advice for dogs and babies

[schuie&alfie]

so a friend has gone and got a bun in the oven and as i spend a fair bit of time with them, either them at mine or me at theirs i'm wanting some advice for how to go about having alfie around the new born babe?? at the moment he's everyones main focus really and is a big lump so would knock a child flying.... im presuming that u cant totaly just shut them out in cold as thats when they'll get jealous etc, so how have you all found the situation and what advice can u give?
thanks in advance

[smiffy]

Ive found that my Elsa has naturally been very gentle with my children, only thing i have to watch is when she starts kissing them she dont always wanna stop lol!!! Shes not very bouncy round them but i dont know if thats just my Elsas personality. Sorry not much help

[Tookey]

Zephyr has always been bad with strangers, the only human he was good with from the start is my friends baby! He loves her and just wants to be next to her when she is around. He almost looks a little anxious when she cries etc, he acts like a mum lol! Again he does like to give her lots of kisses!

[lauraburns]

You will need to keep an eye on him, but they generally sense the vulnerability of the baby are are very gentle towards them. My brother bought my newborn nephew over to visit a few months back and Ozzie was very gentle, this was the first baby he had really seen. Although, like everyone has said, he did try to give him loads of kisses!

[LOVEGSD]

When we introduced Diesel to my friends new born, I held her and allowed Diesel to approach and sniff and then he was told to lay down so he wasn't in her face. My friends baby is now 3 and Diesel adores her and always looks out for her when we're out and about.

I wouldn't stop Alfie going near the baby, just always be vigilant and try not to exclude him from things now the baby's here.

[schuie&alfie]

ah thanks so much for advice people... he should be fine just need to be a little stricker now as he was always the main focus and is scatty as anything lol, thanks

[Stuart]

I agree with all the others,.. but why dont you buy a doll, one of these life like dolls that cry amd sqeal etc,.. get the mum to be to carry/ lay down the doll and watch for the reaction.

This is not from experience, but it is something that I have seen done on more than one dog training program

[stillalsations2me]

In general GSD's seem to be great with children.
I had an experience the other month that really surprised me, we were sat in a pub beer garden which was quite busy there was a couple with a young boy about 2 to 3 years old sat not far away. He was desperate to come over and meet Lucy so his mum asked if (he) was friendly lol, and came over to fuss her. She did everythig right got down to the childs level held his hand in hers and stroked her the correct way no prodding etc, not that she would of minded, he loved it.

Anyway about 10 minutes later the boy was toddling about with his football and his dad went running over doing the old monster routine, swiped him up growling and pretending to eat him. Lucy went absolutely ballistic, nearly pulled me off the bench to protect him! I was shocked she had only known him for 2 minutes, I think she may have changed the views of a few people on the GSD that day..

[JazzHarv]

Both Harvey and Ellie have been absolutely fine with our 6 month old daughter. I was a bit apprehensive with Ellie as she has nipped a couple of people but she loves Emily to bits.

I make sure I spend a fair amount of time with the fur babies during the day so they don't feel left out and take them for an evening walk. I would never leave them on there own with Emily but I don't stop them sniffing or licking her.

[schuie&alfie]

Aw thanks so much for all ur advice, really given me bits and pieces to take into consideration.
but when u say never leave them alone do u literally mean never?? as what happens if u need to go to the toilet? put the dog in another room? take babe with ya? presuming its a case of never.....