Will I love my Snickers less after having a human baby???

[viviansnickers]

OMG, I'm so nervous about something that still has not happened for me!! Last weekend I went to a baby shower and was talking to some girlfriends who are also LOVE THEIR DOG MORE THAN ANYTHING who informed me that they keep hearing new moms say their doggiebaby's get "less loved" & "annoying" after having a human baby!!!!! We plan to start having a family this fall!!!!!!!!!

WHAT!????!! I understand I will have to devote my time MUCH differently but IS THIS TRUE!!!?? I guess "loving them less" is really in your heart, but will Snickers get ANNOYING to me??? NEVER!!!! Meaning, they said, if he has a random accident or doesn't listen, that it's really annoying!!! NO!!!!!!! How can this be!!! I don't think I will be this way. Even my babe says after we have a baby, he will make sure Snickers is still waited on hand and foot LOL!!!!! We will not be changing anything in Snickers' life post baby---he will still sleep with us FOR SURE!! (Many change that after the baby comes!!)

Sad!!!!
Snick & Viv

[mzw00dy]

I had my fist son in 1985...I was on my way to the hospital with my second son, in active labor, when I told my husband to turn around. Told him we could not have this baby because all the love with to my first son Jimmy. My husband of course went on to the hospital. Three hours later they handed me my second son. And it was instant. There was room to love him too. Your heart just grows, like in the grinch, and there is room to love them all.

[jencar98]

As someone that works with rescue I see it too many times. Younger girl gets a small dog, loves the dog just like a baby, then has a human baby. Next thing, the dog is too much trouble, takes to much time and they are rehoming the dog.

Forrest one of my current fosters is a perfect example of this. She advertised him on Craigslist. I see the ads almost everyday on CL - same circumstances.

But, then I know of other girls that although their dog gets less attention, they do keep their dogs and still love them.

[red98vett]

I would hope that isn't true and most people who have dogs first should always take the extra effort to make them feel loved and not 'replaced' -

I can understand a human baby is so much more work and also a different 'feeling' but there's plenty of love in our hearts and all we can do is be aware that dogs are very sensitive also. They were there first and can be completely content with a new baby if the new mom keeps consistant and doesn't put the dog on the back burner.

My son just had his first child - his 2 weinie boys are getting all the love they need and more and very well adjusted with the new 'family member' - they love their new sister !!!

[lil fu fu girl]

It all depends on the size of your heart! From the way you sound, I think that there will be plenty of love to go around.

[viviansnickers]

One of my motto's for myself is that any "life" that is put under my care is going to have the best life I can possibly give it. This includes, my husband, my 26 kindergarteners, my Snick, my 2 sets of parents, and even my plants.

Snick & Viv

[mzw00dy]

Wish I could say the same about my plants...all the animals, kids, and hubby are good, but the indor plants...I am not so good with those...lol...But you will love them all and I would not worry, it will be awesome and the love will just expand.

[Darlene68]

Unfortunately I've see this many times too. I actually have a relative that had a dog for over 12 years, her and her husband treated this dog like a child, they were trying to have children and couldn't, then at the age of 35 she became pregnant, had the baby and the dog made a little snap at the newborn..they put the dog down immediately! I was so upset by this, I thought it was so unnecessary They stated later they regretted it, a little to late fro the poor dog though!!

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

One of my motto's for myself is that any "life" that is put under my care is going to have the best life I can possibly give it. This includes, my husband, my 26 kindergarteners, my Snick, my 2 sets of parents, and even my plants.

Snick & Viv

haha - I think your plants will do ok without the big love commitment

you'll be FINE

[Cirlonde]

Okay...so this might sound bad but hear me out...

I have the opposite concern. What if after I have a child, I love the dog more than the kid!?! I don't mean the general every day kind of love, but the bad days kind of love. You know, the kid grows up and gets a mouth and back talks me or won't mind or whatever. And then I look at Chloe who is so sweet and well behaved and snuggly.... I worry about that.

Back on subject, my cousin has two kids and a female schnauzer. She'd had the schnauzer for several years before she had the first baby. Her first child was a boy and the schnauzer didn't much care for him. Well, my cousin was telling me that, of course, kinda made her resent the dog a bit. Then about eight months ago, she had a little girl. The schnauzer fell in love with this baby, watched over her protectively; total 180 from her behavior with the boy. All of a sudden, she's back in my cousin's good graces. I share because that's really the only story I have about puppy parents having kids.
-C

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by red98vett

haha - I think your plants will do ok without the big love commitment

you'll be FINE

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by Darlene68

Unfortunately I've see this many times too. I actually have a relative that had a dog for over 12 years, her and her husband treated this dog like a child, they were trying to have children and couldn't, then at the age of 35 she became pregnant, had the baby and the dog made a little snap at the newborn..they put the dog down immediately! I was so upset by this, I thought it was so unnecessary They stated later they regretted it, a little to late fro the poor dog though!!

oh man - that was drastic - if they couldn't find a way to work with the dog then they should have found some who would give it a home -

that makes me sick but I know people think nothing about putting a dog to sleep for the stupidest reasons.

Showing regret after the fact doesn't make it right, it's too late for the dog and he didn't deserve that one bit. It's LAZY and cold hearted to kill a dog over a little impulsive act. There's no excuse for that at all when there are plenty of good homes out there. Some dogs may snap but if you catch the behavior and correct it - it's very possible it was a one time thing. Heck - MOTHERS can snap - look at all the stories we hear.

I know some vets won't even put down a healthy dog but unfortunately many will.

[alyx]

When you have a baby the love you feel for that baby (in most cases) is much, much deeper than any love you have ever felt before. Until you experience it you have no idea just how hard that love hits you. It's pretty incredible. BUT it doesn't mean that you will love your dog any less, just the same way that you don't love your partner or other kids any less.

What does make a difference, though, is the amount of time you have left over for animals in the first few months. In those months your baby needs you every second of every day. There's not a great deal of time for anything else unless you have plenty of help. You need to get things organised so that it's eaier to cope. Babies do take priority, though, so you have to juggle everything around the baby so that the dog's not neglected.

A lot of it is down to how much you love your dog. Many people just get a dog for the sake of getting a dog. Those dogs will often end up being shoved into rescues. But if you have that dog because you love it dearly and it's a real part of the family, then it always will be that way. You just have to make sure you have plenty of help and can put aside a bit of quality time for the dog in the first few months.

As I say, you won't love it any less but you will love the baby more.

[jencar98]

Originally Posted by alyx

When you have a baby the love you feel for that baby (in most cases) is much, much deeper than any love you have ever felt before. Until you experience it you have no idea just how hard that love hits you. It's pretty incredible. BUT it doesn't mean that you will love your dog any less, just the same way that you don't love your partner or other kids any less.

What does make a difference, though, is the amount of time you have left over for animals in the first few months. In those months your baby needs you every second of every day. There's not a great deal of time for anything else unless you have plenty of help. You need to get things organised so that it's eaier to cope. Babies do take priority, though, so you have to juggle everything around the baby so that the dog's not neglected.

A lot of it is down to how much you love your dog. Many people just get a dog for the sake of getting a dog. Those dogs will often end up being shoved into rescues. But if you have that dog because you love it dearly and it's a real part of the family, then it always will be that way. You just have to make sure you have plenty of help and can put aside a bit of quality time for the dog in the first few months.

As I say, you won't love it any less but you will love the baby more.

I agree completely.

[John Stelting]

You'll still love Snickers.........


but the Almond Joy with nuts will have to go..........


Good luck