Pets and Babies

This post is for all those who think you have to get rid of your pet(s) when you have a baby; those who are afraid of their pets being around their baby or those who give their pets away thinking they don’t have time to care for them AND a baby.  Well, I beg to differ. 

Pre-baby, the dogs were our kids.  I spoiled them rotten, took them places with me, made ice cream and treats for them.  My spare time was spent with our dogs.  One thing that really bothered me while I was pregnant was when someone would come up to me and say “What about the dogs?”  “What are you going to do with the dogs?”.  What do you mean what am I going to DO with the dogs?  The same things I have always done with them – play with them, feed them, provide a loving home for them.  It just boggles my mind how people, with or without kids, don’t think babies and dogs can get along. 

I’m not here to tell you it’s all a bed of roses.  Yes, there was an adjustment period.  Toby didn’t take to Ashley right away.  He even barked at her the first night we brought her home.  And it can be stressful trying to make everyone happy.  It seems that everytime I sit down to feed Ashley, Toby goes to the door and wants to go outside.  He doesn’t just sit there.  He whines and paces until I let him out.  Then as soon as he is out, he’s barking to come back in.  This is his way of getting my attention.  And yes, Blake sometimes gets too close to Ashley and will lick her way too much.  Any skin exposed, be it her face, hands, feet, are all there for the licking.  They do drive me crazy somedays because they just want to play and I don’t always have time to play with them.  But I do the best I can.  It NEVER crossed my mine to give them away or find a new home for them.  After all, they were here first and I love them just the same.  I understand there are some circumstances when it may not work out after everything you try.  But please, please try.  Give them a chance to adjust.  Just be cautious, supervise them and use common sense. 

There is always dog hair all over the floor (despite how much I clean it up) and Ashley gets slobbery kisses from time to time, but in the end I think she will benefit from living with “the boys”.  We all have things to learn from each other and we are here to prove that it IS possible to live as one big happy family, whether you have two legs or four.