Chaz Moms and Moms-to-Be Chat (everyone welcome)

[AllisonPitbullLvr]

Originally Posted by jenv101

You're in Canada I assume? Whereabouts? I'm using a midwife too and I LOVE the whole experience so far. We are lucky that they are covered under our healthcare (in *most* provinces).

You have to upload your photo to a hosting site such as Photobucket or Flickr and then post the link using the insert image button. Have you tried that?

I'm in southern Ontario. I was really lucky to get a midwife in my area because they're in super high demand. I called as soon as I found out and still got turned away by one practice!

I tried posting using tapatalk but this forum only let's me post that way in certain places? I'll try with my photo bucket account once I'm on a real computer.

[jenv101]

Originally Posted by AllisonPitbullLvr

I'm in southern Ontario. I was really lucky to get a midwife in my area because they're in super high demand. I called as soon as I found out and still got turned away by one practice!

Nice, so am I (London)! There are waiting lists down here for Midwives.

All of you ladies with high energy dogs, I feel your worry! Especially for the first few months it's going to be challenging I'm sure. I will be relying on my husband to do most of the exercising/training for those first few months.

We are going to get them used to being in their crates while we are home as well since I don't want them loose all day when I'm home by myself with baby. They are normally in their crates when we are at work so while they are used to that part, they are not used to being in them when we are at home unless it's bedtime.

[AllisonPitbullLvr]

I'm in a tiny town north of Guelph (but work and spend most of my time there.)

My concern is that my DH is not interested in doing anything with/for the dogs. Here's hoping he likes evening baby duty then!

[NicoleLJ]

ummm have you guys thought of teaching them place commands and certian behaviours while you are pregnant so that when baby is born they are already used to the routine? Some of the ones my girls are already trained for, including Daya who is a 6 month old white swiss shepherd or Berger Blanc Suisse.

Breast pump comes out they run to their place and stay their till it is put away.
Play mat is put on floor they all lay down and can lay next to it but not touching the mat
meals are being eated they run to their place and stay their till dishes are put on the counter
Swing is moving they can't come within 2 feet of it
Bouncy chair is out they can't come within two feet of it.
People visit they get to greet then go to their places till told
Already know how to walk with a stroller
have to lay next to the car seat

These are just some of the things I have been teaching Luna and Daya the past several months. That way they don't have to be crated. Plus they are both trained to exercise on the treadmill if I can't take them out into the yard and Doug can't take them for a run.

Just some ideas. Sheena already has been trained in all this.

[Barbara!]

I baby-mom-envious people welcome here as well? Lol. I want a baby.

[jenv101]

Thanks Nicole - great ideas! I don't have any baby stuff yet but will definitely be getting them used to it once I do.

My dogs are quite insane, clumsy, and are much more act before they think, despite lots of training and exercise, so crating will be done when I'm home alone during the day I'm sure. It's their daily routine as it is, so that part is not much of a change. They are used to getting most of their activity in the evening.

That is just my idea of the first few months, but who knows, things could change! Maybe they will surprise me and be much better than I am picturing in my head lol.

[AllisonPitbullLvr]

Good points Nicole. My younger (he'll be six when the baby is born) dog is a constant work in progress but his basics are pretty good. We are in an adult obedience clicker class right now to get everything cemented in his brain. We're working on getting him to go to his bed, no matter what, and stay there. We are brushing up on his door manners which is tough because right now we hardly ever get visitors but will be inundated when the baby is born. Etc. So we definitely realized the importance of starting early.

My old dog, she's nearly 13, doesn't have many habits I'm worried about but anything that DOES crop up will be hard to address as she has two torn cruciate ligaments, a bum shoulder, is slowly starting to lose some cognitive function and has terrible arthritis. She's happy and we (ok, I) let her get away with most anything because she's such a good girl. We'll see how she adjusts.

[milos_mommy]

Does anyone who has a child have a dog who either had aggression issues, or a dog who had never ever been around babies or children before?

[jenv101]

Originally Posted by Greenmagick

Oh and my first recommendation to parents to be - read The Baby Book by Dr. Sears.

This is on my to-read list already! I will be starting it when I'm done with the birth books.

I'm going to attempt baby wearing and cloth diapers, so anyone who wants to recommend stuff, feel free! We are taking a babywearing class next weekend actually.

Co-sleeping and breast feeding are also high on my list. I have BF books on my to-read list as well.

[AllisonPitbullLvr]

No aggression issues here thankfully.

The one baby item we purchased already was a ring sling. Obi doesn't jump up but I think he would in the case so that he could see the baby. So we got it early so that we can practice.

My dogs are great with infants and toddlers, it's the crawling stage that weirds them out!