How do we handle our protective dachshund with our first child on the way?

[Zorro's mom]

We've had our 3 year old miniture dachshund, Zorro, since he was 9 weeks old. He has definetly been the center of our attention at home. He is very protective of us and our home. My husband and I are now expecting our first child in October. It will definetley be a transition for Zorro as well as us. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Mark]

we have no advice . . .

But we do want to welcome you and Zorro to DBB! :waving: And let you know we're glad you're here! :thumbsup:

[blazeman]

Welcome to the DBB! I hope you find this site as useful as i have! The members here are the best and can answer many of your questions!

Speaking of questions... I have one. How is Zorro around kids? There are a few different ways he could go.

1) Resentful - He might think the little one is taking away from his time. I know his time will be cut... but don't make it dramatic. try to include him!

2) Protective - He could see the baby as a member of the pack, and want to look after him like he does you!

3) Afraid - He could be afraid of the baby... mostly becasie of the crying.

How Zorro reacts could depend on how you react.

I don't have kids, but have many nieces and nephews under 10... and there have been dogs in the house for all but one. They weren't dachsies... but did very well with the kids when they were babies!

[Frzframe]

my advice would be to include him. I would like it would *almost* be like getting an older sibling used to the idea of a new baby. I'd just try to make him very comfortable with the changes, like baby things and the babies room. You might even want to take a blanket to the hospital to get the babies smell on it and then take it home so Zorro can already know the smell. My bet is he'll come around and be protective of the new addition just like he is of his mommy and dadddy.

Good luck and congrats on the new baby. Oh and welcome to the board.

~Shonda & Mitzi Moo

[onebigmickeyfan]

I agree with Shonda. Get Zorro used to the baby things being around him. Include him just as you would a child. He dosent know his isn't your natural child and you've always treated him as if he was. Including him from the start is going to help the process. Show him you love him and the baby and he'll love the baby too and be protective of the baby.

Lori, Missy, Casey and Zeke soon.
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Otto'sMom]

I've also read that you should record the sound of baby noises, ie crying, gurgling and that ear piercing shriek that they do so the dog gets used to that as well. I agree with the others about the blanket thing, and talk to your dog about it. I know it sounds crazy but what could it hurt? Tell your pup how important he is to you and the new baby and include him in some baby activities, even if it's just a gesture. You have to show him that he's just as important to you as he was before the little bundle of joy arrives

*please note "bundle of joy" comment was very difficult to type as I am not fond of children.

[willsana]

Do you know anyone with young children that your dog could meet? (and hopefully get to know) If he meets babies and tiny little people it may be easier for him to accept the new baby. And you may get an idea how he will react before the new one comes home.

Of course use caution so niether Zorro or the kiddos get frightened or injured.

Good luck -willsana

[Mandy]

Congratulations on your upcoming addition! Perhaps I can be of some help. We had our first child, Eóin, last November. Jake was three at that time, too.

I would definitely start telling Zorro about the baby. He will realize something is happening when he recognizes that your belly is changing. When I was pregnant, Jake would nap beside me and kick in his sleep. Eóin would kick right back.

Is Zorro a toy killer? Jake is notorious for being able to destuff a toy in record time. We added a new command long before Eóin was born - "no touch - baby." Jake will still destroy his own toys, but he doesn't take Eóin's.

We really never had an issue with adding Eóin. Eóin was born at home. There was never an issue of bringing home a "stranger." He was just there - according to the boys.

For now, prepare your dog. If you plan on having anything different after the baby arrives, start transitioning now - if you plan on moving his bed, changing sleeping arrangements, etc... This way he won't associate those changed with the arrival of the baby.

Start adding a few more commands. "Gentle" is a very good command to know.

After the baby comes, you really need to make the pack order clear - parents are alpha, then human children, then four legged babies. The dog needs to understand that this little being is still higher in the pack and should be respected.

Also, find some time every day after the baby comes to spend with Zorro. It can be play time, snuggle time, or whatever he likes - but make certain that one of you gives him some special attention. Even playing "laser (pointing the laser pointer for him to chase)" while you hold the baby is good.

