track. We are parents to an 8 yr old 70 lb Rottweiler, a soon to be 4 yr old and a 3 month old. The single best thing to keep in mind, always, is never trust anyone. When dd1 was in the crawling, walking stage, she LOVED the dog and needed to be near her. That kiddo went to the bathroom with me until she was 2 at which point I realized it was easier to put the dog out in the yard for 15 min than keep 2 yr old safe in the bathroom while I showered.
Until the kiddo can be trusted, every single interaction at our house involves repetitions of gentle and demonstrations of gentle. We have dd1 feed the dog – with the dog out of the laundry room where the food is and dog not permitted to enter until given permission.
I actually have more of a difficult time with my moms 3 yr old havanese than I do with our rottie. That is a constant battle of dominance and I am dreading little miss getting mobile there.
I must admit your baby and dog look very close, However my brother had this with his son and the dog does tell him off, he never bites him just growls and my brother then steps in and says he doesnt want you to do that, thats hurting him and move him away he has learnt to be more gentle with him now and they dont have that many problems anymore