Moving dog out of our room

ncmc · 08-05-2014 8:58am #1

Hi all, I've posted about this before and got really helpful advice so I hope it's ok to post again. I am due my first baby in a few weeks and have been trying to get my fur baby used to the idea - fur baby being a rather spoiled 8 year old Cocker spaniel. The dog isn't the greatest with strangers or children so we have been making an effort to socialise her more, get her more used to children etc. I have been doing some training with her involving me holding a doll with a phone playing newborn crying and rewarding her when she ignores it/or doesn't try and jump all over me. Funnily, she is actually ok with small babies, she pretty much ignores them. So I'm hoping that she will be ok with a few precautions, when the baby arrives.

The problem is her sleeping arrangements. She always slept on our bed, which obviously isn't a goer when the baby arrives. I've been trying to train her to sleep in her own bed, rewarding her when she settles in it etc, but while she starts of the night in her own bed, I am always walking to find a little furry bundle at the bottom of our bed! I don't think she would react well to a crate so I think the best option is to move her out of the bedroom altogether. I hate doing that, but I'll be leaving her in the sitting room so it won't exactly be Guantanamo Bay conditions!

My (long winded) question is, am I better doing this in one go, i.e. just leaving her down there from now on, or is it best to try and move her further away from us gradually, maybe using a stair gate to leave her on the landing outside our room at first? I want to make this as easy as possible for her and want to start doing it sooner rather than later so she doesn't associate the change with the baby. I'd love to get your thoughts!

cocker5 · 08-05-2014 9:14am

ncmc wrote: »

Hi all, I've posted about this before and got really helpful advice so I hope it's ok to post again. I am due my first baby in a few weeks and have been trying to get my fur baby used to the idea - fur baby being a rather spoiled 8 year old Cocker spaniel. The dog isn't the greatest with strangers or children so we have been making an effort to socialise her more, get her more used to children etc. I have been doing some training with her involving me holding a doll with a phone playing newborn crying and rewarding her when she ignores it/or doesn't try and jump all over me. Funnily, she is actually ok with small babies, she pretty much ignores them. So I'm hoping that she will be ok with a few precautions, when the baby arrives.

The problem is her sleeping arrangements. She always slept on our bed, which obviously isn't a goer when the baby arrives. I've been trying to train her to sleep in her own bed, rewarding her when she settles in it etc, but while she starts of the night in her own bed, I am always walking to find a little furry bundle at the bottom of our bed! I don't think she would react well to a crate so I think the best option is to move her out of the bedroom altogether. I hate doing that, but I'll be leaving her in the sitting room so it won't exactly be Guantanamo Bay conditions!

My (long winded) question is, am I better doing this in one go, i.e. just leaving her down there from now on, or is it best to try and move her further away from us gradually, maybe using a stair gate to leave her on the landing outside our room at first? I want to make this as easy as possible for her and want to start doing it sooner rather than later so she doesn't associate the change with the baby. I'd love to get your thoughts!

Cockers really are cheeky gits aren’t they!

As your due in a few weeks you need to sort this out now, don’t leave it any longer, you are right you must tackle this in one go.

I have a 9 year old cocker (sweetest thing ever) but give him and inch and he will take a mile, who can say no to a cocker face.

Personally I wouldn’t start crate training her now, I know my cocker at 9 would lose his life if I crate trained him now. A bit of tough love and she will be fine.
As you said leave her in her bed in the sitting room, give her a treat, reward her, she won’t be happy for a few nights but then she will get used to it.

Your other option is a baby gate at the top of the stairs, leave her bed in the living room with the door open, close the baby gate at the top of the stairs, so she can some up and doesn’t feel restricted but she can’t aces your bedroom, after a few nights she will relax in her bed in the living room.

But you cannot give mixed messages, it’s all or nothing with cockers (most dogs too IMO) you must be consistent, if you start tonight, you must persist, as if you give in and allow her up again and on your bed, your only confusing her more.

When your baby starts to pull, walk explore etc. and if she hasn’t become more in tune with kids the I would invest in some baby gates just so she doesn’t feel over whelmed and it leads to a negative incident etc.

