#like if i see the former treasurer it is actively on sight i will yell at her in a grocery store

[candlewitches]

cannot sleep mostly because of pain but also bc i am still full of rage at the former (and now current again LMAO) execs of my former larp. like literally. “i can excuse (alleged) mismanagement, fraud, and embezzlement, but i draw the line at a sternly worded announcement”

[skylanders-after-the-end]

Queen Midas

The Golden Queen has spent hours and hours wandering through an endless desert. After months of travelling and avoiding getting caught, the villainess thought that she had finally reached her home. However, she soon came to the realization that it was just a random desert without a single palace in sight.

“Curse this no name desert! I should have never gotten onto that ship that brought me here.” The queen mumbled to herself as she continued to stomp through the yellow sand.

The sun was burning, unbearable for any regular creature. Luckily, goldlings were not as sensitive to the heat and could easily withstand such high temperatures and the lack of hydration.

“There is absolutely nothing useful in this desert!” The woman once again talked to herself and began to regret her choice of abandoning the Doom Raiders and going her own path.

Golden Queen squinted her eyes when saw something shimmer in the distance. Filled with new hope, she quickly ran over to the object. With greed in her eyes she reached a sphere made out of pure gold which was sticking out of the sand. She leaned down and was about to grab the valuable treasure, but it was stuck. At first, she thought it must be too heavy, but even after using her powers without any success the desperate queen knew that something was off. Then she suddenly had an idea. Golden Queen took a couple of steps back and focused on the golden ball. She raised her hands slowly and the entire ground started to shake. It was like an earthquake, the grains of sand were thrown up into the air and spiraled like a cloud of dust. The goldling smiled as the object started to move upwards, revealing that it was part of an entire palace buried underneath the sand. After a few more moments of the queen moving the entire building up, it stood in its full glory again.

“Finally, something I can work with!” The queen smiled sinisterly as she ascended onto the steps leading to the entrance of the palace. This could be the beginning of her new reign.

The Golden Queen’s reign over her home, the Golden Desert, has lasted for many years. She was the youngest member of the royal goldling family who ruled over the land for as long as anyone can remember. The king and queen were just and wise rulers, treating their subjects with respect and generosity. Gold was their most prized possession, but the rulers were not greedy since it was common in their land. Instead, they distributed their gift to the rest of the world. Legends even say that they were the source for all gold in Skylands. But their daughter, at the time named Golden Princess, was not as benevolent as her parents. Even though they wanted to raise her to be a good-hearted person, her greed always got the best of her, until there was nothing left that they could do.

The royal guards in front of the Golden Princess’ room stood there patiently, but neither of them could hide their fear. The goldling spawn was stomping through her room as if she was trying to break through the very floor. It was her 16th birthday and the princess was outraged by the gift her parents have given her.

“A book!?” She yelled for the fourth time in less than a minute. “What in Skylands am I supposed to do with a book!?”

The bratty teenager threw the piece of literature against the wall before it dropped down to the ground, falling open on a certain page. After scoffing some more about the ridiculous gift, the Golden Princess wanted to pick the book back up and throw it into the nearest pit. However, as soon as she laid eyes on the open page, the princess became interested. It was a book about her family’s ancestors and the page documented the reign of the mysterious King Midas, who was assumed to be the first goldling. She held the book in her hands and read through the many words and sentences. The princess reached a part which said that the ancient king possessed never before seen powers that could turn anything he touched to pure gold. The girl’s red jewel eyes sparkled in an eager light.

Golden Princess slammed the door to her room open, causing the guards outside to jump up in surprise. She made her way through the dark halls of the Golden Palace until she reached the outside, strolling to one of many small brick walls surrounding the building where she would be at peace. One more time, the princess read through the paragraph about the former king turning objects and even living beings into gold, before putting the book aside and focusing on the structure in front of her. She closed her eyes and stretched her hand out, thinking of nothing but gold. The girl attempted to activate her powers by shaking her hand, but without any success. She opened her eyes just to see the wall still in its plain dusty state, without any hint of gold. The goldling punched the air with frustration before her entire skin started to glow in the sunlight. Finally, a beam of golden energy bolted out of her hands and hit the wall. It instantly turned into solid gold and the princess interrupted her tantrum to smile with pure joy after seeing the result. The Golden Princess grabbed the book and hurried back to the palace, she wanted to prove to her parents that she is the only one truly worthy of the throne.

It didn’t take the Golden Princess long to reach the throne room where her mother and father, the current rulers of the Golden Desert, have spent most of their day. With the book tightly in her greedy hand, the princess walked up to them and caught everyone’s attention.

“Mother, father, I want the throne!” The Golden Princess said without any hesitation and full confidence in herself.

The parents looked at each other blankly before looking back at their daughter and laughing. “Sweetie, we’ve talked about this.” The humored father responded. “You are to wait in line to take seat on the throne. You are the youngest of your siblings, so you will be the last to inherit it.”

“That doesn’t matter!” The princess stomped her foot so heavily that an echo travelled through the entire area. “I am the most deserving of the throne, and I will prove it to you!”

The goldling looked over to one of the guards, who returned a rather frightened look. She held her hand up and closed her eyes to focus. In a few short moments, the princess shot a golden ray straight at the guard which turned him into a golden statue. She smiled upon that transformation.

The king and queen were shocked. They just witnessed their daughter wielding powers which haven’t been seen since King Midas. “Who taught you that?” The mother asked completely bewildered.

“He did!” The Golden Princess opened the page in the book about the first king Midas and presented it to her parents. “I am the chosen descendant to possess his powers!”

The rulers were at a lack for words and could only look at each other baffled. “We gave you the book to learn about your ancestors, not to revive his legacy!” The king said in a stern voice.

“But he was the first king and I have his powers!” The princess immediately argued against her father. “I should be-”

“Enough!” The king silenced his stubborn child and stood up from the throne. “Go to your room! We need to have a talk about this in private.”

The Golden Princess inhaled furiously and twirled around to run back into her room. Meanwhile the other guards observed their frozen companion and tried to reverse the mysterious transformation.

The king stepped into his daughter’s room and sat onto the large bed, which was covered with all kinds of jewels and other valuable accessories.

“Goldy.” The king addressed his daughter with her nickname that only the parents knew of. “I am glad you took the time to read through the book we gave you, but there is something you must know about King Midas.”

The princess was in her bed rolling her eyes at her father’s words. She just wanted the conversation to be done with so she could continue to argue about her heritage of the throne.

“King Midas was a very… ruthless king.” The worried king began and remembered the dark tales his own parents told him about their ancestor. “He was gifted with the power to turn anything he touched to gold, but he decided to abuse them. He started to turn the food and water into gold whenever he was in a bad mood, and it got to the point where he turned his subjects into statues as well.” The father was very concerned and scared about his daughter repeating that mistake. “I don’t want you to go down that path as well. I know that you’re frustrated you won’t get the chance to be queen because you��re the youngest, but being a princess also grants you a lot of power and-”

“Who said I will never be queen?” The Golden Princess finally spoke up and looked her father in the eyes.

