[ra5146]

Any suggestions ??
Menna is a very spoilt basset and I'm afraid I have let her training slip because of news we had 11 weeks ago, my daughter is pregnant and the baby has a congenital heart desease and will need at least 3 open heart surgeries if the baby is accepted for surgery, we are trying to be positive and looking ahead to the birth in approx 7 weeks. Because of the babys condition if the baby does come home from hospital she and her husband are going to live with us during the week so she is not on her own with the baby while her husband is in work.I have taken Menna to a friends house where her grandson was and she didn't want to leave the baby alone she wasn't nasty just very interested.I don't want to restrict Menna to a room on her own and wondered if anyone has any suggestions, I have a chow and my daughter has a rescue staffordshire cross who will be coming with them but they don't seem worried about other peoples babies.

 

[sadeyes2]

My guy doesn't see many babies but when he does he is very interested, and I have to say gentle, the same with young children. I wonder if the more Menna was exposed to babies, the more blase she would become in their presence.

Sorry about the problems with the baby. Know this must be a worying time.

 

[Bev]

Copper adores babies and little kids! I have a home daycare, so he has been exposed to them his whole life. But other bassets I have been around have also been very good with kids.

Copper is really bad about jumping up on people, but he never jumps on kids. He will, however, lick their faces. Even the babies, he's got to sniff them out, but he's extremely gentle with them.

Once Copper has checked them out, it's like any other new toy. He eventually leaves them alone!

I am hoping for the best for the baby. I'm sure this must be a very difficult time.

 

[2hounds]

My 2 are both good with babies and kids. Just keep an eye on things. Good luck and my thoughts are with you, I know this is all difficult.

~Heather

 

[copsmom]

My Copper isn't crazy about babies because my dogs are not exposed to them often but I think he will ajust fine.

 

[clarejon]

sorry for the sad news. i hope everything works out ok.

snoops comes across my nieces and nephews once a month or so. She always follows the smallest around everywhere he goes. even when he was just in his pram as a baby or even now when he's waddleing about!

She does however jump up at him and twice she has bounced about him as if she is asking him to play. at that stage we shout NO and remove Snoopy from all of us by putting her in the kitchen or garden etc.

Once Amelia (then one years old) fell over in the garden. Snoops was just falling asleep, she must of seen it and came to her rescue before even we could get to the child - so cute!

im sure Menna will be fine after a while. Its not like a new born is going to be doing much for the first few months and Menna will be already used to her smells etc by the time the baby starts sitting up and crawling etc.

 

[Aruuuu]

One thing to keep in mind is that the baby will not be moving around on its own -- therefore, interaction should be minimal at best. Many years ago, when we brought home our first of four children, we had a cocker and a Westie, both 8 years old and very 'indulged'. As soon as I came in the door with baby Daniel, we introduced them. The dogs were very interested, sniffing the newcomer from head to toe, particularly the diaper area! Whenever I nursed the baby, I'd sit in the middle of the couch, a dog to either side. When the baby cried, both dogs were right there to see what was the matter. Would I have left my infant on the floor, unattended, with both dogs? Never. But I also didn't push the dogs away from the baby when they showed concern or general interest. It worked for us, through all four infants.

I think your attitude, and your daughter's, will greatly determine how Menna does with the baby, and I think she could very well become this child's surrogate auntie!

I do hope this little babe does well, that life is long and good. Please keep us updated......

 

[ra5146]

Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts and encouragement . I think I'm just and trying to make sense of things that are going on that I have no control over. Menna is a great dog but very enthusiatic and I really didn't want to change her life too much but if we are lucky and the baby comes home I'm sure we will work it out,just another form of letting of steam for me I suppose and something different to worry about.

 

[BubbaLeroy]

Bogie had never been around babies, but he was wonderful around my little grandson when they came to visit. He was two months the first time, and Bogie followed everywhere they went. We laid the little guy on the floor when they first got here and let him sniff him from head to toe with hubbby holding his collar. After that Bogie was in love, BUT we were always right there when the little guy was where Bogie could get to him.
You might bring something of the baby's home from the hospital with the baby's scent on it, like a blanket, etc. and let Menna smell it and get familiar with the smell. My son did this with his dog before they brought the baby home. Zeus was fine with the new addition, and just be sure you give Menna lots of TLC so she doesn't get jealous. Hold the baby and pet Menna at the same time, etc. I hope things will go well for the Baby.

 

[chandlerT]

I know that my two, when they see the children down the street, would much rather be with them then me! They whine and cry when we can't go play with the kids.

Also, a hospital in San Antonio has a seminar every few months or so for expectant mothers with dogs. They have this entire class where you bring your dogs and they have dirty diapers and crying babies and stuff to let your dogs get used to the sights and sounds... I think when the time comes for my husband and I to start a family I might be willing to make the 7 hour trip to attend that seminar. I wonder if other places have the same...

 

[ra5146]

I know that my two, when they see the children down the street, would much rather be with them then me! They whine and cry when we can't go play with the kids.

Also, a hospital in San Antonio has a seminar every few months or so for expectant mothers with dogs. They have this entire class where you bring your dogs and they have dirty diapers and crying babies and stuff to let your dogs get used to the sights and sounds... I think when the time comes for my husband and I to start a family I might be willing to make the 7 hour trip to attend that seminar. I wonder if other places have the same...[/b]

Menna also loves children especially if they or on skates or bikes but the only baby she has seen she was fasinated by and wouldn't leave his basket we were there nearlly 2 hrs but he he didn't cry so I couldn't test that out perhaps I will have to try again. That seems like a great seminar in San Antonio but too far for us to travel, they don't seem to have anything like that in the UK.