Category: Parent Talk
Just somewhere for any parents who have had a guide dog and an infant or a toddler at the same time to share funny stories, concerns, warnings, advice, etc.
I know someone who said when she had her first daughter, and a guide dog at the same time, the dog was protective of the child. I think she told me, when the baby was in the bed, the dog would lie with it to stop the kid from falling off onto the floor.
Aw that's so cute. I don't know what Paisley is going to do, but I know several people with German Shepherd pet dogs, not guide dogs, who are very protective and nurturing. That's what I'm hoping for.
My dog was funny at first. I brought my daughter home, and he was extremely jealous. He would literally sit for hours, just staring at us while I nursed her, changed her, talked to her ... he'd let out these indignant, half-woofy sounding barks, as if to say, "What about me?" Poor dog got used to it after about, three months, and now he doesn't mind her much. He likes licking her all over when I hold her up to him, and she likes touching his nose and laughing. Wonder what it'll be like when she starts crawling around on the floor with him.
He also seems to know to be more careful while he's guiding me and I'm carrying her. I didn't teach him anything extra; it's just something he did on his own. He stops for things we'd normally walk past to make sure that she doesn't get hurt by me bumping into anything. It's amazing how smart these dogs are.
-- Allie
That's wonderful. He sounds like a lovely and smart boy. What breed is he? I'm sorry, but I've forgotten.
Oh, sorry. I should have mentioned in my post for those who don't know me. LOL. My dog is a yellow lab.
When my fiance's German shepherd lived with us, he was the sweetest, gentlest dog around the baby. When I'd lie her down to change her diaper, he'd come over and rest his head next to her, or on her chest. Made for some interesting changing times, but that's OK. He'd always sit quietly, tirelessly, and let her stroke his head. He was a beautiful shepherd. Unfortunately, he had to be put down last year, on Thanksgiving, because his pancreas had shut down. It was heart-wrenching. He wasn't my dog, but I cried rivers of tears over that dog.
Anyway, I think since our guides our with us 24/7, that they get used to the baby, whether they start out being jealous or not. They're pack animals, so they soon learn where the baby ranks in the pack.
-- Allie
Oh, absolutely. And what a special dog he must have been. He sounds like a truly beautiful and empathetic animal. I hope Paisley displays some of that nature with my baby.
My husband just got accepted to get a Guide Dog. And as most of you know, we have a son who is now well on his way to running. What are some things you would like us to know before he brings the dog home? Any suggestions on traveling with a toddler and a guide dog? Anything we can do to prepare Nathaniel for such a big change? What about jealousy, both between the dog and Nathaniel? Anything we can do to make things easier on both the guide dog and our son? Any suggestions would be great.
Didn't they let you bring your guidedogs with you wile you were in the hospital? I heard that that was a requierment along with the axxess laws.
And why on earth would you subject your dog to hospital life? If you're in a hospital, that implies that you're sick enough that you won't be up and walking a lot. So, if you bring your dog, all it has to do all day is lie still, oh, and be exposed to a lot of viruses and health risks. Even if the dog doesn't contract them, it can and will carry them in its coat for a long time. Hep B, for example, can live for up to six months outside the body. Call me defeatest, but i'd far rather take a cane in there with me. For all I use it, it's hardly an inconvenience not to have the dog.
And then you have to consider other sick people. What if the person in the bed next to you has pneumonia, or bronchiectasis? In that case, the hairs from your dog pose a very, very real health risk to them. I think in some ways, access laws have gone mad.
FM
Guide dog+baby makes for interesting porn.
And wear did it say on this post that the dog was not allowed in a hospital? I think I missed it.
You don't bring your dog to the hospital to stay, but most hospitals allow dogs to be brought in, guides or pets, for socialization with the newborn. Something to check on.
I wouldn't think it would be practical to bring a giude dog in to the hospital. I mean, you're not going to do much walking/guidework ...
i know several people who brought the guide dog in to the hospital to bond with the baby.
1. The poster mentioning guide dogs in the hospital was talking about when delivering a baby, not being sick. This is a parenting board after all. 2. Bringing your guide dog to the hospital with you when you are going in to labor is unfair to the dog, all that stress, unfair to the other laboring mothers in the hospital and the sick people there as well and is completely unnecessary. 3. I don't know about any hospital that would allow a pet dog into the hospital for socialization with a baby. A guide dog, yes, but not an ordinary pet dog. 4. To TRBM, that is so beyond disgusting that I feel physically nausious reading it. I hope for the sake of the human race that you never have children.