The king sighed and wanted his spawn to understand that she can’t have everything. “Goldy, it’s highly unlikely that you will outlive your youngest brother before you get onto the throne-”

“I don’t care about that!” The princess raised her voice and a glowing light emitted from her body. “I have those powers for a reason. They were lost for centuries, but I discovered them again, that’s why I should be queen next!”

“Goldy, enough of this nonsense!” The king lost his soft attitude and felt it was time to use other measures to put the princess in her place. “You will follow the rules just like everyone else and wait on your time, with or without powers!”

“I will not!” The young goldling yelled and glowed even brighter. “I will become the next ruler!”

“You will not!” The father countered. He raised himself from the bed and had enough of his daughter’s tantrum. “You are to stay in your room until I tell you otherwise, understood?”

“No!” The princess clenched her teeth and denied her father even further. “If I won’t be the next queen… then I will be the queen right now!”

She stretched out both of her arms and shot a powerful golden ray at the king, turning him into a statue immediately. Instead of panicking or feeling remorse, the sinister goldling smiled and stepped out of her room to finally take what she believes is rightfully hers.

The young princess arrived at the throne room where her mother was patiently waiting on the king to return.

“Where’s your father?” The queen asked slightly concerned after seeing her daughter’s satisfied gleam in her eyes.

“He won’t be coming back.” The Golden Princess answered, leaving her mother without words.

“What have you done?” The queen rose from her chair and approached the princess. “Tell me!”

The Golden Princess grabbed her mother’s wrist as soon as she got close enough and slowly started to turn her into gold. “The same thing I will do to you.” She started to glow, and before the queen could react, she ended up as a golden statue as well. The merciless teenager then looked up and saw the crown on top of her mother’s head. She reached up to grab it and put it on her own head, symbolizing that she was the new queen.

The Golden Princess went on and froze the guards, allowing her to walk up the stairs to the throne and sit on it. The princess smiled as she was now the highest ranked member of the family, and no one could take that away from her. The subjects of the kingdom were summoned to the throne room to witness the chilling sight of the frozen queen and guards and the greedy princess sitting on top of the king’s throne.

“Where is the king?” One of the citizens asked.

“He’s gone.” Golden Princess answered while one of the remaining guards carried the king’s golden body into the throne room, leaving everyone in utter shock.

“You are speaking to your new superior, peasants!” The Golden Princess didn’t hesitate to make her position clear and already set the tone for her reign. “You may address me as the Golden Queen.”

The following years have been the darkest the kingdom has known since King Midas’ reign of terror. The Golden Queen was ruthless and couldn’t care less for her subjects. She denied them any privileges that her parents allowed them before and only cared about the gold they brought her. Everyday, all of the citizens would have to pay the queen with all of the gold they could find in the desert, otherwise they would end up as one of her golden statues that she proudly set up around her palace. Her older siblings were banished from the desert and never seen again, leaving the Golden Queen as the last sole ruler of the kingdom. Her reign has reached the point where her subjects starved to death and their lifeless bodies could be found in the hot sand of the Golden Desert. However, the queen knew that she couldn’t do everything on her own, so she used ancient magic to revive the citizens as undead soldiers, leaving them no choice but to serve her.

The Golden Queen’s reign went on for many decades, centuries even. With undead soldiers guarding the entire desert and keeping intruders from getting too close to the palace. It wasn’t until one day, the former pharaoh and ruler of the Golden Desert, Grave Clobber, returned from the dead just to find his kingdom in the clutches of the goldling queen. He and his brothers ruled long before the line of goldlings, but due to their dysfunctional relationship they ruined each other and left the kingdom without any ruler, allowing Midas to take over all those years ago.

Grave Clobber arrived at the Golden Palace, where he was able to get past all the guards, mostly by beating them to dust. When he reached the throne room, the Golden Queen was outraged to see a stranger who dared to face her.

“What is the meaning of this!?” The queen stood up and started to glow in her rage. “I will not tolerate any intruders! Guards!”

The few remaining soldiers who were meant to protect their queen hurried to the throne room, but they were all intimated by the mummy’s presence. “What are you doing in my palace?” He finally asked the goldling.

“Excuse me?” Golden Queen spit the words out to express her outrage. “I am the Golden Queen, ruler of the Golden Desert. I don’t know, nor do I care who you are, but you will obey me!”

“I am Grave Clobber, pharaoh and ruler of the Golden Desert.” The hefty being didn’t even think about giving up his kingdom just because his brothers buried him alive and he couldn’t escape for hundreds of years. “And you will give me my kingdom back.”

The Golden Queen laughed. A hollow, wicked laugh that echoed through the entire building. “You must have taken a wrong turn looking for your tomb.” The queen teased the emotionless mummy. “Bad Juju! Take care of this!”

Upon those words, the spirit emerged from the sand which was present throughout the entire palace. With a staff in her skeletal hand and a swift movement, she teleported herself right next to the queen. “How may I be of service, your highness?”

“Use your magic on this imbecile so that he follows my orders without hesitation.” Golden Queen didn’t want to waste any more of her time and turned around while her servant fulfilled her demand.

“Gladly, my queen.” Bad Juju was about to cast a spell on the mummy that would turn him into one of Golden Queen’s slaves.

“Wait!” Grave Clobber interrupted the process and caused the Golden Queen to stop from walking away. He realized that he stood no chance against the queen and her minions, so he bargained. “I can make you an offer.”

The goldling slightly turned her head so that she could see the mummy from the corner of her eye. “I’m listening.”

“I know the desert. I know all of its secrets and hidden treasures. If you let me rule by your side, we could expand our kingdom and conquer all of Skylands!” While he would prefer to rule the Golden Desert on his own again, he was willing to share it with Golden Queen rather than being one of her mindless servants.

“Why would I want to share what belongs to me?” The queen turned around again to look Grave Clobber into his hollow yellow eyes. “Then you would take all of my gold! I did not collect gold for all those years just so someone could take it away from me!” The queen stomped her foot with such force that a small crack appeared underneath her. The insatiable greed for the mineral was all that was on the goldling’s mind. She didn’t care about the benefits of another experienced ruler, all she wanted was gold.

“Gold?” Grave Clobber was confused about the queen’s absurd obsession. “Gold will have no use to you when your kingdom falls apart and gets taken over.”

“Nonsense!” The goldling yelled furiously, stomping once more and spreading the crack. “Gold is the most powerful weapon anyone can have!” While gold has always been of great value in the kingdom, the queen’s parents were never as greedy as their daughter and always tried to keep her from becoming like this. “We all live because of gold. You need gold to eat, you need gold to sleep, you even need gold for love!” A toxic mindset that was natural to the goldling was that you could buy anyone’s love with enough gold. The fact that her parents used the gold found in the desert to help others and thus gain respect and a certain position in society gave her the impression that it was the ultimate form of power. “There is nothing I desire more than gold! It is the purest of all minerals and the most wanted product in all of Skylands!” The goldling smiled with greed as she looked around herself and saw all the gold surrounding her. She wanted to have as much of it as possible, even going as far as to create a golden river running through the throne room underneath her. “I don’t need the power of ruling over the Skylands! I already have the greatest power! Gold is power!”

