dog?

[laughingfox]

I was wondering what people normally do with their dogs during a homebirth?

I can't decide whether to try to work out a plan for my dog to not be here, or just let her be and put her in another room if she becomes a problem.

I know they probably all react differently, but if any mommas have advice or stories they'd like to share on how their dog reacted to homebirth, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

[emnic77]

I absolutely know without a doubt that my dog will annoy the ever-loving everything out of me, and create mondo amounts of stress for me, so he is being kenneled the second I go into labor. As DH said, the dog will be so annoying that he (dh) will be spending more time trying to settle the dog down than helping me, so that decided it.

[nannymom]

We have a weener dog and we plan to just let him hang around and then lock him in a room if he becomes obnoxious. My midwife says that most dogs do totaly fine and just stay out of the way-there pact mentality kicks in and they give mama her space.

[Faliciagayle]

Our dog (Aussie/Husky mix) and our cat were in attendance for DDs birth over 2 years ago - I honestly don't even remember them being there or in the way. This time, we just have the cat who will be here, and I have no intention of finding somewhere else for him to go.

I *do* remember how insanely HUGE the cat seemed after DD was born. I expect to feel the same way especially in regards to the size of my toddler

[phoebemommy]

My dog had to go sit in the car. He's a weird dog, full of energy, but for some reason he totally meditates in the car, so it was for the best. I was a little sad, I mean, he was totally cool when I was laboring with my first, but he's an overzealous greeter type, really gets in visitors faces, so when the midwife got there he was out.

He's a 65 pound pit mix, and now we also have an almost 100 pound shepherd mix who thinks all guests are coming to see her specifically, so the plan this time is for my mom to be there to wrangle the dogs and help with DS1, if he needs somebody. The new dog tears things up if she's alone in the car, so I guess we're playing it by ear. My mom can do what she needs to do with them, in another room or the backyard or whatever. I also plan to have big chewy things on hand, preferably the ones filled with cheese or peanut butter.

[Belle]

Our dog is a super hyper Siberian Husky/German Sheperd mix. During the birth she was amazingly calm (for her) but dh put her outside anyway because she wanted to be next to me. She quietly watched the birth from the patio door.

Our cat is antisocial and I have no idea where he was for the birth.

[bethanyclaire]

Like a pp said, my dogs will annoy the living heck out of me when I'm laboring. I have a hard time dealing with them in late pregnancy as it is... I have no idea why but my hormones make me nuts! I have 3, 2 German Shepherds and a Pomeranian. I am certain that 2 of them would be just fine during labor but one of the Shepherds would most likely get way overprotective. I wouldn't trust her with the midwives in the house. She is a great dog but a little nutty and I think my being in labor would send her over the edge. She'd be great with me but not with anyone else.

So... at the first sign of labor all 3 are headed to my mom's house for a few days. She lives on a farm and has 4 dogs of her own that come visit me while she travels so they all LOVE to play together. It will be like a mini vacation for them!

The cats will stay here. I know for sure that I will want at least 2 of my cats with me while I labor. There are 6 kitties total but the 2 older girls have been with me for many years and I foresee them both wanting to be with me during labor. One of them had kittens a few years ago and the only place she would give birth was under the covers in between my legs (interesting way to wake up, let me tell you)... so I'm thinking she wanted to be with me when she was birthing and she'll probably want to be with me when I'm birthing, too.

[LittleBlackBug]

I was concerned that our 50lb Lab / Shar Pei would get in the way or annoy me during labor so I had planned to either put him in the back yard or call a friend to come pick him up if became a bother, but when things started to happen, I really didn't think about it and all he did was sleep in his open kennel. I couldn't believe that he seemed to hardly notice anything happening. He was completely calm and quiet except when the midwives arrived just after the birth of our daughter, but then calmed down again.

We wanted him there so he would know what was going on and would know that the baby was part of our family. Good luck!

[stormborn]

Mine acted as though nothing new was going on, but she's a pretty calm dog in general and I was pg when she came to me; dunno if that makes any difference. I did have a neighbor 'assigned' to her because I had a male birth attendent and usually she's not cool with men she doesn't know. She didn't mind this time though.

[Peony]

My dog drives me insane when I'm in labor. With DD2, he paced back and forth, would come over and nudge my hand, and then go pace some some, click, click, click went his nails on the floor. I finally had DH lock him in a bathroom. With DS's birth, I labored and birthed in the bedroom, I refused to allow him in the room. Problem solved.

[*Christa*]

Now I am thinking I might have to kennel our dog. He would bark insesintly if I locked hime in a room or outside annoy the living crap out of everyone. If I let him be around he'd be all up in everyones face & driving me nuts.

[emnic77]

Originally Posted by *Christa*

Now I am thinking I might have to kennel our dog. He would bark insesintly if I locked hime in a room or outside annoy the living crap out of everyone. If I let him be around he'd be all up in everyones face & driving me nuts.

Yep. This is exactly why ours is getting kenneled. We're in a dense neighborhood. If he were outside he'd bark non-stop (which could easily cause neighbors to call the police with a noise complaint, and he DOES bark non-stop outside if dh is not with him) and if he were inside and closed in a room or something he would whine incessantly. He is a huge whiner, and he's also dh's dog...he's very jealous of me, if dh were helping me the dog is going to be whining and vying for his attention, and that's just not going to happen. He'll also be right up everyone's butt the entire time (midwives, photographers) and it just won't work.

