Boxers and Babies??

BoxerPak · #1 5th May 2003, 02:46 PM

I'm sure some of you have gone through this. We have had Junior for over a year now, he is 2. My husband and I found out this past weekend that we are pregnant. I know that Boxers are very good with children, I'm just wondering how they are when they are no longer the center of attention??

Any ideas on what you've done or can think. I've thought about breaking out my old Cabbage Patch Kids and "pretending" that they are real, so he can get used to having another someone besides him in the house? I just hope that he will adjust fine with a new baby and there won't be anything negative!! Because the last thing that I want to do is have to find him another home!!!! Any ideas or comments would be great!!

scooter52398 · #2 5th May 2003, 02:56 PM

Congratulations! I am due in 6 weeks and the only thing I have been recommended is that before we bring the baby home bring home the baby's blanket for the dog to smell. I am not worried about Scooter at all, as long as I give him attention I think he will be fine. I talk to him about the baby that is coming and point to my stomach. He just gives me that goofy look. I am sure you will get advice from people that already have kids. Good Luck!

Russell · #3 5th May 2003, 03:02 PM

I had my son when our Zeke was only 10 months old and very spoiled he loved the baby and had to be around him at all times. I let him smell the baby as often as he wanted because he was very curious I just told him this is your new baby! One thing I noticed was Zeke had a new person to protect and was always a silly puppy and never worried about people coming over but as soon as the baby was born he was very protective over the house. I was so concerned about Zeke getting jelous so if anyone came to the house to see the baby I made sure they gave Zeke attention too. Another thing give your boxer something that is the babies after the baby is born like a toy, blanket ect. that way he will feel like he is apart of the family and he won't feel the need to take something himself! Don't worry your boxer will love your baby to peices and congrats on the pregnancy! Good Luck.

Heidi

Mommy to Zeke and Zoey

Thomas Liggin · #4 5th May 2003, 03:06 PM

There are no guarantees, but in our experience, the dogs we had didn't have a problem when our daughters arrived. They were curious and seemed intuitively to know that these were human puppies.

Your dog should be as much a part of your daily routine as possible. You should gradually introduce him to your new addition. It would be a rare thing for your Boxer to have a problem with an infant.

In a couple of years, they'll be best friends. When our girls were small and outside in a playpen, our dog would lie down beside the playpen and stand guard. Anything he perceived to be the slightest threat would result in his getting between our youngster and whatever or whoever he was concerned about.

That was many years ago, and the dog was not a Boxer. I'm sure there are plenty of fellow members with recent experiences of how their Boxers interacted with the newborns.

Tom

Matt S · #5 5th May 2003, 05:50 PM

Congratulations to you both

Here are some previous threads & links that should be of some use to you...

I am pregnant - any advice re dogs & babies

New baby coming soon, how will Shelby act?

http://k9media.net/k9online/advice/ref29.htm

http://www.familydogonline.com/Babies.htm

mymax · #6 6th May 2003, 08:12 AM

Congratulations!!! I'm also having my first in seven weeks!!! I was also a bit concerned about how Max (he's 12 months) will react about our new addition....the advice that has been given to me is make your pet apart of yours and the baby's routine and bring a blanket home from the hospital with the baby's smell. I've also informed everyone when they come to visit our baby they must spend some time with Max first or else they don't get to hold the baby (they always laugh but I'm very serious about that). I"m also getting the baby stroller this weekend and plan to walk around the neighborhood with the stroller and MAx to get him used to it (my husband thinks I'm a little crazy). Those are my plans...I'll let you know how it all works out! Again, congratulations!!!! Denise

nadinem · #7 9th May 2003, 07:19 PM

Congratulations! Our daughter is just over six months old and our three year old boxer Leroy has been fantastic company for me - it's nice to have a friendly soul around the house when things get a little crazy! We did all the blanket/nappy smelling etc but Leroy didn't seem that interested - he was more excited to see me home after three days. He has got very protective of the house (and us in it) but it has taken a while for him to work out that the baby isn't a tiny adult (eg won't play when he drops his toys on her head).