With her final sentence the Golden Queen raised her foot once again, just to let it sink to the ground with such power that the floor underneath her gave in. Before Bad Juju or the queen could react, she fell through the stone floor and landed in the river of liquid gold. Bad Juju gazed through the hole with shock. She could see a few air bubbles rise to the surface until they disappeared. There was no sign of the queen.

Grave Clobber felt no sympathy and instead of looking for the queen, he approached the throne.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Bad Juju held her staff tightly and hovered in front of the chair.

“I’m taking back what’s mine.” Grave Clobber wasn’t in the mood to argue and simply pushed the spirit aside. Before he could take seat on the throne however, Bad Juju cast her spell on the mummy, causing him to stop and turn around.

“You will not do anything as long as the queen doesn’t tell you to.” Those were the words the mummy would live by from that moment onward. Just another one of Golden Queen’s loyal subjects.

Even though Golden Queen possessed the rare golden powers, the goldling wasn’t able to free herself from the shimmering substance she fell into and turned into a golden statue herself. Her servants didn’t know how to help her, so they decided to create a pedestal on top of her throne and put her onto it, serving as nothing more than a glorified decoration. Many years after that, due to a mysterious event, the queen was set free and more powerful than ever before. She searched for more villainous creatures that would help her conquer the Skylands to reclaim all the gold that has been stolen from her home. They were later known as the Doom Raiders.

Now the Golden Queen has finally found another place she could claim for herself. After the temple emerged from the sand and she entered it, the goldling recognized it right away. It was one of the royal family’s former domains. Under King Midas’ reign the people of the desert lived here and followed his every order. Legends have it that it used to be one of the mighty Arkeyan’s temples. The Golden Queen was delighted and soon found the throne in the heart of the building. It was even more glorious and intimidating than the one at home. She knew that if she wanted to rule the Skylands and claim all the gold for herself, she would have to build an army. She sat down on the throne, as that was the place where she came up with the best ideas. She then noticed something shimmering in one of the corners of the hall. It looked mechanical, almost robotic. Her jewel eyes opened wide when she realized exactly what that was. The legends were true after all. The queen started to laugh. It echoed throughout the entire palace and got louder with each passing moment. The wicked sound could be heard beyond the thick walls and far into the deserted land. The villainess finally found a way to win.

[blueplanettrash]

My Treasure (Part 1)

First off, I want to point out that I love mermaid Shiro just as much as I love mermaid Lance so I was fucking dying while I planned this one out. Thank you for this prompt. Apologizes for all the parts I’ve been putting out instead of one long story like I usually do. I hope you enjoy! ❤️

Out of everything that Lance had ever earned, stole or was given, he was the proudest of his ship. She was everything a pirate could ask for; fast, durable, armed to the teeth, and incredibly seaworthy. 

His crew was filled with all the people that he had rescued in the past; whether it had been helping them escape the law on the islands they visited or fishing them out of the ocean if they became castaways. He gave each of them an equal chance to prove themselves as a member of his crew or he would drop them at the next island they came across, it was always their choice.

His right-hand man was a man named Barnes. He never told Lance his last name but at that time he wasn’t really concerned about it, they all had their secrets and it wasn’t any of his business. He had been with Barnes the longest, he was the one who dragged Lance out of the slums when he couldn’t do it himself. He raised him up to be who he was now and although, it wasn’t the cleanest job he could have, it was certainly better than laying to die and rot in the streets.

He was much older than Lance and acted as his father more than a right-hand man. Not that Lance was really complaining, ever since he was young he craved the sort of familiarity of a family that he had always been missing. 

In fact, most of the people in Lance’s crew were older than him. Some by a few years, some by a few decades but no matter who it was, he tried his best to earn their trust and so far it had paid off. They had become his family. He really did have a crew that was worth fighting for. They would give up their lives for him and he would do the same for them.

It wouldn’t always be like that though.

Everything started when they rescued five people from the waters surrounding a recently sunken ship. They weren’t sure who they were or if they were allies or not but Lance couldn’t stand to leave them to drown in the ocean when he could at least give them a chance.

He learned later on that Lotor was the captain of his own crew but the military had sunk their boat and all but the four young woman were left of his crew. Now, Lance wasn’t too unfamiliar with the concept of women who had become pirates but he had never come across one either. To be honest, he wasn’t expecting to in his lifetime. He was worried at first that the men of his crew would try to take advantage of their small number but quickly realized that the largest one; Zethrid could easily rip another person in half and the rest of them were equally as dangerous.

Needless to say, they tried to keep their distance after that.

He agreed to take them to the next island as long as they worked for their stay on his ship, it wasn’t cheap to keep people alive out on the ocean and having five extra mouths to feed didn’t make it any easier on the rest of the crew.

However, they seemed to be grateful for the deal and they made themselves scarce among the bustling activity of his crew. After that, it became business as normal, or so he thought.  

He woke one night to a pulsating pain in his face. He quickly realized that he had been punched by Zethrid and was being ripped out of his bed by his shirt. He let out a yelp as he fell to the floor and barely prepared himself before Zethrid was back on him throwing punch after punch anywhere that she could reach. She reeled back for another hit when Acxa’s hand came down on her shoulder and pulled her back slightly.

“You’re not supposed to kill him, Lotor still needs him,” she said calmly as if she wasn’t seeing a human, being heavily beaten in front of her. Zethrid snarled before huffing and standing up, a clump of Lance’s shirt clenched in her fist.

“Well let's go then, hopefully, those idiots did their job this time,” she growled before she started dragging Lance from his quarters. It was only when they were outside that Lance realized that a storm was swirling around them. Rain pelted against the deck and thunder and lightning struck in the distance.

He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the military crew standing guard around his kneeling men. They were tied with their hands behind their backs and attached to the person beside them. He tried to call out to them but only a sad croak came out of his throat.

“Ahh, the man of the evening has come to join us!” Lotor smirked, calling loudly over the sound of the rain. At that, his crew looked up and saw their young captain, dressed only in his undershirt and trousers, bloody and beaten blue and black.

“LANCE!” Barnes called out helplessly, struggling against the soldier that held him. He ignored him to look over at Lotor who was slowly making his way over.

“So Lance, I have an offer for you,” he finally said as he stood in front of him.

“That’s Captain Lance to you!” One of his crew members yelled.

“Not anymore,” Lotor laughed. “Here’s what I’m prepared to offer, you can either choose to live and we kill every member of your crew right now or you can choose to hand over your ship and your crew gets to stay safe and you die instead,”

“Kill me,” he said without a beat of hesitation. Instantly, the deck was filled with disapproving yells and screams. Lotor himself had a look of utter surprise on his face.

“How interesting,” he purred before turning to look at the rest of the crew. “You heard the man, you’ll be safe and sound on this ship, under my control,”

“Any last words?” He asked, looking over his shoulder at Lance. He took a deep breath and nodded slightly before facing his former crew. As he started speaking the soldiers prepared the ship to finally set sail out of the storm region.

“Don’t waste this opportunity you’ve been given, take it as a second chance and try to live,” Acxa started tying his hands around his back. He barely put up a fight, knowing that it would be the end soon for him anyway. As Zethrid dragged him up to stand, he stared over at Barnes.

