LOL North.....I wish that newspaper thing would work, hopefully he will be gone soon. I have 3 terrific dogs, they just need more stability. Thanks for the laugh....I sure needed it.
just a suggestion, i think that it is also important that when your child is old enough, to teach the child how to be gentle with the dog. i saw something on t.v about that and they showed how some kids would end up upsetting the dog by pulling at it or hitting it and the dog would get upset and strike.
i only have cats and i have been somewhat able to teach my children to leave them alone especially when they see their tales pounding up and down.
you know i wonder? do you think that a dog can sense the baby in our belly and kind of be a little use to it when the baby comes home.
robin
[QUOTE=Valerie_I have noticed however that I cant stand the sight of him or my cat this whole pregnancy which in a way makes me feel bad but I am chalking it upto hormones.[/QUOTE]
Valarie, this is what happened to me. I can't explain it. I love my dog and he's a great dog!! He has no obedience problems whatsoever. It may be because I tripped over him a few times and that scared me. He LOVES to be under our feet and that's a bad combination when you're pregnant...duh!! I am 3+ weeks PP, and I'm not feeling 100% happy with my dog just yet. I will say that it's better. I agree, it could be the hormones!
I did make the mistake of not preparing my dog for this baby. It is SO important. I didn't think I needed to because my dog is so good. Well, like I said HUGE mistake. He was freaking out the day we brought Noah home, he kept howling and barking! We had to lock him up in our study all night!! It was like that scene from Something About Mary when the dog's in the bathroom. He wanted out so bad. It took a couple of days, but he really freaked out.
It wasn't fair to him, we didn't prepare him. The funny thing is that the baby isn't bothered by him in the least!! We were so worried that his barking would wake him up, but it seems that our dog is more bothered then the baby!! LOL
I have two retired greyhounds and a rat terrier. Total opposites but they are the best, never in my wildest dreams would I think these guys would attack or bite. They do get alittle jumpy. I just managed to teach one of my seven year old greys to sit which I thought was the best thing in the world because she is either a really good actor or shes really stupid. I talked to the vet the other day because of some strange behaviors one of my dogs has been displaying and she said that they may be able to sense a change coming, that being the baby(she said they can sense pregnancy, wierd huh) and said to watch how they act with each other and with us because it can start aggressive behavior. I suppose the same with a child and feeling neglected. I am always under a watchful eye whether or not they are near someone that is new to them or a young child just because you never know what can happen. Like I said these guys are the best dogs ever but you never know what will happen. Whether it be a pit or a layed back greyhound you just need to be aware. I do feel bad for the bad press the pit bulls get, I think just because of the power they have doesnt mean they are going to be anymore aggressive until they have been taught that. But like I said never truly TRUST a dog around children, be aware and yes training is a biggy!!!!!!
I too couldn't agree MORE with North of 60!!!! I have 4 dogs! All of which are rescues. 2 of which are Border Collies. A very very intense breed. They need a lot of interaction with their owners, and some kind of activity that involves their brain......and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have gone through training classes with 3 of them. I wished I had done it a long long time ago with my other dogs. They gain so much from it, as do I. The bond between human and dog when training is very very strong! I do agility training with all 4. And 1 is even a therapy dog. None of these activites will cease when the baby comes. Perhaps not as much, but I won't stop. I know they need this constant training to be healthy happy dogs.
A dog is not a thing, or property. You must work with him/her as you would a child. The alpha training is an excellent method for a strong willed breed as the pit. They are absolutley wonderful companion dogs! But they take their ques from their handlers. If you can't be the alpha with them, set them up to suceeed, then you are doomed to failure. A year old dog is a puppy. They will have puppy behaviors for a quite a while more.
Please take North of 60's! She knows of which she speaks. If you aren't going to take the time to train, then yes, please find your dog a good home.
Oh, I didn't mention that one of my Border Collies is deaf. And with the signs I've taught him, and the training we've done, I can trust him implicitly with an infant. BUT......that doesn't mean I'm not getting a play pen for my child so the dogs don't bother him!!!!!!!
My dogs have been my children up until this point. They won't stop being my only children, but I wouldn't give them up for the world! But this relationship took time, hard work, and patience.
I am 3+ weeks PP, and I'm not feeling 100% happy with my dog just yet. I will say that it's better. I agree, it could be the hormones!