[Astraia]

I've been thinking about this recently.

I'm really hoping +/- 8 weeks will be enough time to get him used to being crated in the basement when there is activity in the house without him turning into the biggest whiner ever.

Whenever something different/noisy happens that takes people's attention away from him, he starts bringing toys over and whining in your face and begging to be petted and otherwise being a nuisance. And his nails click-click-clicking on the floor will drive me insane also.

I've started putting him in his crate downstairs for 5-10 min here and there (he used to be crated in our bedroom at night, we just recently moved it) and so far it's not going well. I'm hopeful though! I don't let him out until he's quiet, he's got a soft cushion and some chew toys in there and he's comfortable with that space already, but knowing SOMETHING might be going on without him is hard for him to deal with.

[bethanyclaire]

Originally Posted by Astraia

I've been thinking about this recently.

I'm really hoping +/- 8 weeks will be enough time to get him used to being crated in the basement when there is activity in the house without him turning into the biggest whiner ever.

Whenever something different/noisy happens that takes people's attention away from him, he starts bringing toys over and whining in your face and begging to be petted and otherwise being a nuisance. And his nails click-click-clicking on the floor will drive me insane also.

I've started putting him in his crate downstairs for 5-10 min here and there (he used to be crated in our bedroom at night, we just recently moved it) and so far it's not going well. I'm hopeful though! I don't let him out until he's quiet, he's got a soft cushion and some chew toys in there and he's comfortable with that space already, but knowing SOMETHING might be going on without him is hard for him to deal with.

When I have to crate my dogs while something "fun" is going on in the house I usually give them a special treat. Their favorite is a Kong toy (those heavy duty rubber hollow cone-shaped things...) that I fill will peanut butter then freeze overnight. It keeps them busy for a long time and they are happy and quiet. It won't work for a dog with separation anxiety or a dog who doesn't like peanut butter but, luckily, it works for mine. We used to recommend it at work all the time (I was a vet tech) because it is easy and safe. A dog could choke on a rawhide or ham bone if left unattended but the kong w/peanut butter is a pretty safe and tasty option. Might be worth a shot for you.

[Gray's Mommy]

With my 2nd birth & 1st homebirth, our dog was loose in the house until it was time for me to push & then we put her outdoors.

This time, I am going to put the dogs in their crate or another room when I feel ready.

[laughingfox]

Thanks for all the input, everyone!

My dog is a dog of extremes; she's always either really active/affectionate/playful or really really laid back and lazy, and never anywhere in between. She seems to take her cues from me; she gets active when I want to jog/play, and laid back when I want to relax. I'm not sure how she'll be during a birth, when it's an intense high-energy event, but definitely not a time for me to run and play with her.

I'll definitely get a kong toy ready in the freezer around 36 weeks, just in case she needs to be kenneled and needs a distraction. Thanks for the idea, Beth!

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by bethanyclaire

When I have to crate my dogs while something "fun" is going on in the house I usually give them a special treat. Their favorite is a Kong toy (those heavy duty rubber hollow cone-shaped things...) that I fill will peanut butter then freeze overnight. It keeps them busy for a long time and they are happy and quiet.

That's a good idea. We've got a couple of Kong's lying around but haven't used them much at all in the last while (since he got out of his puppy-chewing-everything stage, really). I'll have to dig them out, thanks for remnding me!

[Carson]

Originally Posted by *Christa*

Now I am thinking I might have to kennel our dog. He would bark insesintly if I locked hime in a room or outside annoy the living crap out of everyone. If I let him be around he'd be all up in everyones face & driving me nuts.

Yes, this is us. Our dog is so attached to us and needy she would be a total PITA to us and our birthing team.

Our trainer/boarder is an hour away though, so we've got a couple sets of friends who will take her while I am laboring until I deliver, and then the next day DH will drive her out there and she can stay for a week or so while we get settled.

I should have some treats ready though in case I go into labor alone and no one can come get her for a bit. I usually don't do bones in the house, but figure what's a bone on the floor when there could be a whole lotta other stuff around?

[cocoanib]

Our plan is to have them there during labor until things get really intense. At that point, they will go to our neighbors house. I love having them around for comfort, but they get really concerned about me when I'm in distress. I think seeing me in full on labor may be too much, but we will see.

[Jessie Mae]

I loved having our pooches at DD's birth. Granted they are old and very very chill. They started getting a bit nervous at the end when I got loud, but I am so glad that they were present for her birth. I think that they may have not been so quick to accept her if they were not there. It would have been way different for them if we just showed up at home with this new baby or if they came home to her. They know that there was this big hoopla and then there was a baby. As soon as DD was born our dogs both barked as if welcoming her into our family! It added a little extra something special for us to have them there. The next day when the midwife came to check in, our girl dog stood at the top of the stairs and would not let her come in the door. I think she was saying "I got through last night, but I hope you don't think you are going to do that again" - funny. I guess that you have to make the decision based on the temperament of your dogs. Maybe have someone on call that could come and get them if they are bothering you.