“Thank you for picking me up that day, if it wasn’t for you I’d still be a ratty kid starving on the streets,”

“Lance, don’t do this!” Barnes pleaded looking at him with wide sorrowful eyes.

“I have to,” was all he got out before he was dragged away.

He was going to die. He was going to die and they would never be able to find his body. He was going to die and it wouldn’t be quick for him. He was going to die in pain and afraid.

He stood on the railing of his own ship, waves crashing against the side of the boat as the harsh wind swept along the water. In the distance, lightning struck down and thunder rumbled angrily above them. For the last time, he looked back to his crew with a painfully wobbling smile, the fear of death showing on his face in his last moments.

“It’s been an honour,” he said confidently. 

He watched them, their eyes full of devastation and rage. He could see their mouths moving although he couldn’t hear what they were saying. 

He let out an involuntary gasp as he was shoved from behind and he careened into the water below. All the air left his lungs as he hit the surface of the ocean. He struggled to kick back to the surface for a single gulp of air. His ship, his girl was floating away from him. He cried out as the ship rapidly left his sights, the rain obscuring his view. The salt stung at his open wounds and a howl of anguish finally escaped his throat.

She was gone. The Blue Lion was gone, and he was never going to see her again. 

Even as the understanding of his imminent death made way in his mind, he tried to swim after his home. Tears of fear and desperation coursed down his cheeks, hiding in the rain and seawater that already covered his face.

It only took a few minutes of struggling for his legs to become exhausted and he started sinking. His legs screamed at any movement, his body was sore from Zethrid’s punches, and his heart broke thinking about his crew and ship.

His body sank further into the dark abyss beneath him. He tried desperately to kick back to the surface but his legs were no longer listening to him. Whoever said that drowning was a peaceful death was a liar, he struggled and struggled to break free of the ropes but could only slip further beneath the water. He choked on the water that started filling his mouth.

Just as his eyes began to slip shut he saw something moving rapidly towards him. He saw nothing but silver eyes coming towards him before everything turned black.

Part 1/2/3

Stories Masterlist

[josephmxa]

Worldbuilding: The Seven Deadly Sins & The Seven Heavenly Virtues

This was an exhausting portion of my world-building. It took me so long to finally finish this. I just wasn’t sure where to take some of the characters. However, there’s A LOT that needs to be cleaned up when it comes to these characters (and the Universe as a whole, like it’s creation and the Magic System) but at least there’s a vague idea of who they are, what their motives are, and what their lives before the Reset were like. Please be warned though, it’s a lengthy post for fourteen characters. But without further ado, enjoy.

Tags: @merigreenleaf

(Feel free to comment to be tagged, and always feel free to like and reblog if this satisfies your tastes.)

Commit a sin and you’re deadly. Be virtuous and you’re heavenly.

Each Vice and Virtue had a role they were meant to play, each had a power Gaia bestowed upon them. Eight of the New Gods wielded abilities from the four classical elements of Earth and its subsidiaries; Fire, Water, Earth, and Air—Gaia’s powerset. The other six came from Chaos and Cosmos; Time, Reality, and Space. Make amends for Humanity’s abuse. The former were the world’s judgement and end while the latter were the world’s clean slate and beginning. But Gaia asked for too much. She dreamed near-sighted. She underestimated her successors.

Her wishes might’ve been fulfilled if most never took after Humanity. Pride was the first to object his role in the Reset. He questioned and argued and yelled. The others came to be an audience looking for answers. Humanity meant much to him. The world fascinated him. Understandable. What the Holy Trinity created was remarkable. How and why they created me… the idea is overwhelming. But change was preordained. The Reset inevitable. He had to understand this. He had to learn to let go. When he continued to refuse his Gaia’s calling, the others answered.

War waged.

New worlds began.

Welcome to the New Gods of the Universe:

Lust and Chastity: Lust is an uncontrollable passion or longing, especially for sexual desires. She’s fierce, she’s attractive, and she knows how to work her curves but dare mistake her as less than and she’ll enjoy making a game out of you. The way she carries her words, how her body sings in the presence of others, she’s a threat to those insecure and timid. She’s one of the New Gods who didn’t share the same sentiment as some of her siblings who renounced their Vice or Virtue. To her, why fix what’s not broken? She enjoyed a challenge, she enjoyed the longing others had for her, and humanity’s ever-growing sexuality excited her. She makes no connections but to the raw, passionate nature of sex. What’s so bad about resetting humanity? She gets to play from the start again. Dare let Pride and Chastity ruin her fun and pleasure.

Chastity is controlling that passion and leveraging that energy for the good of others He views the world through a different set of lenses than his twin sister Lust. Strong-willed, ambitious, and a hopeless romantic celibate, he comforts those insecure and timid. He leads those lost and confused after encounters with his sister on a virtuous path. His self-worth is priceless and he vows to feed others the same sentiment. But he began to wonder what life was like on the other side of the fence. And through a bit of experimentation, he came to realize lust can be set in moderation and committing a sin like so did not make one bad. It did not make one less virtuous and true and did not tarnish one’s self-worth if they indulged in a few intimate endeavors with those not romantically tied to them. He condoned Pride’s actions through and through; there was so much more Humanity and he had to offer. Why ruin his and Humanity’s evolution?

Fluent in Romance, Lust and Chastity wore golden brown skin, ash grey eyes and natural brown curls; the New Gods of Water.

 Gluttony and Temperance: Gluttony is an excessive ongoing consumption of food or drink. Big and pompous, Gluttony never had the same passion for keeping up appearances or being of service to others like his twin sister Temperance. He could care less about lending a piece of bread to a starving child or donating a portion of food to families in need. He ate and consumed without restrictive tastes, indulged in his fair share of wine, beer and liquor. Maybe he had the occasional soda just to switch it up a little. And yet the amount he scarfed down amazed everyone who stopped and watch, sparking a few to do grossly inflate their appetite in order to match or supersede him—he made a competition of his nature. Until one night a man stopped by and participated, catching the eye of Gluttony. This man consumed like him, drank like him, was the fastest out of all the other competitors and quite big like him, too. Gluttony spent his time with this man like he was a disciple and the more memories they created, the more Chef Rodriguez earned a major portion of his heart. The death of Rodriguez forced Gluttony to temper his cravings for he could not experience heart disease the way his lover did. In the following years, he lived and loved many, taking over Rodriguez’s business, and couldn’t see why Gaia wished for such a thing. Humanity made mistakes, but they all couldn’t be generalized under one roof.

Temperance is the desire to be healthy, therefore making on fit to serve others. Well-crafted and well-mannered, Temperance was all about appearances and the service to others. The active lifestyle she lived allowed her a greater opportunity of agility and the understanding of self-restraint so she could pass it down to those lost to the temptation of their appetite. The temptation usually came with wealth and because she was part of that economic group, she used her power to help those falling victim to heart disease and diabetes. And things were going great, the times and social stigma were changing. Until her brother Gluttony created an epidemic. The people she had relapsed and fell back on temptation and the giddy smiles Gluttony had on pissed her off. She grew wrathful of him, and it was easy considering they were that close to begin with. So, she played him in hopes he could see the errors in his lifestyle, so that he could stop influencing others. She used a man by the name of Hernan Rodriguez, a chef of a local city. When the time was right, she ripped him from Gluttony’s heart. He changed, but his epidemic didn’t die. Humanity ruined their bodies and for what? She didn’t understand. She just wanted it stop. So, she was all in for the Reset.

