My husband and I have a 6-month old baby. We hope to get a Leerburg puppy. As much as we are able, we want to make a wise decision on timing the introduction of a puppy to our family.

Our instinct is that no time is a good time, meaning that all times will have pros and cons and their own share of difficulties. For example, right now our baby cannot crawl or walk. Therefore, if I need to take care of the puppy, I can put the baby somewhere safe and not worry. However, at 6 months, our baby is not yet at a stage where he entertains himself very long and needs a lot of attention. If we wait till he is walking and playing more independently (crawling out of cribs), I can't leave him somewhere safely while I tend to the dog. We don't consider waiting until he is several years old an option as we hope to have more children.

Our instincts are not founded on experience--we have never raised a puppy with a baby or even just a puppy (and until just 6 months ago we had no experience with babies). Therefore we turn to you for wisdom and advice on the timing.

I don't think timing is the issue here, I think planning is. If you decide on getting a working puppy you must have a plan how do you care for both babies at the same time.

Well you have to be dedicated and determine. Setup a schedule and let them the baby and puppy be around each other but never by themselves always supervised. The thing is to set a schedule based on their sleep and activity patterns. All babies play, sleep, eat and then theres maintenance.

Bring them up together sets up a unbreakable bond and pack within the family. You avoid the getting to know you stage as in new adolesent or full grown dog, so you are less likely to have jocking for positions and growling at the child or any member of the pack.

It will be like caring for two babies, but the puppy is easier to care for. They can be potty trained in weeks, they can play by themself with toys for long minutes, so can the human baby. But he won't be able to be potty trained until 15-24 months, thats a lot of diapers.

With the human baby its constant care and diaper changing.

Don't pick the baby up all the time, setup a time to play, sleep and eat. You want to love the child not spoil it. The baby will have a less stressful life if you do. And you will sleep sounder. Until the baby is on schedule, finding sleep, quite evening or mournings and rest will be hard.


I'd suggest a Crate, dog toys like a kong, puppy proofing the house also helps when the baby starts crawling.

I think they will grow up best friends.

That was good sound advice. I have always had puppy's and baby's raised together, but in a different enviorment than we are in now. We use to live in the country so there was no problem with giving the child and the dog their own space. Now we are city people and my pup is in the house more with the family and my youngest son who will be 3. I use baby gates to keep them seperated I never leave them unsupervised together and I limit their interaction time and always make sure it ends on a positive note. My young son is learning how to act around a dog, and my dog is learning what is appropriate behavior around not just my children but all children. I think it's great to raise them together because their bond will be stronger and your chldren will learn how to interact with animals in the right way. Just remember to supervise all interactions between them and NEVER leave them alone together no matter what breed you decide to get. Best of luck to you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

God bless you. I have a 3 month old and I could not see adding a puppy to the mix right now. Of course I have two other children plus my adult dog as well........my only advice would be think it over REAL good. Don't bite off more than you can chew. I am certainly not going to say don't get the pup....but make sure you are 100% certain you have the time to deal with everything.

One other advantage of raising a baby and a puppy together: according to recent research, the child will be far less prone to allergies and asthma in later life!

Dave, I recently saw that same information on a newscast not long ago..

" Don't pick the baby up all the time, setup a time to play, sleep and eat. You want to love the child not spoil it. The baby will have a less stressful life if you do. "

Well, Don....(I think you are referring to the human baby in that statement,correct?)I am a mother of 4 girls and I do not agree w/ that.I immediately picked up my young baby if they would cry.Research will back me up on that habit. A baby that is comforted right away grows into a more secure child, as in the infant stage of life it is immpossible to spoil a baby.They cry to communicate a need, and it is best to figure out and meet that need asap.
Anyway, this is not a childcare forum so I'll move on.......

Dawn, and Chuck, CONGRATULATIONS on your babies!!

Dawn, I actually got my second GSD when my 4th daughter was 3 1/2 months old.The dog and the baby are about 6 weeks apart!( dog is younger) It was ALOT of work!!!However, I have had dogs all of my life, and was not returning to full time work, so I figured what the hell, what's one more addition to the nut house????

In your case, I would be a little more cautious. It is really a piece of cake to raise them together but very time consuming. I feel that you have to be very flexible, go with the flow, and expect chaos to be the norm to some extent.

What I mean by this is: Scenario....... yes you can say ok, every am at 6 I will give puppy breakfast. But then the baby wakes up at 5:45am and needs a feeding.( if you breast feed it is a longer time frame here)so now it is 6:15 and puppy is not fed, and baby goes back to sleep. So you put down the baby and then the puppy hears you and starts to whine and yap for faster attention.Well, now the baby startles and begins to cry! You quickly pick up the baby in one arm and with the other arm let the puppy out and scoop it up and take it out the back door..Next stop is back to the kitchen for the 6 am feeding. Except it's 7 am by now.....

Things like this are a fact of life, and just don't get freaked out and stressed over them.

It is critical that you give both babies,(as you have already been told)the PROPER attention, so only you can answer your own question of when the timing is right. It is not dependant on the age of the child so much as your personal capabilities. Some people multi task very nicely, others do not. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I suggest you take alot of time to consider carefully your capabilities, and read and familiarize yourself with how to raise a puppy. Ed's tape "Your puppy 8 wks to 8 mos."is an EXCELLENT tape, it is a basic puppy 101 tape, and I highly recommend you get it. I would also try to find a club or group or trainer that you can use as a resourse if you have questions( in addition to this board of course!!)

Good Luck!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Jean wrote - So you put down the baby and then the puppy hears you and starts to whine and yap for faster attention.Well, now the baby startles and begins to cry! You quickly pick up the baby in one arm and with the other arm let the puppy out and scoop it up and take it out the back door.

My Reply - Dawn you have to have your proities straight don't let the puppy dictate anything. Instead of picking the puppy up with the human baby in arms. Take care of your child first let the puppy know from jump where it is in the pack. At most if the puppy starts whining go see about him, while feedig the baby, at most put a toy in its crate or baby fence area, say some kinds words and finish taking care of your child.

Dogs/puppies do get use to schedules but just like a babies cry if the little tyke is barking then he/she is "OK". They may need diaper changing or feeding but thats just maintenance its not an emergency.

Don't let the fact that you have a puppy and a baby run your schedule. You make the schedule and you set the schedule, if you are 30 minute or an hour off so what as long as the baby is feed and back to sleep or playing and happy then you can feed the puupy even let it run free while the babies in its crib. Play with the puppy and child let the puppy see how special you think the child is. It wil grow to know its place and like a big brother, when it grows older will protect the baby as if it was his best friend or brother.

You set the schedule don't get frustrated if life mishaps make you run over unless work or school is affected, then planning ahead always works.

You run things not the baby, and certainly not the puppy! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You see how fathers and mothers think differently.

Why not get an adult dog? Many of them are great with kids and it would avoid the huge puppy/baby headache/no life for a few years problem. Neither one will get the attention that they would otherwise with your situation.

Hmmmm,
some people mutli task very nicely, others do not <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and Don, just how many puppies and children have you raised simultaneously?? And with what results?(It's rhetorical,really.)

Dawn, Good luck on what ever you decide. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I have a leerburg pup that is now six months old and a ten month baby girl. I find that they get along well togather. My baby is now crawling and we find that thouse gates that you can get at wal-mart work to keep both baby and puppy in what room we want to. I missed the best photo when puppy was chewing on a rubber toy for her and baby came over and wanted to chew on the other side. This is my first time with a working line GSD and find her to be worth every penny that i paid. I think that if you take time to spend you free time with both babys you will find that all will work out fine. Best of luck to you.