# 11 Prepping Pups for Baby

I will begin by stating my dogs are incredibly important to me.  In high school I preferred hanging out with Tucker over parties and I literally asked Andrew to propose with a puppy instead of a ring. I've been warned that I'll forget to feed the dogs or will somehow lose interest in them. While dynamics will surely look different, I will still be obsessed with my big, loppy loves. The dogs, Andrew, and I have made up our family for nearly 13 years; we are mindful of the transition not only for ourselves, but Heidi and Burlioz as well. We have been prepping them in different ways throughout the pregnancy, but will also take mindful steps once Genevieve is here so that our growing family can have an easier transition to a new normal.

Fido Philosophy 
I have been training dogs since 2016 and predominately focused on basic obedience and nervous aggression. I am someone who doesn't see a dog as a cute accessory, nor as a lesser animal. Instead I know dogs are unique, living beings with their own wills, tendencies, desires, and fears. As guardians to them it is our job to know them well by watching them and also putting them in situations that benefit them and knowing what situations ought to be avoided. Different dogs have different motivations. For instance, neither of my Saints are treat motivated. This makes getting their attention more difficult when trying to lure them away from something. However, a key to training is the bond you have with your dog and their relationship to you. Luckily my bond is strong with both and they behave with great manners (most of the time). It is also really important to remember that like people, each dog has their "thing" or point of challenge. For my guys that is barking at dogs on walks. Burlioz wants to play, but Heidi doesn't prefer other dogs. It is an area we are working on and it is ok they are not perfect, they are both still young dogs. We are all works in progress, and we must give our dogs the same grace. 

Prediction 
I often get asked what I think the dogs' response to Genevieve will be, and I confidently assert I think they will be smitten with her. Heidi and Burlioz have had lots of exposure to different-aged kiddos. Burlioz especially loves babies and Heidi loves toddlers and little girls. She will bark at little boys wrestling in the yard or running by. I've seen Heidi walk up to an 18 month old who was hobbling along and lick them in the nose without knocking them over. I am fortunate that our breeder had younger kiddos around while both Heidi and Burlioz were still with her. So early in their lives they had exposure to kids. 

It is important to note though that a baby in the home is different than the baby they see on a walk or that someone brings over for a brief visit. While it can be an adjustment to share space, usually the bond is stronger and the dogs will become more tolerant and prefer "their own" baby. Some of the work I have done prior to Genevieve coming is observing my dogs interactions around babies. This does help me make predictions about how they will respond. But I am not attached to those predictions. If responses are different we will adjust as needed. 

I predict that Burlioz will be completely obsessed. I see him chewing a bone while I nurse while looking out the window, being centimeters away from her fingers during tummy time, and protective of her when anyone comes to see her. Burlioz is my shadow anyway, and so I think he will always be close by. Heidi I foresee being a bit more aloof. I think she will be off napping on the couch or our bed rather than close by Genevieve. I do think that she will come running when the baby cries and smell her and then leave if the crying continues. I think she will be one to watch from a slight distance but still very much be interested and loving to G (especially when she learns to share food). 

Before Baby Comes 
Genevieve's room was formerly our office. The dogs had a couch in there and loved laying on it and looking out at the neighborhood. They would bark at other dogs going by and sometimes punch the glass. I knew I wanted to nix this behavior, so I used a sonic bark box in the room to go off anytime they barked. I did this for two months and now the bark box is not in there. Occasionally Burlioz will bark at a dog, but he doesn't touch the glass (my bigger pet peeve). Heidi was very sensitive to the sound and so she won't bark at all and if Burlioz begins barking leaves the room. 

We also constructed the nursery over time and let the dogs sniff and inspect the different items added. This way they can familiarize themselves with the new items. I had a neighbor give me some baby toys her kiddos used and I put these in Genevieve's toy basket. The dogs would be able to smell the little kid scents on them. I too keep a dog toy basket in the room on the opposite side of G's toy basket. Burlioz regularly grabs a toy from his bin and for the most part leaves the baby toys alone. He has gotten a couple stuffed animal rattles, but to be fair they look like his toys. I am realistic and know G and the dogs will likely "share" some toys and will hope it helps bolster G's immune system. I also push the stroller and move the car seat around in the house. The dogs will watch and be curious and sniff and then leave alone. With dogs, exposure to new situations, things, and stimuli is key. So if I can do that with these items now, it will help them adjust to the much more stimulating addition coming in May. 

My focus for the next few weeks is to have the pack-and-play built and next to the bed, move a play gym and bouncer into the living room and run them so the dogs get used to items in new spaces (beyond the nursery) and the sounds and movements they might make. 

Bringing Home Baby 
I will be in the hospital for a couple days after giving birth. We plan to have Andrew bring home a blanket that smells like Genevieve for the dogs to inspect and become acclimated to. Similar to how exposure to items without baby helps aid in adjusting to the new normal, so too does the actual smell of baby before anything else changes in their environment or routine. Then, because the dogs won't have seen me for a couple days, when I return home I will go into the house alone without Andrew or baby for the dogs to greet, smell, and love on me. Then Andrew will bring Genevieve in and we will calmly let them inspect the carseat and Genevieve. I like to use the phrase "less is more" with dog training. Moving and talking less, staying calm and moving smoothly all aid in the dogs in new or stimulating situations. Dogs are sensitive to your energy, and so if you are calm and confident, they are more likely to feel secure. 

We are fortunate Andrew has six weeks of paternity leave, and so a huge focus for him during that time is keeping the dogs' routine normal and giving them plenty of attention (Heidi is going to be over the moon). We will also get the dogs used to walking one at a time (this will be hardest for Burlioz who doesn't like when Heidi leaves the house). This is because when Andrew returns to work it will be safer for me to walk with the stroller and one dog instead of two. We are also being very deliberate about minimizing visitors for the first few weeks so the dogs can get used to Genevieve's presence in the house and not get confused by so many additional people in and out. We want them to get used to Genevieve and create a solid foundation for what our family now looks like. 

We are excited to see the new dynamic and relationships form between Genevieve, Heidi, and Burlioz. We are very mindful that time, patience, and love are all imperative for a smoother transition. Hiccups will be handled and we will pivot strategies when necessary. But overall we believe that our new dynamic will be better than before and that there will simply be more love to give, and that we aren't taking love away from anyone else.