Olive-toned, soft brown eyes and straight black hair; Gluttony and Temperance were the New Gods of Air.

 Greed and Charity: Greed is an excessive pursuit of material possessions. A rightful thief, she wouldn’t have it any other way. When she sets her mind on certain prized materials, nobody can dare stand in her way. If you so choose to, then by all means, may the odds ever be in your favour. Quick-witted like she is fast and agile, she’s a feat to behold, a legend you admire, and a woman whose territory you don’t cross. The riches of the world were vast and limitless and when she learned of the Reset, she refused. Physically disgusted. Why reset the world and its riches? They meant power, they meant wealth, they meant status. A hierarchy of dynasties. Why rid the world of that because their mother’s creation ended up becoming too much for her too handle? Greed silently cursed her posthumously any chance she got, rarely making visits to the World Tree unlike Charity—the little snob. Gaia was crazy to her, and Lust was too stupid to see how much they could gain. Learning of her New God status put a definite smile on her face.

Charity is putting the desire to help others above storing up treasure for one’s self. He wasn’t particularly fond of his sister’s obsessions, nor was he all too interested in her methodology of success and achievements. By being charitable, he gained more rewards, he gained the trust and love of others, he gained sovereignty over them without them knowing. Now, now, I know what you’re thinking; why is Charity using his nature for greed or power? Well, you see, his twin sister and he were best friends. They had a system when they first started out; steal from the rich and reap the rewards when returned. And the rewards were huge. He could make something of himself within the Dynasty they grew up in. So, he ditched his sister and became a charitable man for the sake of the various rewards he was gifted—appearances were everything. When he learned of the Reset he was on the side of his sister; a definite smile was on his face with his New God status.

Greed and Charity, two Dynasty warriors with yellow-tanned skin, dark brown eyes and straight black hair; the New Gods of Space.

 Sloth and Diligence: Sloth is an excessive laziness or the failure to act and utilize one’s talents. Royalty often brings responsibility. You’re living under a monarch and if you’re on the thrown, you have a duty to serve the people. You people. Unless you’re but a child of the throne, much less the heir, then the most you have to do is smile and wave in the presence of the public. You barely put in a pinky’s worth of energy and time. This is the lifestyle Sloth lived, as it always was. Sure, he had natural born talents. Yes, he had a very unusual intellect that often opposed the stereotypes, generalizations and beliefs that European nations had of the kind of people he was imagined after. But any ambition or desire and fire in him was but a pilot light waiting to sparked—at least, his sister Diligence believed so. Rightfully so, he viewed his time invaluable and no one person earned any sliver of it. Until his life under African Monarchs; the people had a charming effect. Their charisma infectious. Their spirits in the high heavens. He couldn’t help but self-reflect his motives and ideals. When the Reset was known to him, he was indifferent at first. Then realized he could do something different with a new world—rebuild a broken system the world lived on.

Diligence is placing interest of others above a life of ease and relaxation. Her talents made rounds for scouts, her ambitions carried her through tough times, and her intellect won every conversation. She was masterful. An art herself. She and her brother Sloth were close. They were each others caretaker, and that was mostly because Sloth probably wouldn’t have survived with how unwilling he was to do much of anything. For every person Sloth influenced, however, she sought and treat. A repeating cycle for a few hundred years until she grew tired. She wanted ease herself. She exhausted so much of her energy trying to keep up with her brother; people started to ignore her words of motivation. They were taking her positive mental attitude serious enough and the aspirations she wanted to instill in others were nothing more than feats no one could achieve. Diligence had some pretty high standards for humanity with ever evolution they came out of. Sloth told her of the Reset one day and for the next several she thought about it. She realized it’d be too easy to redo the world—you can change the system from within.

Sloth and Diligence, Sweet and Dark like a berry, kinky manes and chocolate eyes; the New Gods of Time.

 Wrath and Patience: Wrath is an uncontrollable anger and hate towards another person. In Wrath’s case, it was an uncontrollable anger and hate towards his family. Every single one of them. Especially his pushover sister, Patience. He couldn’t stand being around them for too long and was glad their little family meetups Gaia called was rare, and when she died, he couldn’t be anymore glad. He wasn’t obliged to care or give a damn. Why did he hate them so vehemently you wonder? Well, they never gave him the opportunity show his talents or athleticism. He wasn’t allowed to be quick-witted or strong. He couldn’t be fierce and sexy. They belittled him because he was no where near their level at first. They ignored him because he wasn’t worth their time and support. When humanity’s evolution peaked and Wrath grew up around the people he was imagined after, Pride and the people he was imagined after stole his people’s land, erasing their mark and history on the world. He couldn’t care less about the Reset but if he was given a choice to beat their asses, he took it without hesitation.

Patience is first understanding the needs and desires of others before acting or speaking. She served her family without so much as a will to question. She knew Wrath hated her and yet she never cared much. She wasn’t going to act out to be seen. That wasn’t her way of doing things. But she was easily influenced, her patience endangering her most times. It forced Wrath to save her. But that’s the thing with patience… you’re able to step aside and see things from a different point of view. You’re able to step back and listen, taking in any and all information you possibly can. Her patience was her strength, she learned. First understand the needs and desires of others around her; they become your flaws and weaknesses. She loved her brother, loved her people, and she was going to take everything back. Like Wrath, the Reset gave her an opportunity. Make amends for Humanity? Not for what they’ve done. Wage war with your family for the end of the world? Say no more.

With Native roots, Wrath and Patience bore brown skin and eyes with long black hair; the New Gods of Fire.

 Envy and Kindness: Envy is the intense desire to have an item or experience that someone else possesses. The intense desire to be like someone who seemingly has it all. The looks, the talents, the skill. There was something his brothers and sister had he never did. He was always a level below, a step behind, the slow one. And he hated it. He wanted to be better. He wanted to live through the good things they’ve gone through. He even hated how much he looked because other people fetishes him and his sister. They were exotic. They never fit to one single race, not that they could pass off being Brazilian like Lust and Chastity—they weren’t much a linguist. But no matter how much energy he put into trying to supersede them, his efforts failed. He aspired to be better and the Reset never caught his attention. Not in the slightest. He just wanted to be better, to have a place to fit in, to be someone in a world that fetishized and discriminated against him.

Kindness is placing the desire to help others above the need to supersede them. The fetishization, the discrimination, they never got to her. Her brothers and sister, they could be whatever and do whatever, she had no need to do better or be better than them. Why? She was content in what she had and what she could do, but she educated the ignorant. That was her talent. She sat down with Envy one too many times and even if it seemed like her efforts proved to be fruitless, she never gave up. Every week, for the rest of her life, she sat down and talked with Envy. Listened to his struggles and problems and always gave sound advice even though he never took it. One day he would. One day, the world would learn to be kind. When the Reset came about, she didn’t care either way. Leave the world as it is and continue to educate or start new, killing ignorance before it was ever birthed. Either choice was fine by her.

