[derinasderun]

I saw the weirdest thing at PetsMart yesterday. It was a CD of baby sounds. If you have any friends with babies, ask them for a 'scented' baby blanket, powder, squeaky toys, maybe a used diaper (ick!). Grab that baby doll and treat it like a baby, alway praise your dog when you are handling the 'baby,' even give the yummiest treats when the baby sounds are going and you are holding the 'baby', that way, s/he associates all good things with the baby. Now is the time to really fine tune the obedience work and re-enforce boundries.
The day baby does come home, let someone else hold the baby while you go greet your dog. Spend some special quiet time together, remember, you will have been away for a few days and s/he can smell the hormonal differences, etc. Get reaquainted, then bring in the blanket the baby has been wrapped in. Allow your dog to investigate that all the while, praise quietly and gently. Then, with the help of someone else, and with dog on a leash, bring in baby. Now is really the time for quiet praise - everything calm and relaxed - you don't want add any more stress than there already will be. Try to always remain calm when interacting with dog and baby, definetly don't want anyone getting riled up.
Best wishes and Congratulations to you and your (growing) family!

[panholio]

I saw the weirdest thing at PetsMart yesterday. It was a CD of baby sounds. If you have any friends with babies, ask them for a 'scented' baby blanket, powder, squeaky toys, maybe a used diaper (ick!). Grab that baby doll and treat it like a baby, alway praise your dog when you are handling the 'baby,' even give the yummiest treats when the baby sounds are going and you are holding the 'baby', that way, s/he associates all good things with the baby. Now is the time to really fine tune the obedience work and re-enforce boundries.
The day baby does come home, let someone else hold the baby while you go greet your dog. Spend some special quiet time together, remember, you will have been away for a few days and s/he can smell the hormonal differences, etc. Get reaquainted, then bring in the blanket the baby has been wrapped in. Allow your dog to investigate that all the while, praise quietly and gently. Then, with the help of someone else, and with dog on a leash, bring in baby. Now is really the time for quiet praise - everything calm and relaxed - you don't want add any more stress than there already will be. Try to always remain calm when interacting with dog and baby, definetly don't want anyone getting riled up.
Best wishes and Congratulations to you and your (growing) family!

Awesome advice Kelpie. It almost makes me want to have another baby, well no not really.

[derinasderun]

*It almost makes me want to have another baby, well no not really*

Awwww, come on - the world needs more good parents. :-)

[panholio]

*It almost makes me want to have another baby, well no not really*

Awwww, come on - the world needs more good parents. :-)

I have a son who is graduating next year and another going into grade 5, soooooooooooo don't want to start again. I would rather be a puppy mommy for right now.