GSD's and Babies

Shilo was only 6 months old when we had our youngest daughter. And we set the the boundries for her when we brought the baby home and she obeyed them. When she was born and my DH would go home at night he would bring a sleeper and one of her dirty diapers home with him so Shilo could get use to the smell. When baby finally did come home, Shilo was very curious at first but then kinda had no interest in her. Whenever Katie cried, Shilo would come and get me or my DH and look at us like "Are you going to help her?" But for the most part she really didn't care either way.


Shilo is now 5 and Katie will be 5 in June and they have a very special bond to each other. They play outside togther, cuddle on the couch together. And Shilo is protective of Katie.

It can work and some dogs (not just GSDs) take a little longer to accept a baby but it does work out if you are willing to work with both the dog and the baby as it grows. Because kids need to learn that they need to respect a dog, just a the dog needs to learn to respect the child!

Good luck on the baby making!!!!

It can work but with a pair, they'll be more issues than with a single dog.

Morgan was 2 and Luther was 5 when my oldest was born. Morgan went from being the wild thing to sitting vigil infront of my son's crib. She let me know if he so much as moved. When the twins were born, we used to joke around that Morgan did so well, we got her 2 more.

Luther passed on nearly 3 years ago. He was a very natural dogs kinda dog. Unflappable, oddly outgoing for a GSD and loved to play. He was loving with my son until about the time Jimmy was learning how to crawl. We had some issues where he growled at Jimmy, never snapped, just grumbled when Jimmy tried to crawl on him.

Morgan, the queen bee who had long before asserted her pack superiority over Luther, would always straighten Luther out. If he knocked the baby over by accident, Morgan would hit him, hard and mean. Just something to watch out for.

I read your post about Emma's aggression. Something to consider while your pregnant: her aggression may ramp up even more when she notices that you aren't as strong or capable as you were. With Morgan I saw serious aggression rear it's ugly head about the being of the third trimester, a little earlier with the twins (I was a house with them!)

I think it depends a lot on the dog and the way you handle it.

If the dog already has aggression issues then I'd be concerned about the dog in ANY case, not just in a baby case.

If it's a good, solid dog....then I wouldn't worry.

You would need to be mindful that dogs can get jealous of your time and attention. If you start ignoring the dog, spending less time with him/her...getting moody and snappy with him...he might become resentful and bored. Might start chewing or digging or some other kind of behavior that you will find annoying...which will only feed into the problem.

If I were pregnant and I was concerned, I would do this: I would start training the dog about baby stuff now.

If I wasn't going to want the dog in the nursery...I'd set the whole nursery up now and not let the dog in....way before the baby came.

I would put an infant car seat on the floor either empty or with a doll in it and would NOT allow the dog to sniff it or get too close (if I wasn't planning to allow the dog to sniff or approach the seat WITH the baby in it once it was here) Could do the same with baby swing, high chair, etc.....

If I plannned on putting the baby on a blanket on the floor and didn't want the dog on the blanket, again, I'd start putting the blanket on the floor now and teach the dog to stay off of it.

I would also start spending more and more time in the rocking chair either alone or with a doll and teach the dog to lie quietly nearby or out of the nursery or however I planned to do it after baby's arrival.

Having Daddy spend more time with the dog, feeding and playing, etc...is a good idea, too. This way, the dog is getting attention that he needs and he won't feel so rejected that NO ONE is playing with him anymore. You can also designate a certain time of the day to the dog...and keep that appointment with him even after the baby arrives.

If you teach the dog boundaries NOW...before the baby arrives, he will be less likely to make the connection that his life was grand before IT came.

The dog will be less confused that why did Mommy used to play with me all day but now she just sits there holding that thing and ignoring me?? He will have practiced sitting quietly by the rocker and he will be more used to the baby stuff and will probably resent the baby much less.

If you have friends with babies, it might not be a bad idea to have them come over and let the dog get used to the sounds and smells of little ones. He can practice his new expected behaviors of not going over and mauling the baby with his tongue or pawing at it with his huge feet, etc...

In other words, the more you can set up his life NOW for how it will be when the baby comes, the easier it will be on everyone.

My kids were raised on Rottweilers and we never had a problem.

I second the motion to enjoy the baby-making!!

aww I love the baby and the WGSD!

My babies and GSD were (and are) the best of buds! They grew up together!

My GSD sat at their bassinet , or high chair, or tub, watching and listening to every sound.

I think that if you introduce them early to a baby or child, slowly and gently is best.

Set up your home/car for the baby early. Let the dog smell the baby's towel or shirt from the hospital. Have Dad or someone else bring in the baby when you come home and you greet the dog.

Make time for the dog and baby.

GSD are great family dogs!

Good luck!

Mel