High-yellow brown, redheaded and emerald eyes, Envy and Kindness were exotic to those around them; the New Gods of Reality.

Pride and Humility: Pride is an excessive view of one’s self without regard to others. He was often wealthy, often holding his head up high because no one matched his level. No one was capable of doing so. His athleticism, his with and intelligence, a natural born linguist on top of good-looks granted him God-tier status among the poor and weak. You wanted to be him, you wanted to date him, you wanted to raise his off springs even if you were male. But he was only meant to fuel other people’s ego by having them envy his success. But things change. People grow. It was during World War II that he discovered empathy, a child he had met. Scared. Alone. Beaten. The first time he put himself in someone else’s shoes because this kid admired him. He was no better. He was of no importance in the grand scheme of life itself. He was simply a soldier following orders and getting medals for obedience.

Humility is removing one’s ego and boastfulness, therefore allowing the attitude of service. They found glee and happiness in the growth of people around them. Helping them build success, helping them discover their self-worth and fight back insecurity. She was the hammer to people’s comfort zones, the bridge of their confidence and the pride of their growing development as a well-rounded individual. She chastised her brother for effectively taking her people and remolding them in his image. But dare she let him win and brag. She’d humbly sucker-punch him any chance she got. But when she saw this sudden change in him, her being a war medic in World War II, she thought, was there anything remotely bad about being prideful? Because she was definitely prideful of her accomplishments. Wrathful for those who dare challenge her. Kind to those ignorant who’ve realized their wrongs and may have days, weeks, months or years to amend. She clearly detested the Reset and anybody for it.

The New Gods of Earth, Pride and Humility; fair, porcelain skin, piercing blue eyes and thick black hair.

Truth: I am All for One, and One for All. I am God, and the World, and the Universe. I am your mind, soul, and body. I am the first; the New God of Soul, Mind, Power, and Truth.

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PITTSBURGH — A shooter opened fire during a baby naming ceremony at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, and people with knowledge of the investigation said at least 10 people were killed.

At least six other people were wounded, including four police officers who dashed to the scene, authorities said.

Police said a suspect was in custody after the attack at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. A law enforcement official identified the suspect as Robert Bowers and said he is in his 40s. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

City officials said the shooting was being investigated as a federal hate crime. It comes amid a rash of high-profile attacks in an increasingly divided country, including the series of pipe bombs mailed over the past week to prominent Democrats and former officials.

The shooting also immediately reignited the longstanding national debate about guns: President Donald Trump said synagogues and churches should have armed guards, while Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor said that “dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm’s way.”

The people who provided the death toll spoke to The Associated Press anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the shooting.

“It is a very horrific crime scene. It’s one of the worst that I’ve seen and I’ve been on some plane crashes,” said a visibly moved Wendell Hissrich, the Pittsburgh public safety director.

The attack took place during a baby naming ceremony, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. It was unknown whether the baby was harmed.

The synagogue is located in the tree-lined residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the hub of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community.

Trump called the shooting “far more devastating than anyone thought,” saying “it’s a terrible thing what’s going on with hate in our country.”

Trump also said the outcome might have been different if the synagogue “had some kind of protection” from an armed guard and suggested that might be a good idea for all churches and synagogues.

Gov. Tom Wolf called the shooting an “absolute tragedy” in a statement that made reference to calls for tighter gun control laws.

“We must all pray and hope for no more loss of life,” Wolf said. “But we have been saying “this one is too many” for far too long. Dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm’s way.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “heartbroken and appalled” by the attack.

“The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead,” Netanyahu said. “We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality. And we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded.”

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder called the shooting “an attack not just on the Jewish community, but on America as a whole.”

In 2010, Tree of Life Congregation — founded more than 150 years ago — merged with Or L’Simcha to form Tree of Life (asterisk) Or L’Simcha.

The synagogue is a fortress-like concrete building, its facade punctuated by rows of swirling, modernistic stained-glass windows illustrating the story of creation, the acceptance of God’s law, the “life cycle” and “how human-beings should care for the earth and one another,” according to its website. Among its treasures is a “Holocaust Torah,” rescued from Czechoslovakia.

Its sanctuary can hold up to 1,250 guests.

Michael Eisenberg, the immediate past president of the Tree of Life Synagogue, lives about a block from the building.

He was getting ready for services when he received a phone call from a member who works with Pittsburgh’s Emergency Services, saying he had been notified through scanner and other communications that there was an active shooter at their synagogue.

“I ran out of the house without changing and I saw the street blocked with police cars. It was a surreal scene. And someone yelled, ‘Get out of here.’ I realized it was a police officer along the side of the house. … I am sure I know all of the people, all of the fatalities. I am just waiting to see,” Eisenberg said.

He said officials at the synagogue had not gotten any threats that he knew of prior to the shooting. The synagogue maintenance employees had recently checked all of the emergency exits and doors to make sure they were cleared and working.

“I spoke to a maintenance person who was in the building and heard the shots. He was able to escape through one of the side exit doors we had made sure was functioning,” Eisenberg said.

Jeff Finkelstein of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh said local synagogues have done “lots of training on things like active shooters, and we’ve looked at hardening facilities as much as possible.”

“This should not be happening, period,” he told reporters at the scene. “This should not be happening in a synagogue.”

Just three days before the shooting, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers posted a column on the congregation’s website, noting that people make time to attend funerals, but not for life’s happy occasions.

“There is a story told in the Talmud of a wedding procession and a funeral procession heading along parallel roads, with the roads intersecting,” Myers wrote on Wednesday. “The question asked is: when they meet at the fork, which procession goes first, funeral or wedding? The correct answer is wedding, as the joy of the couple takes precedence. In fact, the funeral procession is to move out of sight so that their joy is not lessened.”

Myers ended his column with words that now seem all too prescient.

“We value joy so much in Judaism that upon taking our leave from a funeral or a shiva house, the customary statement one makes (in Yiddish) is ‘nor oyf simches’ – only for s’machot,” Myers wrote. “While death is inevitable and a part of life, we still take our leave with the best possible blessing, to meet at joyous events. And so I say to you: nor oyf simches!”

By GENE PUSKAR – Oct 27. 2018 – 3:35 PM EDT

___

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Michael Balsamo in Washington, Marc Levy and Claudia Lauer in Pennsylvania, and Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report.

AP Sources: At Least 10 Dead In Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack PITTSBURGH — A shooter opened fire during a baby naming ceremony at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, and people with knowledge of the investigation said at least 10 people were killed.

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Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby

Snuggled. Spoiled. Doted upon. Loved within an inch of her life. Our dog, Finley, is truly our baby. She’s been my constant companion and the apple of my husband’s eye for the past two years. But we’re about to welcome a newborn human into our home and have heard that babies and dogs can be a tricky combination.

We’ve been bracing ourselves for the transition over the past seven months, but quickly realized that crossing our fingers and hoping for the best wouldn’t be enough. Taking a proactive approach, we registered for a “bringing a baby home” class with Jeris and Eve Pugh, owners of The Martial Arfs, to learn all about introducing a new family member when a furry, four-legged one has gotten used to being the center of attention.

