behavior problem

[Cavanagh]

My wife and I are Expecting our first child in about 6 months, we have a 2 year old Cocker Spaniel who is not good with strangers. He is not able to socialize with people other than our immediate family, Are there any drug that can help my dog to be more social?

[jills]

maybe before drugging teh pooch, you could try an animal behaviourist? It's not an uncommon problem for couples expectign tehir first baby, adn you could probably find someone close to you who could help, unless you live ina very rural location. I'd seriously give that some thought, cos then you could hopefully alter the dogs behaviour towards all people, and make him/her a happier dog, rather than just doping it up. Also, and I'm nto being funny, but an animal behaviourist could tell you honestly whether the dog qwould be OK around a baby/small child. Some dogs just cannot adjust and the unpredicatability of a baby, tho your pet it still coupled with the hgue am

[jills]

last sentence should have said.... some dogs just cannot adjust to the unpredictability of a baby. Also, jealousy can be a major problem, and if your dog is already not good with strangers, that could escalate when you have to commit such a huge amount of your time to looking after the baby. I know there are a few basics...ie have the dog out of the house when you bring baby home, then have someone bring the dog back in. Also, before baby arrives home, it's a good idea to take home a bib/babygro etc, to let the dog know what the baby smells like, and in some way get used to that scent. Good luck with baby and pooch!x

[thewillow]

Send Fluffy off to a good home.

[smudge]

Ditto - with the willow!

[Cetti]

Yes, I'm afraid my answer is the same as the willow and smudge. Look at it from his point of view - at the moment he has all your attention, so when your babe comes along he's going to be as jealous as hell putting his already problems on overload. It will be heartbreaking to give him a new home, but it's a choice between him or the baby - sadly in this case not both.

[Janetex]

I disagree, not just cos I'm disagreeable, but I feel that this dog would accept the baby as part of the "pack". The dog must be on the bottom rung of the pack, so start reading up on that and I reckon that the dog will be the best protector your child could have.

[worder]

i used to have a cocker spaniel, best darn watch dog i ever had, and i've had many. great with kids, i have 3, now teenagers. i say, keep the dog, and a behaviourist as jills suggests, and you should be okay. oh, by the way, how is he when you take him out to the park or the streets with neibour kids? is he friendly or not? of course keep him on the leash, just in case. if he is agressive with kids, then maybe you need get rid of him. or, maybe you need to get him trained, like they show on the animal planet, for dogs that end up in the shelter for adoption. first, they see if they are good around kids( do they try to bite if you pull their food bowl, as a mother, i know kids do that, mine did). then, they actualy train the dog so he will not bite. i think if you do that, you, the baby and the dog will be okay.

[Wisebird]

Have to agree with Jills, Janetex and Worder. Also, give him plenty of attention when baby comes home. He will realise baby is part of your immediate family and will most likely be very protective of him/her.