Best of luck OP

Millem · 08-05-2014 9:20am

ncmc wrote: »

Hi all, I've posted about this before and got really helpful advice so I hope it's ok to post again. I am due my first baby in a few weeks and have been trying to get my fur baby used to the idea - fur baby being a rather spoiled 8 year old Cocker spaniel. The dog isn't the greatest with strangers or children so we have been making an effort to socialise her more, get her more used to children etc. I have been doing some training with her involving me holding a doll with a phone playing newborn crying and rewarding her when she ignores it/or doesn't try and jump all over me. Funnily, she is actually ok with small babies, she pretty much ignores them. So I'm hoping that she will be ok with a few precautions, when the baby arrives.

The problem is her sleeping arrangements. She always slept on our bed, which obviously isn't a goer when the baby arrives. I've been trying to train her to sleep in her own bed, rewarding her when she settles in it etc, but while she starts of the night in her own bed, I am always walking to find a little furry bundle at the bottom of our bed! I don't think she would react well to a crate so I think the best option is to move her out of the bedroom altogether. I hate doing that, but I'll be leaving her in the sitting room so it won't exactly be Guantanamo Bay conditions!

My (long winded) question is, am I better doing this in one go, i.e. just leaving her down there from now on, or is it best to try and move her further away from us gradually, maybe using a stair gate to leave her on the landing outside our room at first? I want to make this as easy as possible for her and want to start doing it sooner rather than later so she doesn't associate the change with the baby. I'd love to get your thoughts!

Hi ncmc, we had our first baby 16 weeks ago and my 3 dogs still sleep in our room! They have been amazing with the baby and don't bat an eyelid at him. When they bark he doesn't flinch, I suppose he was used them when he was in my belly!we have always had baby gates. I think the important thing is to do any changes before the baby comes. Congrats and best of luck

ncmc · 08-05-2014 9:24am

Thanks for the quick reply cocker5, you replied to my last thread and it was very helpful! I think I was kidding myself that I could keep her in the room with us, I think it was never gonna work and you're right, I can't resist that face!

With regards giving mixed messages, my husband leaves for work at about 6:30, so he can leave her out to do her business etc, would it be an awful, awful idea to let her up to me at that stage and let her sleep in her bed beside me for an hour or two? At least at that time, I won't be in a deep sleep so can keep an eye on her. Just hate the thought of her being on her own downstairs until I get up! I'm such a softie with her.

Thanks for the tips re stair gates as the baby gets older. I'll definitely be doing that. I'm hoping as the baby grows, she'll get used to having him/her around, but you can't be too careful.

ncmc · 08-05-2014 9:26am

Thanks millem, I'd love to keep her in the room and that was my original hope, but I can't rely on her to stay in her own bed and I'd worry about if the baby was in bed with me feeding or something and I fell asleep, that the dog could be up on top of the baby or something! Will be on maternity next week. So think I will make changes then. At least I'll be at home all day and she won't be on her own day and night. God, I feel guilty already!

Millem · 08-05-2014 9:29am

ncmc wrote: »

Thanks millem, I'd love to keep her in the room and that was my original hope, but I can't rely on her to stay in her own bed and I'd worry about if the baby was in bed with me feeding or something and I fell asleep, that the dog could be up on top of the baby or something! Will be on maternity next week. So think I will make changes then. At least I'll be at home all day and she won't be on her own day and night. God, I feel guilty already!

Don't feel guilty at all. Mine are so good they stay in their beds all night except one of them got very upset with thunder last week and slept under the cot!! Lol lol don't ask me how she got in there but I had to lift up the cot to get her out! Your dog will love you being off on maternity leave

tk123 · 08-05-2014 9:39am

lol! I know somebody who slept in a separate room with the baby until the baby was old enough to be in on his own - because the 3 dogs sleep in their room lol!!

ncmc · 08-05-2014 9:41am

Tk, that is a distinct possibility! I've visions of hubby and dog camping out in the spare room leaving me with crying baby!

tk123 · 08-05-2014 9:49am

No they did it the other way around lol - they took turns sleeping with the baby in his room until he was old enough to sleep by himself!

cocker5 · 08-05-2014 9:50am

ncmc wrote: »

Thanks for the quick reply cocker5, you replied to my last thread and it was very helpful! I think I was kidding myself that I could keep her in the room with us, I think it was never gonna work and you're right, I can't resist that face!

With regards giving mixed messages, my husband leaves for work at about 6:30, so he can leave her out to do her business etc, would it be an awful, awful idea to let her up to me at that stage and let her sleep in her bed beside me for an hour or two? At least at that time, I won't be in a deep sleep so can keep an eye on her. Just hate the thought of her being on her own downstairs until I get up! I'm such a softie with her.

