Dog Meets Baby Blog

I bought my Mom a robotic vacuum (Roomba) for Christmas a few years ago. The following year I bought her a stand-alone mixer. To this day, she talks about those two presents because they made her daily life EASIER.

Dog hair everywhere, dog barking, the guilt because you don't have time for your dog anymore.

I am a much happier mom when the robotic vacuum cleans my house, the dog's barking doesn't wake up the kid (white noise machine!), and my dog just spent 30 minutes working on her meal offered in a snuffle mat.

This gift guide is meant to be practical and make your life EASIER.

If you are tracking Black Friday deals, add the products you like from the Gift Guide to your list. You can find more products I, my clients, and Dog Meets Community like and recommend in the Dog Meets Baby Amazon Store.

For your baby, your dog, and you

Bringing home a baby is a big change for a dog.

The new sounds, smells, baby items, change of routines, and the actual baby, can be hard on man...

“I have young kids, how do I choose the right dog for our family?”

I get asked this question all the time, I even asked myself the same question when we were thinking of adding a 2nd dog to the mix.
My decision process now – as a mom with two young kids with busy social life, aka many playdates – was different from when I was single and adopted Lola in 2011 from Animal Haven.

Puppy vs. Adult

Both choices have benefits and challenges. It’s important to consider how much work you want to put in initially and what will be the best fit for your family.

Puppy

One of the benefits people feel about puppies is, of course, their adorableness and fun nature. Puppies can be raised in your family from a very young age, and you will be there throughout all the stages of their life. However, puppies are a LOT of work and have a lot of energy.

Puppies need to be well socialized (teaching them to feel comfortable with people, sounds, other dogs, and objects). Socialization is about exp

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Did you decide to get a dog as a couple before having a child, or did you and your pup come as a “package deal”?

Or, are you a single parent or a couple with young children looking to add a dog to your family but not sure when and how?

I’ll walk you through different scenarios to help you prepare your dog for future kids or help you choose the best moment for your family to get your dream dog.

Option 1: First dog, then child

Many couples get a dog before they decide to have children. It's a good way to learn responsibility and selflessness. Dogs teach us better planning skills and to be more flexible. And, if you get your dog as a puppy, you’ll also get a taste of the inevitable sleep deprivation that comes with a baby.

If you plan on kids entering the picture at some point -no matter how far down the line- getting your dog comfortable around children is important. ⁠
When socializing a dog with unfamiliar or familiar children, it is extremely important you do it right.

Here’...

Does your dog steal your baby’s toys, diapers, pacifiers, or clothes? Sometimes you get lucky and your dog magically KNOWS not to touch the baby's toys. ⁠⁠But, if you’re like most, you need a strategy for keeping your baby's stuff out of your dog's mouth, and your dog out of harm's way.

Creating a safe environment.

Babies bring A LOT of new and organic smells that are exciting to your dog. Dogs are natural scavengers. Scavenging is a survival mechanism and an instinct that’s strong in most dogs. Introducing a baby to your house can potentially trigger your dog’s scavenger tendencies in new ways.

Many baby items can be stimulating for your dog, or even mistaken for food. Here’s a list of common baby items that can be uncontrollably enticing for your dog:

• dirty burp clothes
• dirty diapers
• milk/formula bottles
• pacifiers with baby slobber

My dog ate a toy, now what? 

If your dog gets, consumes, or destroys one of these things, don’t panic; it’s no different than your dog...

One of the best ways to keep your dog entertained while you are figuring out life with a baby is puzzle toys for dogs. These toys have a variety of functions and there are different toys depending on your dog’s size and personality. Read below to learn how to pick out the perfect puzzle toys for your dogs and some of my (and Lola’s) personal favorites! Plus, here is a reel that shows how I prepare puzzle toys for dogs with my kids. 

How to Choose Puzzle Toys For Dogs

There are some things you should keep in mind when choosing puzzle toys for dogs:

1. Choose a toy based on your dog’s personality and size. Many toys come in multiple sizes so you can choose the right one for your pet.
2. Start out by making it easy for your dog to get the food from the toy. Use loosely-packed food so it falls out easily.
3. Once they are used to the toy, make it more difficult. For example, you could freeze the toy, add extra layers, or pack in more food.
4. If your baby is mobile, it’s best to give puzzle to...

With a new baby on the way, you’re probably thinking about what to add to your baby registry… But have you considered adding items that can be equally beneficial for both you and your dog? There are tons of items that can bring you less stress and guilt and more quality time with your baby and dog! Here are 6 dog mom must-haves that will make your life (and your dog’s) so much easier!

1. Robotic Vacuum or Cordless Vacuum

You may already be used to the dog hair, but just wait until your little one starts crawling around… You won’t believe how much they can pick up! On their clothes, in their mouths, and everywhere else!

I highly recommend getting a robotic vacuum to do the work for you. It’s one less thing you need to stress about every week. Or, you can opt for a cordless vacuum that is easy to use and doesn’t have a long cord that your baby would play with. 

2. Puzzle Toys

Some other dog mom must-haves are puzzle toys for your dog. Puzzle toys can keep them occupied and allow y...

After months of waiting, you finally have had the opportunity to introduce your dog to the newest little member of your family. All of the hard work is over, right?

Sadly, there is a whole other side to life with a dog and baby that many people who have always held the title of “dog mom” don’t realize will come into play once that baby arrives!

Dog Mom Guilt

One of the biggest changes, and something that isn’t talked about enough, is the guilt that you may feel once your baby arrives. This goes beyond new baby mom guilt because you now have to figure out how to balance a new baby and dog all at once. For most, this means that your dog, who used to be your baby and your whole world, will start to be left out or won’t get the attention you want to give them.

 The introduction of a baby changes the dynamic that you had, and you have to learn how to be the best mom for your baby and the best dog mom for your dog, all at once. Just remember that you aren’t alone in this! There are so ma...

For many families in the United States, parental leave is considered a luxury. The fact that you have to somehow make everything work while you are still trying to get used to being a new mom is miserable! It takes a toll on many moms in more ways than one. The lack of paternity leave in the U.S. is made even more difficult when you have to not only worry about a newborn but a dog too! I completely understand how you feel. It sucks that you have to simply cross your fingers and hope that everything goes smoothly while you are at work.

If you are struggling with this, here are three tips for when you are trying to juggle baby and dog when your parental leave is over:

1. Make Preparations for Baby and Dog

The more you prepare your dog for the addition of a new family member, the easier it will be! 

One way that you can ease your dog into life with baby is by practicing stroller walks and teaching your dog to walk on a loose leash before the baby is born. Having a well trained dog ...