What can do we do if dog doesn’t accept baby?

[Anonymous]

Your only options are to rehome the dog now, or wait until you a pregnant and rehome the dog then.

Rehoming now gives you more time to find the right fit. Rehoming once you are pregnant gives you more time with the dog.

It is not safe to bring a baby into a house with a reactive dog.

[Anonymous]

If he becomes reactive to the baby you will re home him. You won’t hesitate because you will be very protective. I think it’s likely he will since the stress/change level will explode in the house. But the decision will not be as hard as you think.

[Anonymous]

We had twins and a small dog who loved only us. He didn't worry too much about them when they were babies. They didn't do anything to bother him. When they started moving, we kept the areas where the kids were gated off from the dog areas for several years.

Wasn't easy, but we knew we couldn't trust him 100% with the kids and realistically we couldn't trust the kids not to hurt him too.
When they were around 4, he realized that they were higher on the pack order that he was and stopped bothering them.

A few years later when he developed heart failure, we would often find him snuggled next to one of the kids for comfort. I think they made him comfortable during his last years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had twins and a small dog who loved only us. He didn't worry too much about them when they were babies. They didn't do anything to bother him. When they started moving, we kept the areas where the kids were gated off from the dog areas for several years.

Wasn't easy, but we knew we couldn't trust him 100% with the kids and realistically we couldn't trust the kids not to hurt him too.
When they were around 4, he realized that they were higher on the pack order that he was and stopped bothering them.

A few years later when he developed heart failure, we would often find him snuggled next to one of the kids for comfort. I think they made him comfortable during his last years.

Had your dog bitten before?

I’m guessing you stayed home or had local family to help because that sounds like a whole pain in the ass for working parents

[Anonymous]

I had a dog that I babied- 7lbs and traveled the world with me. When our first child was born, the dog was NOT a fan. We tried everything. I felt very "touched out" by the colicky baby, so holding a dog for the rest of the day that the baby wasn't in my arms wasn't an option. Kind of heartbreaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had twins and a small dog who loved only us. He didn't worry too much about them when they were babies. They didn't do anything to bother him. When they started moving, we kept the areas where the kids were gated off from the dog areas for several years.

Wasn't easy, but we knew we couldn't trust him 100% with the kids and realistically we couldn't trust the kids not to hurt him too.
When they were around 4, he realized that they were higher on the pack order that he was and stopped bothering them.

A few years later when he developed heart failure, we would often find him snuggled next to one of the kids for comfort. I think they made him comfortable during his last years.

Had your dog bitten before?

I’m guessing you stayed home or had local family to help because that sounds like a whole pain in the ass for working parents

Only when he was a puppy.
We worked and during the day, the dog went to doggy daycare (to get some energy out) as the kids went to day care. It was a pain but we were willing to do it as we suspected as the kids got older he would back off (he did the same with one of our nieces before the twins were born.)

[Anonymous]

Euthanize the dog. Get a new one when the kids are older.

[Anonymous]

Your baby comes first. PERIOD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he becomes reactive to the baby you will re home him. You won’t hesitate because you will be very protective. I think it’s likely he will since the stress/change level will explode in the house. But the decision will not be as hard as you think.

Yeah, that'll be lovely. Do nothing now. Wait until the dog growls or gives the baby a dirty look and dump it at the closest kill shelter because there is 'no other option'. Except that the OP has pretty much all of the options now and can certainly make a better plan for the dog she claims to love. Wow.

[Anonymous]

OP, I second the recommendation to check out Dog Meets Baby on Instagram. She is amazing and there is lots of free content, but in your shoes, I’d go ahead and buy her course. I think she may also do 1:1 consults.

I would just consider if you are willing to never, ever let your guard down for the entire rest of your dog’s life. Bites happen in a second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You wont know until you have a baby but even if your dog is essentially a floor rug, you still never leave the two alone, ever. I have a great dog but I dont leave him alone with my under 10 yr old kids. Their unpredictability stresses him out. A toddler is really stressful to a dog.

This is key. I taught a toddler swim class many years ago. I will never forget hearing that one of my students was attacked by the family dog when she was 18 months old. The dog eas older, sweet and had never bitten anyone before. 200 stitches, just in her face. It was horrible. Dogs are unpredictable. Please err on the side of caution.

[Anonymous]

Rehoming will be very difficult with a bite history and it 100 percent has to be disclosed.

I would not be comfortable bringing a baby into this dynamic, and the baby has to come first.

If I were you, I’d start the process of trying to find him a new home immediately because it will take time and you make need to consider an alternative.

[Anonymous]

There are tips on these intros on you tube.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your baby comes first. PERIOD.

There isn't any baby yet! This is a hypothetical baby!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Euthanize the dog. Get a new one when the kids are older.

Have you ever euthanized a dog? How cruel and heartless you are. Dog shouldn't be killed when there is no baby.