It may take a few weeks for him to warm up to the baby, or he may accept the baby immediately. Just give him time and show him what you expect from him. I'm sure it won't be long before he is protective of his new sibling.

Protectiveness from other people is good, although you should watch him and stop any undesirable behavior immediately. Jake must sit beside anyone holding Eóin in order to make certain that they aren't hurting his brother.

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me.

mandy

[Jake's Sally]

I agree with the socializing - we just got our little weiner Jake, and knew going into it that we will have our first kid in 2 years. so we are already introducing him to the neighborhood kids, letting them squeal and totter and pet, so that he knows this is normal. (my mom's dachsies are NOT socialized, and the male has bitten two kids (one 3, one 6) because they sqealed and started to run away.) Defintly keep him leashed for these encounters, but start introducing him to kids in general.
I also heard on a tv show once (martha stewart and her guest pet expert, i think) that when you are playing with the dog now, start petting him like a kid would - be rougher with the ears, gently pull the tail, ect. - while praising him, so that when a kid does it, he doesn't feel like he is being attacked.
Good luck! and let me know how it goes, because I will need all this info in a few short years!

[dachsiemom]

We have no living children (two miscarriages), but both times I was expecting, we did some reading on prepping dogs for the new arrival. With all three of our dachsies, we've added ear-tugging/tail-tugging to the mix of play. Our oldest (and mini) doesn't care for children at all, though she's not aggressive in any way. She simply sticks near an adult she trusts, and when a little one wants to play with her, she accepts pets but that's it. Our smooth standard gal loves babies. She spent the first 15 months of her life with a toddler, and she napped with the toddler daily. Even though we haven't yet brought a baby home from the hospital, she continues to be good with babies, as we've introduced her to our niece, godson, and many others. Lady will get down at face level with a baby, even one who isn't yet crawling or sitting up, and allow that baby to poke, pet, pull. When she's had enough, she moves away, and she'll go back when she's ready for more. Again, we didn't really do anything to train her this way; it's her personality. The only thing that bothers new parents is Lady (like any dog) wants to lick. Our long-haired fellow is still a bit of a mystery to us when it comes to little people. He enjoys the attention he gets on walks, and we've been working on the tugging/pulling. None of three respond to an ear or tail tug. (They've been rewarded with lots of praise and also cheerios for not responding, so I think that helps. And Lady has even sportingly handled a twelve-month old literally grabbing her tail and dragging her out of the way---never a flinch or yip or anything.) It definitely makes sense to bring hoem blankets that smell like the baby, and also make any changes well before the baby's arrival. It avoids the whole competition issue that much more.

Sorry to go on so long . . . hope this helps! Wishing you well---I hope to be looking back at this post's advice sometime in the near future!

[doxielover@rcn.]

Tiffany was my 6 lb. LH red mini (she's now at the bridge) when my son was born. As soon as I was about 4 months pregnant, Tiffany would nest in my lap whenever I sat down. She definitely could sense something was there (oh, how smart they are). When Jeff was born, I brought home his tee shirts from the hospital and let Tiffany sleep on them. This way she would get used to his scent. I had a different situation, because not only was I bringing a new addition into the household, but I had a nurse for a week (who was another stranger to Tiffany). When we brought my son home, I took Tiffany outside and let her smell the baby while the nurse held him. She was so fascinated with him. Once she checked him over from head to toe, we brought both the baby and dog into the house. I sat with him on the sofa and let her check him over again. This was a very important process to me, because Tiffany was my baby before Jeff was born. The most fascinating thing to me was that Tiffany was a puppy until Jeff came home. She became maternal overnight. She'd sit next to him in his infant seat on the sofa. As he got older and drooled, she was there licking his drool! When he started to crawl, she followed along side him and licked his head. I never pulled her away from him; she was part of the family and I didn't want her to resent him. The one thing that scared me was the first time he pooped in his diaper and she smelled it; she dug at him. That scared me, so I called the vet who said she was treating him like her puppy; Tiffany wanted to clean him up! Needless to say, the relationship between dog and baby went very well. As soon as Jeff was able to go after her, she would seek higher ground...the top of the sofa or up the stairs. I have so many pictures of her "guarding" him. When my dad stopped by, he'd pretend he was going after the baby, and Tiffany would bark at him. My baby is 16 and now I have Frankie who will be 5 next month. She is my baby.

