A comment on my last post got me thinking....
Jax mentioned people who choose to have kids when they have a dog, sometimes then think they have to give up the dog. Jax and I are in total agreement that the dog is a huge part (or should be) of your family, and you can't just shuffle them off like a stuffed animal. I mean, if you have a hard time with the kid at age 8 months, are you going to pass them off to another family?!? I realize that at times dog's and children for that matter can be trying on the patience and that everyone is not perfect, but I really don't think there is anything Guinness could do to make us give him to someone else. (And before you give me reasons why that could happen, I'm aware, when I was 5 my dog was put to sleep b/c she had become senile basically and had bitten me and my 1 yr old sister. So I understand extensive circumstances. I'm talking about the people who just don't want to walk the dog or feeding or playing with the dog is a pain in the ass now that they have a baby. I mean did they think life was going to get easier?!?)
So this is my rant about how you should think before bringing a dog or child or both into your family.
Think about the situations you have at hand. I know it sounds like common sense but sometimes people are lacking....
I believe my Great Dane is the best one ever....this is why. ;-)
From the day we brought Guinness home, we knew he would be out "child" until we had children, and then he'd become the oldest "child." We have taken him every place possible, introduced him to dogs and people of all sizes and ages, and we have trained ALOT to get the best behavior out of him. I'm not saying he's perfect, or that we did everything right...(just like I'm sure I won't be a perfect mom, but that's another entry.), I'm just saying that we have busted our butt LONG in advance to get him to be people friendly, because we knew we would have children someday with him around. Guinness has "played" with babies as young as 4 months and people as old as 90, and from what I've seen I think we've done pretty damn well if I do say so myself. I know those people don't live in my home and that will be different, but I really think he will be an amazing protector for Jacob.
I have washed everything I have so far for the baby, so he's seen me folding that laundry and now it smells like the rest of us around here...I spend time in the baby's room by myself and with other people...I let Guinness inspect the clothes in the closet and the blankets and the toys that jingle and wiggle (part of his training, is he doesn't "eat" or play with anything unless he's been given it by us)...We let him lay on the bed in the babies room...We've let him slime the crib railing...We even talk to him about the baby and tell him to be careful and soft with my tummy and that his brother is in there....etc....You may think we are crazy, but when I said Guinness was our first "child" I meant it. He is without a doubt the best older sibling ever...He will always be there for us and Jacob...He will always love us unconditionally. This is why my Great Dane is the best one ever! I can't wait to see him with Jacob. I can just picture Jacob sleeping in his crib, Guinness sleeping on the floor in front of the crib, Jeremy and I resting on the couch (who am I kidding, folding laundry on the couch) and my entire world will be perfect!
Jax mentioned people who choose to have kids when they have a dog, sometimes then think they have to give up the dog. Jax and I are in total agreement that the dog is a huge part (or should be) of your family, and you can't just shuffle them off like a stuffed animal. I mean, if you have a hard time with the kid at age 8 months, are you going to pass them off to another family?!? I realize that at times dog's and children for that matter can be trying on the patience and that everyone is not perfect, but I really don't think there is anything Guinness could do to make us give him to someone else. (And before you give me reasons why that could happen, I'm aware, when I was 5 my dog was put to sleep b/c she had become senile basically and had bitten me and my 1 yr old sister. So I understand extensive circumstances. I'm talking about the people who just don't want to walk the dog or feeding or playing with the dog is a pain in the ass now that they have a baby. I mean did they think life was going to get easier?!?)
So this is my rant about how you should think before bringing a dog or child or both into your family.
Think about the situations you have at hand. I know it sounds like common sense but sometimes people are lacking....
I believe my Great Dane is the best one ever....this is why. ;-)
From the day we brought Guinness home, we knew he would be out "child" until we had children, and then he'd become the oldest "child." We have taken him every place possible, introduced him to dogs and people of all sizes and ages, and we have trained ALOT to get the best behavior out of him. I'm not saying he's perfect, or that we did everything right...(just like I'm sure I won't be a perfect mom, but that's another entry.), I'm just saying that we have busted our butt LONG in advance to get him to be people friendly, because we knew we would have children someday with him around. Guinness has "played" with babies as young as 4 months and people as old as 90, and from what I've seen I think we've done pretty damn well if I do say so myself. I know those people don't live in my home and that will be different, but I really think he will be an amazing protector for Jacob.
I have washed everything I have so far for the baby, so he's seen me folding that laundry and now it smells like the rest of us around here...I spend time in the baby's room by myself and with other people...I let Guinness inspect the clothes in the closet and the blankets and the toys that jingle and wiggle (part of his training, is he doesn't "eat" or play with anything unless he's been given it by us)...We let him lay on the bed in the babies room...We've let him slime the crib railing...We even talk to him about the baby and tell him to be careful and soft with my tummy and that his brother is in there....etc....You may think we are crazy, but when I said Guinness was our first "child" I meant it. He is without a doubt the best older sibling ever...He will always be there for us and Jacob...He will always love us unconditionally. This is why my Great Dane is the best one ever! I can't wait to see him with Jacob. I can just picture Jacob sleeping in his crib, Guinness sleeping on the floor in front of the crib, Jeremy and I resting on the couch (who am I kidding, folding laundry on the couch) and my entire world will be perfect!
2 comments:
Sometimes you have to chose what is best for the dog though too. that being said, I am sure Guiness will be great with Jacob. :)
very true, like I said of the dog from my childhood, she was old, senile, and not happy. it's more along the lines of people who just throw their hands up without being flexible, working with the dog or kid or issue, but yes I understand there are times that it's appropriate. I hope he will be, we've worked so hard to make him polite since he is larger than more dogs, he freaks people out a bit lol
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