Our first child, Finley. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

We soon discovered that once an infant enters the picture, everything changes. And that can be especially stressful for the family pet. An animal you might otherwise trust — much like our sweet, sensitive Finley — can become anxious or aggressive and act out in fear. In fact, many dogs you wouldn’t normally consider very threatening — from a Papillon to a Lab — have all appeared in police reports for fatally wounding children.

The thought of our cherished Vizsla attacking our new baby was upsetting of course, but also eye-opening. That’s the kind of worst-case scenario most people prefer not to think about, but there are lessons to be learned from such incidents. Here are our 20 takeaways about mixing babies and dogs:

1. Bring your dog to the vet

Schedule a visit to the vet for before the baby arrives. Veterinarian examining dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

Jeris and Eve suggest requesting a full exam with bloodwork to make sure your dog isn’t experiencing any undiagnosed health problems. Managing both a newborn and a dog with a serious health issue can be especially challenging and time consuming, so it’s better to know what you’re dealing with ahead of time. Even though Finley seems relatively healthy, we’ll still get her checked about a month before the baby is due.

2. Desensitize your dog to new sights, sounds and smells

Turn on the infant swing, put up baby gates around the house and go for walks with the stroller. Play baby sounds like crying and cooing. Use baby lotion on your skin. Start carrying around a baby doll. Slowly introduce new stimuli before the baby arrives. Gradually making changes in advance will help manage your dog’s stress levels.

3. Keep all baby and dog toys separate

Better yet, teach your dog the “leave it” command. Do this well ahead of time so you’re not trying to train your pup when you have a newborn around. Finley is fairly good at leaving items alone but has a hard time giving something up once it’s in her possession — something we need to work on.

Dog toys and baby toys are often hard to tell apart, especially for the little ones. Chihuahua puppy with toy. Photography by Shutterstock.

4. Let babies and dogs mix beforehand

Try to recruit nieces, nephews and children around the neighborhood for short-and-sweet visits. We’ve been walking Finley through the park and near playgrounds where kids are running around and making noise.

5. Reduce activity levels

Inevitably, your dog’s physical and mental needs are not going to be met as readily as they were pre-baby. So we’ve tested out how Finley fares with reduced activity before the baby comes. Some days she’s fine, others she’s visibly frustrated. We’re getting her accustomed to less attention and activity overall.

6. Establish a baby-free zone for your dog

This can be a crate, a corner of the house or an entire room if there’s space. For us, this is the basement where Finley is free to roam and hang out with her toys and treasures sans crying baby.

Finley relaxes in her crate. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

7. Practice closing your dog out of certain rooms

You may need to keep your dog out of the baby’s room, your bedroom, or any other area where your little one is sleeping, playing or eating. Getting Finley used to closed doors isn’t easy. She always wants to be part of the action, but practice makes perfect.

And now, let’s talk about making the introduction.

8. Exhaust your pooch first

When you first come home, your dog should be mentally and physically exhausted so their energy level is nice and low. Hire a dog walker or ask a close friend or relative to exercise your pooch an hour before you’re due to arrive home. For us, Finley will likely have spent a day or two at doggy daycare prior to our return home — more than enough to exhaust her.

Finley will get plenty of playtime before we bring the baby home. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

9. Don’t rush things

Many new parents are in a hurry to get the dog and baby together as one big happy family. But the introduction should be slow and gradual. Your dog can see the baby more and more often, but they shouldn’t necessarily interact on a regular basis until boundaries are set and everyone is comfortable with how things are going.

10. Invite a sniff between the dog and baby

Once your dog seems at ease with the newest family members, try offering the baby’s feet for a little sniff. Keep interactions brief and positive with plenty of treats.

11. Always know where your dog is in the house

Be aware that your dog may be able to get into the baby’s crib. Closely monitor your pup in the nursery to make sure curiosity doesn’t take over. I have no doubt that Finley would jump into the baby’s crib given the chance, which is why she will never be left alone with the baby or in the nursery unsupervised.

Finley might think the baby’s bed looks more comfy. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

12. Your dog still needs some attention

Find out whether your dog benefits from 15 minutes of your intense focus or a little play throughout the day. As expected, dogs with more energy (looking at you, Finley) will present larger challenges, and you might want to consider a dog walker or daycare for some help. The same goes for smart dogs and attention seekers. Puzzles and games help to occupy a needy dog.

13. Don’t scold or punish

If your dog exhibits unwanted behavior, don’t yell at her and create bad associations between the baby and punishment. Instead, ignore the bad behavior, which is what we already do with our pup.

14. Do not give in to attention-seeking behavior

If your dog barks to be petted, ignore her. Remember not to scold or punish; simply ignore any efforts to get your attention.

15. Make eye-contact happen between babies and dogs (and other guests!)

It’s important that your dog practice a lot of eye contact with people because babies and toddlers are at the pet’s eye-level. Anyone who visits our home will be asked to make eye contact with Finley first.

Your dog and baby will make a lot of eye contact when they’re at the same level. Baby and dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

16. Plan a safe feeding space for your baby

If you always cuddled with Fido on the couch, don’t use that same spot to feed your newborn. We plan on using a glider in the nursery for most of our newborn’s feedings. We also learned to feed Finley during one of the feeding times to create positive associations.

17. Keep faces apart

Your dog may love licking your newborn’s sweet, milk-dribbled face. But it’s safer not to let the dog and baby faces get too close. There could be too much excitement, the baby could laugh or scream; there are too many unknowns.

18. Recognize your dog’s anxiety cues

A concerned dog has his ears back, looks away and licks his lips. If your dog exhibit these signs, bring him to a safe space away from the baby.

If your dog looks anxious around the baby, let them seek refuge in their safe space. Dog with baby. Photography by Shutterstock.

And lastly, don’t forget:

19. One at a time

Don’t ask the same person to watch babies and dogs at the same time. It’s too much at once.

20. Dogs can sense our anxiety

Don’t be afraid of the new situation, but take the proper precautions.

What do you think about dogs and babies? Have you ever brought home a new baby when you already had a dog? How did it go? Tell us your tips and experiences in the comments.

Read more about babies and dogs on Dogster.com: 

5 Signs Your Dog Is Not Ready for a Baby

3 Things to Do Before Introducing Your Dog to a Baby

Would You Ever Give Up Your Dog Because of Your Baby?

Do You Ever Worry About Your Dog Being Around a Baby?

What NOT to Do with Your Baby Around Dogs – Yours or Others

About the author: Whitney C. Harris is a New York-based freelance writer for websites including StrollerTraffic, Birchbox and WhattoExpect.com. A former book and magazine editor, she enjoys running (with Finley), watching movies (also with Finley), and cooking meatless meals (usually with Finley watching close by).

The post Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby appeared first on Dogster.

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Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby

Snuggled. Spoiled. Doted upon. Loved within an inch of her life. Our dog, Finley, is truly our baby. She’s been my constant companion and the apple of my husband’s eye for the past two years. But we’re about to welcome a newborn human into our home and have heard that babies and dogs can be a tricky combination.

