The first grandchild is due in a couple of weeks and Jamie and Alison think it would be a good idea to give me a blanket or item of clothing from the baby for my lot to get used to the baby's scent.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

Good idea, especially if the baby will be living with you or close by so that it will be a frequent visitor. It also would not hurt to accustom the dog/s to the "strange" squeals and other sounds a baby makes.

Noooo noooo won't be living with me!

I probably won't encourage them to bring him over for a while, I need to have a strategy in my mind as to how I am going to introduce him to the dogs, mostly because the wang-eyed fool is very easily spooked by children, and he has never been around a baby, the Pointers will be curious, and though I don't expect either of them to be a problem, I know a squealing wriggling thing could be seen as prey, so again, I need to think on it all.

Congrats Tracey!

I wouldn't make too big deal out of it. As long as the dogs have been exposed to "people" (each one smells different) coming and going and they're respectful to guests, a grand baby should be no different.

Make sure their obedience is up to par, uninterrupted supervision, enough bodies to manage the dog to human ratio, ensuring calm interactions of both the dogs and dog/humans.

On a side note, we don't allow Vince near children. Some dogs just don't have what it takes.

Yet on the other hand, the grand daughter was here last weekend. In a spontaneous moment, the son got video of Grandpa and me walking Echo down street, gently holding baby (16 months) on his back. Baby did not stop smiling and giggling. The daughter in law said it was the cutest thing she had ever seen.

Still waiting for the video and pictures.

As you know, Echo does therapy work though. Rock solid. The husky is old and has never laid teeth to anything living, even in some extreme circumstances, small child fell on him and was hit by an older child, out of the blue. He just shakes it off.

Vince, nope. That’s a no brainer. And the chihuahua/min pin would just piss on her so he's off limits as well.

You know your dogs best. It's not going to be a big deal to a dog if they don't get to meet the baby right away. Our sixteen month old grand baby has only met our social dogs twice now.

Again Congrats!

I'm interested in what you say about Vince, because I have this itch at the base of my spine that says Kaiser and maybe even Sugar are just too big and unproven around strange adults, let alone children/babies, my aged p's are too doddery to be around the Boerboels, they haven't even met them, and they were 4 this last week, I don't want to be that paranoid person, but equally, I don't want to rush them into situations where I won't be able to help but be anxious.

I think maybe I will hang fire for a month or two.

That itch is telling you all you need to know. Little ones are just too fragile to be around that kind of rambunctiousness.

Humans need to be above the pups, regardless of the size or shape they come in. Vince's apathy towards guests and the lack of understanding of most people that this is not submission on his part, has people almost as unpredictable as he has the potential to be.

We always err on the side of caution and everyone is the happier (and healthier) for it. When in doubt, just remove the pup and go for nice long walk when they leave. If you're like me, you'll probably need it.

"Noooo noooo won't be living with me!"

So what are you trying to say here? The baby won't be living with you?


I'm with CJ about there being lots of dogs who are fine in a family with no kids, but who are better off (along with the humans) not having to interact with visiting babies and young kids.

I also agree that it's no big deal that the dog doesn't get to interact. I err on the side of caution, too.

Yeah I agree with you, Kaiser bless him is a big load and when Alison's boys come over he only has to walk past the little one and he staggers!

I'm not at all prepared for this experience, I don't even know what the bean should call me, I just don't feel ready to be grandma/nanna/nanny/, I was thinking Ma'am

No you are right, it isn’t necessary for them to interact with him – in the near future at least - it’s just something that would bother me and the dog/s, and it isn’t fair on them to put them under that sort of stress, and Kaiser really does get spooked by anything out of the ordinary, he is my sweet boy, but a bit ‘special’

 Quote: tracey holden

... I'm not at all prepared for this experience, I don't even know what the bean should call me, I just don't feel ready to be grandma/nanna/nanny/, I was thinking Ma'am

Ms. Holden?