[Heidismom]

Hmmm - I would love to be able to offer some personal advice, but I have no children of my own - but 4 godchildren. About 6 months before the next-to-youngest was born, her cousin was a newborn. I would have Heidi-Angel there and around him. She would nap on the floor and if he whimpered or began to get fussy, she would come and get someone! Then, when Heather was born, Heidi would still watch out for the boy, and Gretl began to oversee her! Three years later, my youngest godchild was born, and the two dachsies were quite busy - both watched the baby! I never did anything special to acclimate them to the babies, so I was lucky, but they were so outgoing with people that it carried over to the tiny people, too! I do agree with the advice you're being given - move things around now, have the dog(s) get used to baby things now, and bring home baby clothes before the baby comes home, unless you are having a home birth. And, dachsiemom, I hope you will successfully carry a little one to term, and bring it home to share with your family and 3 dachsies! Julia B.

[Heide]

welcome to the best doxie board ever. You will see from all the replys here that we are just one big loving doxie family and can help with suggestions.:D
I would most definetly get him use to being around children. Let him be socialized with them of all sizes.
He will not be intimidated when your new baby arrives.
Please keep us updated on your progress.
We are here for you any time you need us.
:flower:

[doxiediva]

....and can tell you that the best way to get the puppers ready for the new baby is to do exactly what someone in a previous post said. Make sure that you play with your little barker the same way a child might. Get him/her used to ear tugs & tail pulls. Praise him/her when she/he does NOT react negatively. However, don't allow your dog to become aggressive either. This may take a little time, so be sure to start the process now. A newborn will not be a problem with this, however, believe me....newborns become mobile VERY quickly!

The other advice I have is to teach your child from an early age that they are NOT to pick the puppers up. Kids think that dachsies are soooooo cute & since they are small, then it must be okay to pick them up & play with them. This is BAAADDD!!! With the problems that dachsies have with their backs & hips, any time they are picked up by unskilled hands, there is a chance of them getting hurt. You child will probably not be deliberately hurting your pupper, but there's a good chance it could happen. When something hurts them, a dogs only defense is to snap! Working in rescue, I can't tell you how many dachsie's I have seen surrendered because they snapped at a child. Nine times out of ten, when the owner is questioned, we find out that the child had a tendancy of trying to pick the dog up! Not a good thing!

I'm happy to answer any other questions that might creep up, and I wish you and your husband all the best with the new arrival! :bounce:

[oranerob2]

We have experienced the exact situation asked about. We recently added a son and we have a awesome puppy (Sammy). After over a month home, there has been no problems. In fact Sammy loves the baby and is very curious about him. I'm very reluctant to let him too close because he is a puppy and likes to nibble. It may not hurt most, but it may hurt a baby. I actually have been working with him for months on the nibbling and he is really good at it (he starts real soft with the teeth). However, he is a puppy. But, I haven't actually seen him nibble on the baby, just worried about it.

We took the blanket idea and it seemed to work. Sammy sniffed it and started to get used to it. He never acted agressive or even barked; Sammy normally barks at everything. My advice is to introduce the baby and make sure both get the proper attention. I still play with the dog everyday and he needs that. But, don't leave them unattended because you really don't know. A playful bite could result in a bad situation.

Other notes:
- Sammy loves the dirty diapers too (yuck); beware
- He loves to steal the burp clothes and hide them
- He will look for us when the baby is crying to let us know
- Watch out for swings; the dog may try to jump up and grab the babies leg
- Try to keep things routine for the dog (i.e. feeding time)
- Let them have some moments to know each other; it will pay off in the long run
- I have been preparing Sammy for the ear pulling, tail tugging, etc; it's a good idea if the dog has never had that done to it. But, you don't need to do it overly hard, because the baby won't be that strong for a while (and the dog will run). Correct the baby the same for that as you would the dog. This creates fairness.

My goal was always have them become best friends. I see that happening. They should grow up together and help me get some rest by playing together. Good luck with the baby and the dog.

Rob