3 Boxers and baby on the way!

[harlie'smom]

So im 26 weeks along and the due date is getting closer and closer. I really want to start getting the 3 furbabies prepared for this. My baby shower is this weekend so with all the gifts we are going to get we want to set everything up like it will be when the baby gets here so it wont be such a chock. I would also like to get a baby doll that cries just to see how the dogs react to it. Where could i find one and has anyone used this before?

[atlasmom911]

I always had boxers. When my children were born my Flippy was such a good girl. She would always go up to the crib and watch them. She did not like it when they cried. She also did not like it when people would come over to the house to see the baby. Good luck!

[harlie'smom]

Thanks, i need all the luck i can get. Im definetely gonna have my hands full.

[EAO76]

We just had our 1st skin kid three weeks ago and also have three boxers. My two younger boxers are on the rambunctious side (so much so that they have to be separated from each other and sometimes locked up when we have guests because they just cannot control their excitement). Additionally we have our rescue, Trucker, who is a great house dog but highly aggressive towards strangers. So to say we had concerns is an extreme understatement. But our three boxers all have been great with the baby. Even Trucker has been sweet with him.

I think one thing that helped the dogs accept the baby is that we have done our best to keep all their routines the same. We even still allow the dogs to sleep in our bedroom at night.

My suggestion is if you plan to change anything (like where they sleep or if they are no longer going to be allowed on the furniture or in the baby’s room) do it prior to the baby’s arrival so that they do not associate the changes with the baby.

As far as preparing the dogs we did not do too much. We left the baby’s room open and allowed them to explore all the new things. And we brushed up on commands like “go to your bed” & “leave it”. Also you can Google “preparing Fido” and you will find a CD of baby noises that is supposed to be played to help prepare the dogs. Although, our boxers would just cock their heads at the speakers when we played it.

Good luck…having a new baby is the most amazing thing. You are going to LOVE it!

[lhsdavis]

There are alot of threads in children and boxers, but the number one thing I cannot help but emphasize is "do not exclude them". That is where the problems will start..day one my boxers got to meet the new baby of the house, I separated them and let them meet her one on one, and it has worked ever since. My husband wasnt thrilled at first, he was afraid the baby would get hurt because Noah, hes my energizer bunny, can be off the wall sometimes. I can honestly say that neither one has ever jumped on her, they may have accidently knocked her over with the beaning, but not once did they ever try and overpower her. They were just content to lay by her, and Noah lost alot of his energy around her. I would say they both tempered their activities as my daughter got older. They are both now very good with toddlers, Noah tends to get a little rowdier with kids 8 or 9 and up but now Hailey is 7 so I think he actually learns with her. Ashley is a mamas girl, always will be, but she was my daughters second mama. I did have my husband bring a baby shirt home from the hospital for them to smell, but they quickly got used to the crying etc. During Naps though, they had to go out, because if Ashley didnt hear the baby breathing or moving, she was at the edge of the bassinet whining or on the bed so she could see in the bassinet. My daugther is actually afraid of little dogs if you can believe that, because they usually jump all over, and it upsets her..but put a boxer, german sheppard, rottie, etc next to her and its just a dog. Funny really.. You are going to be amazed at the relationship your dogs have with the baby..and people are going to think your nuts for keeping the dogs after you have a baby, and because your going to constantly say how great they are with the baby. I dont know how many people asked me what was I going to do with the dogs when the baby came..???um nothing thats what...

[bayleighmom]

Congrats!!

[bucca]

congradulations!! your baby doesnt know it yet but he/she is about to meet her new three best friends when i was pregnant we had a rottie and everything brought into the house we let him smell and investigate including the baby we made sure to give him plenty of extra attention and treats when my son came home and the funniest part was the first time we came home with my son and he cried brutus was so scared he took off running upstairs and wouldnt come down for 1/2 hour

[GoCougs]

We have three boxers and our son was just born 3 1/2 months ago. You will be surprised how they take it in stride. Boxers are amazingly adaptable and gentle dogs.

I don't think you need a crying doll. We used a doll, but it didn't make any noise. We just tried to make it look and smell as much like baby would. Otherwise, just talk to them alot about "baby" before it's arrival and let them be involved when it arrives. They will be fine.

Congrats, and good luck.

[SweetCody]

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival. Having a child is one of the best experiences I have ever been through. I can't think of any words to describe it, it is just a feeling so deep and so pure. I love being a Mom. I wish you all the joy and happiness (and sleep ) in the world.
As far as how the pups will handle it, I have no experience, my son came long before my pup. We had a kitty when my boy was born and she LOVED him so. From the moment she knew I was pregnant she was very in tune with him. Good luck and Congrats .

[Box Boys]

I had two Chows when my first son was born, 16 years ago. As far as Chows go, they were good with him. They did not like it at all when he cried though. More worried than anything else. They wanted me to make it better (and quiet him down again). They pretty much ignored my son really, until he got to be a little older. I want to say around 8 months when my son would be in a walker with something to eat...then they became very close friends with him. Again...these were Chows and not our friendly Boxer.

[harlie'smom]

Thanks for all of the encouraging words! They really do put me at ease. Many nights i lay there thinking How can i make this as easy as possible for the pups the baby and me. It just stresses me out. I know they are great dogs and they will do well with the baby but you cant help but worry about things. Last night i brought home all the gifts from the baby shower and let them check everything out. The 2 oldest just smelled around and didnt care that much but Torque the 2 yr old was all about it. He wanted to eat every toy there was. Then he would just shove his face in all the clothes and breath it in LOL. I will have to admit he was driving me nuts at first but i just let it go and let him do his thing. I didnt want to make it a bad experience for them. Again thank you all for putting me at ease, it really helps. I just wish my family would stop worrying so much about how were gonna do it with three dgs when the baby gets here. Any of you want to talk to them?

[Box Boys]

I really think you'll be fine and be overjoyed that your three darling Boxers will love your new baby as much as you do; will probably be very protective too. Just remember not to change their routine if at all possible. And, let them see and smell the baby when you bring him/her home. They will probably be very curious. Best of luck to you with your new baby! So exciting. My oldest son is 16 today! Then, I have a son that's almost 13 and a 10 year old. The years go by so quickly!