My biggest worry was that he would be all over the place when we walked with the push-chair (you know what boxers are like - they'll trip you up just to get to a bit of paper on the other side of the footpath...) but he walks perfectly alongside and rarely stops to sniff the flowers like he used to.

In reality though, Leroy has had a LOT of adjusting to do in terms of not being #1 baby anymore, and of my time being taken up with a squirmy crying thing who has ten times better toys than he does (and gets fed a lot more frequently). On the upside, he has me home all the time, we go for a walk at least twice a day and heaven really is being under the high chair when food gets dropped over the edge...

Good luck with your baby!

Thomas Liggin · #8 10th May 2003, 04:10 AM

Yes, they do have to adjust, and they do. But, in a couple of years they'll be your best babysitters. They (Boxer and children) will occupy each other, freeing up some time for you. Your pup will once again be the center of attention.

Congratulations, and best wishes for your family.

It's normal for expectant moms to worry about everything. I've lived through it a couple of times with my wife. You know the saying "like a mother hen"? Why do you think that expression was coined?

Tom

Jmarie · #9 10th May 2003, 04:21 AM

Congratulations on being pregnant.
My mom had her first boxer before I was born. He would sleep under my crib while I slept. Any noise or movement I would make he would go to my mom. He would make sure she went in and check on me to see if I was ok.
After I had my first son, her boxer at the time would sit by the bassinet. She would watch over my son while he slept. I even have some picture of her sitting by the bassinet.
When I had my other son. I had my first boxer. I made sure he didn't feel left out. My husband and I both gave him lots of attention. When I was feeding, changing or any thing to do with my son. I would let Bailey stay by me. He was used to my first son so with the second I knew he would be fine. I just did not want him to feel that we forgot about him since there was a new baby in the house.
Good luck. I hope I could help you out a little.

boxermom5 · #10 15th May 2003, 12:45 PM

My kids are teenagers, but my sister came for a visit with my niece, who is 9 months old now, and Tess wanted soooo desperately to mother the baby. It was the cutest sight, but Ainsley (my niece) was not so sure about the big ole wet nose sniffing her up and down. Tenaia on the other hand, was a riot to watch! Talk about a 56 lb chicken! all she needed was some feathers.......she took one look at the baby, backed up about 10 feet and stood there looking at me and waving her head side to side howling in protest. Every time Ainsley giggled Nai would run. Poor baby..............

I agree with Tom though, time patience and some extra doggy attention when the baby comes and they will soon be the best of friends. And one couldn't ask for a better Nanny. Tess was quite the nanny when mine were younger, and would actually go nuts if the two kids were not in the same "area" so she could watch them both - Tenaia was a blessing for Tess cuz they could split the nanny duties, taking turns inside and out, like the changing of the guards.

Congrats

MizBev · #11 15th May 2003, 01:07 PM

Take a look in my gallery. This is my sweet Five ( a real momma's girl) protecting her baby. They are really very good around babies and the biabies seem to really love the dogs except when they give them big sloppy kisses.

Bev

Knye2001 · #12 15th May 2003, 01:21 PM

Congratulations!! I'm actually due in about 5 days and was a little worried in the beginning!! I dont' think Apollo will have a problem now. As we put the room together, he got to help. He was purple for a while!!

I also have played with all the toys that the baby has so that he has gotten used to the new sounds of those - he was afraid for a while, but now doesn't care. He's smelled all the new clothes, the diapers (clean of course), and all the lotions!! He really likes the new Johnson's Milk lotion!!!

We plan on bringing a blanket home with the baby's scent before baby actually comes home so that he can get used to it. We have the carseat in the car so he can get used to having to share the backseat. Let's see, what else. We just put everything in it's place so that he's already used to less room in the house due to baby necessities (bouncers, bassinets, and such). I would also recommend continuing with obedience training!!

Also - a thing to remember when you bring your little one home, make sure you don't freak out when he gets close to the baby!! Don't ever leave them alone together because dogs will be dogs, but make sure that you don't overreact the first time they meet and the baby gets a good lick!! They are bonding then!! Some say to let you dog lay next to you while you feed the baby so they feel like they are a part of it too!!

There are a lot of articles on different things to do, but these are all the ones that made the most sense to me!! Good luck and have fun being PG!!