Getting dog before or after baby?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate all the replies so far, but like I said on the OP, we are getting a dog this year, so the advice I am looking for is simply about it being before or after the baby. The decision is already made: we are getting a dog this year, not 1, 5 or 12 years from now.

Still...after.

Signed,

Two kids and two dogs

[Anonymous]

OP, have you ever had a dog? We have two that were here pre-baby and I would NEVER advise someone with small kids/about to have a baby to get a dog. I love dogs but having to monitor dog+baby/toddler constantly adds a whole other level of work and stress to life.

[Anonymous]

Not to mention the fact that, if you bring in a non-puppy, there is a real chance s/he will have attachment issues of one type or another. Bringing a baby in after that could be a real problem and set you up for a dangerous situation where the dog doesn't take kindly to the new stranger busting in on his territory. Just because the dog is friendly now doesn't mean she'll stay that way when a new, vulnerable baby is in the home.

If you get a puppy pre-baby, you may have the same problem as well as being as certified masochist.

At least if you wait until after the baby, the dog will enter the scene with the baby already there. The baby will not be seen as an intruder.

[Anonymous]

After.

But a baby and a new dog within a year of each other is a recipe for stress, anxiety and headaches. If you're getting a dog this year, your baby will be less than 2 months old when you get the dog. Sounds like a terrible idea.

Of course, if you go with "after", your plans about having a dog this year will undergo a drastic change of heart, so it will all work itself out.

[Anonymous]

Always wait until the last child you will have is 5, isn't that the rule of thumb? Or did my parents and neighbors just make that up?

[Anonymous]

Have you ever had a dog, OP? I would definitely wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you ever had a dog? We have two that were here pre-baby and I would NEVER advise someone with small kids/about to have a baby to get a dog. I love dogs but having to monitor dog+baby/toddler constantly adds a whole other level of work and stress to life.

WORD to the Nth DEGREE!!!!! OP, FWIW, I think you're nuts. But enjoy your dog!

[Anonymous]

We have a 2 year old and I am pregnant; our 14 year old dog had to be put to sleep about 2 months ago. I adored our dog but there is no way I am getting another dog until the youngest is old enough to treat the dog properly. The added layer of stress of CONSTANTLY monitoring the dog and child is exhausting. I highly recommend waiting.

[Anonymous]

Wait until preschool. I grew up with dogs and DH did a stint as a dog trainer during college.

Our LO is almost 2 and we will wait at least one year longer. Training two little ones (a dog to a baby and a baby to a dog) is a recipe for disaster!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate all the replies so far, but like I said on the OP, we are getting a dog this year, so the advice I am looking for is simply about it being before or after the baby. The decision is already made: we are getting a dog this year, not 1, 5 or 12 years from now.

Definitely after. You have no idea if you will have a good or difficult baby. Hopefully you won't have a colic baby. If you have a difficult or colicky baby, that will be very hard and will become moreso if you are trying to acclimate a dog to the household. Additionally, do you really want to have a dog that will bark 3 minutes after you have finally gotten your colicky baby to sleep (at 3am) and wake the baby up? Wait until you see what type of baby you have, what the household routine will be and how much time you'll have (some babies will take up 100% of your waking hours and still want more). Add a dog that needs to have attention and you'll find that you may push yourselves overboard. I have seen households that were on the brink of divorce after adding both baby and new pet in under a year. And I have seen some that have had no problems. But, you won't know which type of family you'll be until the baby arrives. Then you'll have a better idea when it is right to get the dog. You can schedule when to get the dog. You can't really schedule when to have the baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate all the replies so far, but like I said on the OP, we are getting a dog this year, so the advice I am looking for is simply about it being before or after the baby. The decision is already made: we are getting a dog this year, not 1, 5 or 12 years from now.

Ha! Me thinks the OP will be a first time dog owner. Good luck with that!

[Anonymous]

I have a 5 year old and I am also due in October. We recently got a family hamster and I'm already kind of wishing we had gone for a Betta fish instead.

[Anonymous]

OP here: yes, I have had dogs. I actually grew up with dogs, the first dog I had was little when I was born. The second one was still a puppy when my sister was born. My sister has two dogs, one came before kids and one came after the first and before the second. My dad is remarried and he has two dogs that were there before his kids were born. I know dogs are a lot of work. I know kids are a lot of work (I was a nanny for 8 years before having my own kids.) I am ok with that. I have a great husband who helps me with everything (from diapers to bedtime; from cleaning to making dinner) and we have a cleaning lady who comes once a week to do the deeper cleaning (fridge, windows, closets, etc.) So I am not going into this thinking it's all rainbows and unicorns. I just wanted some outside perspective on the timing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 5 year old and I am also due in October. We recently got a family hamster and I'm already kind of wishing we had gone for a Betta fish instead.

LMAO!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: yes, I have had dogs. I actually grew up with dogs, the first dog I had was little when I was born. The second one was still a puppy when my sister was born. My sister has two dogs, one came before kids and one came after the first and before the second. My dad is remarried and he has two dogs that were there before his kids were born. I know dogs are a lot of work. I know kids are a lot of work (I was a nanny for 8 years before having my own kids.) I am ok with that. I have a great husband who helps me with everything (from diapers to bedtime; from cleaning to making dinner) and we have a cleaning lady who comes once a week to do the deeper cleaning (fridge, windows, closets, etc.) So I am not going into this thinking it's all rainbows and unicorns. I just wanted some outside perspective on the timing.

OP, it's clear that you're going to do whatever you want to do, so why are you bothering us?