Thanks for the tips re stair gates as the baby gets older. I'll definitely be doing that. I'm hoping as the baby grows, she'll get used to having him/her around, but you can't be too careful.

Ahh I know how you feel, the guilt is a killer…

But honestly if I were you I would leave her downstairs, maybe your hubby could let her out for her business and then maybe giver her an already prepared Kong from the night before, a frozen one that will last ages? No cocker can resist food (well mine cant anyway we call him a food who*re excuse the expression).
from my experience with my guy (every dog is different) it’s all or nothing if we give him mixed signals, i.e. let him up some nights then not other he doesn’t understand , thinks he’s missing out on something and will cry (like a baby) at the door for 30 mins or so, now that makes me feel really guilty!

You have to decide for def., if after your baby arrives will you be allowing her up on the bed, as its very hard to keep her off if she’s been allowed up for 8 years (speaking from experience)…. if it’s a no then I would honestly say try the Kong in the morning, then you head down when you wake you and give her lots of praise, don’t feel guilty, she will be ok.

Regarding the baby gates, maybe your cocker will be fine with the new addition (time will tell), mine is a complete softie and thankfully been socialised with kids from 10 weeks and all his life etc.
its only suggestions for when the baby starts to explore and if your cocker still isn’t too keen that’s all. Giver her time and fingers crossed they will be the best of friends etc.

you’ll be surprised if you stick to it for one week, how easy it will become!

IMO it’s all about routine for dogs, they prefer it, the behave better when it’s in place and as a result we’re all happy!

Millem · 08-05-2014 10:00am

tk123 wrote: »

lol! I know somebody who slept in a separate room with the baby until the baby was old enough to be in on his own - because the 3 dogs sleep in their room lol!!

Hahaha! We all stay in the same room here but if we ever have a visitor sleeping over they have to lock their bedroom or else one of the dogs insists on sleeping in with them! We are talking IN the bed, under the duvet, head on pillow!! bizarre as she sleeps on the floor in a dog bed in our room and shows no interest going into the spare room!

ncmc · 08-05-2014 11:12am

Thanks so much guys. I will just start putting her in the living room and hope she doesn't cry

It's comforting to know I'm not the only but that has dogs in the room with me! I'll have a think about letting her up in the morning. I know it could be counter productive, but I think I'd miss my furry cuddles as much as she would!

Millem · 08-05-2014 11:19am

ncmc wrote: »

Thanks so much guys. I will just start putting her in the living room and hope she doesn't cry It's comforting to know I'm not the only but that has dogs in the room with me! I'll have a think about letting her up in the morning. I know it could be counter productive, but I think I'd miss my furry cuddles as much as she would!

One thing that I was worried about was when baby was on the ground in his gym or on his mat (doing the dreaded tummy time!!). The youngest dog (thinks she is a puppy) loves toys, her face lit up when the gym first appeared but I told her "away". I am very strict the baby has his toys and she has her toys, which she is only allowed to play with outside. She loves kissing him too! But I limit it to one kiss a day lol lol!!

ncmc · 08-05-2014 3:53pm

Kind of connected, but is there anything you can give dogs (natural - I don't mean doping her up) that might relax her a bit or prevent anxiety for the first few nights she is alone? I seem to remember reading about a spray you could get that calmed them down, but can't remember anything about it or where I read it.

cocker5 · 08-05-2014 4:22pm

ncmc wrote: »

Kind of connected, but is there anything you can give dogs (natural - I don't mean doping her up) that might relax her a bit or prevent anxiety for the first few nights she is alone? I seem to remember reading about a spray you could get that calmed them down, but can't remember anything about it or where I read it.

You can get rescue remedy for Dogs, but you need to start using it a good few days before you wnat it to take effect... a few drops in her water:

http://bachflowerpets.com/

http://www.biovea.com/ie/product_detail.aspx?NAME=RESCUE-REMEDY-PET-10ml&PID=4070&OS=237

Lots of health food store do other brands, I used them on my cocker when he was a pup.... chill him out a bit.

ncmc · 08-05-2014 4:52pm

Thanks cocker! You're a font of knowledge! Will pick that up ASAP. Not going to make the big move until I start maternity next week. At least if I'm at home, I can tire her out a bit and play with her and hopefully the adjustment won't be *too* bad.

Moving dog out of our room

Comments