We’ve been bracing ourselves for the transition over the past seven months, but quickly realized that crossing our fingers and hoping for the best wouldn’t be enough. Taking a proactive approach, we registered for a “bringing a baby home” class with Jeris and Eve Pugh, owners of The Martial Arfs, to learn all about introducing a new family member when a furry, four-legged one has gotten used to being the center of attention.

Our first child, Finley. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

We soon discovered that once an infant enters the picture, everything changes. And that can be especially stressful for the family pet. An animal you might otherwise trust — much like our sweet, sensitive Finley — can become anxious or aggressive and act out in fear. In fact, many dogs you wouldn’t normally consider very threatening — from a Papillon to a Lab — have all appeared in police reports for fatally wounding children.

The thought of our cherished Vizsla attacking our new baby was upsetting of course, but also eye-opening. That’s the kind of worst-case scenario most people prefer not to think about, but there are lessons to be learned from such incidents. Here are our 20 takeaways about mixing babies and dogs:

1. Bring your dog to the vet

Schedule a visit to the vet for before the baby arrives. Veterinarian examining dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

Jeris and Eve suggest requesting a full exam with bloodwork to make sure your dog isn’t experiencing any undiagnosed health problems. Managing both a newborn and a dog with a serious health issue can be especially challenging and time consuming, so it’s better to know what you’re dealing with ahead of time. Even though Finley seems relatively healthy, we’ll still get her checked about a month before the baby is due.

2. Desensitize your dog to new sights, sounds and smells

Turn on the infant swing, put up baby gates around the house and go for walks with the stroller. Play baby sounds like crying and cooing. Use baby lotion on your skin. Start carrying around a baby doll. Slowly introduce new stimuli before the baby arrives. Gradually making changes in advance will help manage your dog’s stress levels.

3. Keep all baby and dog toys separate

Better yet, teach your dog the “leave it” command. Do this well ahead of time so you’re not trying to train your pup when you have a newborn around. Finley is fairly good at leaving items alone but has a hard time giving something up once it’s in her possession — something we need to work on.

Dog toys and baby toys are often hard to tell apart, especially for the little ones. Chihuahua puppy with toy. Photography by Shutterstock.

4. Let babies and dogs mix beforehand

Try to recruit nieces, nephews and children around the neighborhood for short-and-sweet visits. We’ve been walking Finley through the park and near playgrounds where kids are running around and making noise.

5. Reduce activity levels

Inevitably, your dog’s physical and mental needs are not going to be met as readily as they were pre-baby. So we’ve tested out how Finley fares with reduced activity before the baby comes. Some days she’s fine, others she’s visibly frustrated. We’re getting her accustomed to less attention and activity overall.

6. Establish a baby-free zone for your dog

This can be a crate, a corner of the house or an entire room if there’s space. For us, this is the basement where Finley is free to roam and hang out with her toys and treasures sans crying baby.

Finley relaxes in her crate. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

7. Practice closing your dog out of certain rooms

You may need to keep your dog out of the baby’s room, your bedroom, or any other area where your little one is sleeping, playing or eating. Getting Finley used to closed doors isn’t easy. She always wants to be part of the action, but practice makes perfect.

And now, let’s talk about making the introduction.

8. Exhaust your pooch first

When you first come home, your dog should be mentally and physically exhausted so their energy level is nice and low. Hire a dog walker or ask a close friend or relative to exercise your pooch an hour before you’re due to arrive home. For us, Finley will likely have spent a day or two at doggy daycare prior to our return home — more than enough to exhaust her.

Finley will get plenty of playtime before we bring the baby home. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

9. Don’t rush things

Many new parents are in a hurry to get the dog and baby together as one big happy family. But the introduction should be slow and gradual. Your dog can see the baby more and more often, but they shouldn’t necessarily interact on a regular basis until boundaries are set and everyone is comfortable with how things are going.

10. Invite a sniff between the dog and baby

Once your dog seems at ease with the newest family members, try offering the baby’s feet for a little sniff. Keep interactions brief and positive with plenty of treats.

11. Always know where your dog is in the house

Be aware that your dog may be able to get into the baby’s crib. Closely monitor your pup in the nursery to make sure curiosity doesn’t take over. I have no doubt that Finley would jump into the baby’s crib given the chance, which is why she will never be left alone with the baby or in the nursery unsupervised.

Finley might think the baby’s bed looks more comfy. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

12. Your dog still needs some attention

Find out whether your dog benefits from 15 minutes of your intense focus or a little play throughout the day. As expected, dogs with more energy (looking at you, Finley) will present larger challenges, and you might want to consider a dog walker or daycare for some help. The same goes for smart dogs and attention seekers. Puzzles and games help to occupy a needy dog.

13. Don’t scold or punish

If your dog exhibits unwanted behavior, don’t yell at her and create bad associations between the baby and punishment. Instead, ignore the bad behavior, which is what we already do with our pup.

14. Do not give in to attention-seeking behavior

If your dog barks to be petted, ignore her. Remember not to scold or punish; simply ignore any efforts to get your attention.

15. Make eye-contact happen between babies and dogs (and other guests!)

It’s important that your dog practice a lot of eye contact with people because babies and toddlers are at the pet’s eye-level. Anyone who visits our home will be asked to make eye contact with Finley first.

Your dog and baby will make a lot of eye contact when they’re at the same level. Baby and dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

16. Plan a safe feeding space for your baby

If you always cuddled with Fido on the couch, don’t use that same spot to feed your newborn. We plan on using a glider in the nursery for most of our newborn’s feedings. We also learned to feed Finley during one of the feeding times to create positive associations.

17. Keep faces apart

Your dog may love licking your newborn’s sweet, milk-dribbled face. But it’s safer not to let the dog and baby faces get too close. There could be too much excitement, the baby could laugh or scream; there are too many unknowns.

18. Recognize your dog’s anxiety cues

A concerned dog has his ears back, looks away and licks his lips. If your dog exhibit these signs, bring him to a safe space away from the baby.

If your dog looks anxious around the baby, let them seek refuge in their safe space. Dog with baby. Photography by Shutterstock.

And lastly, don’t forget:

19. One at a time

Don’t ask the same person to watch babies and dogs at the same time. It’s too much at once.

20. Dogs can sense our anxiety

Don’t be afraid of the new situation, but take the proper precautions.

What do you think about dogs and babies? Have you ever brought home a new baby when you already had a dog? How did it go? Tell us your tips and experiences in the comments.

Read more about babies and dogs on Dogster.com: 

5 Signs Your Dog Is Not Ready for a Baby

3 Things to Do Before Introducing Your Dog to a Baby

Would You Ever Give Up Your Dog Because of Your Baby?

Do You Ever Worry About Your Dog Being Around a Baby?

What NOT to Do with Your Baby Around Dogs – Yours or Others

About the author: Whitney C. Harris is a New York-based freelance writer for websites including StrollerTraffic, Birchbox and WhattoExpect.com. A former book and magazine editor, she enjoys running (with Finley), watching movies (also with Finley), and cooking meatless meals (usually with Finley watching close by).

The post Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby appeared first on Dogster.

[daddyslittlejuliet]

Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby

Snuggled. Spoiled. Doted upon. Loved within an inch of her life. Our dog, Finley, is truly our baby. She’s been my constant companion and the apple of my husband’s eye for the past two years. But we’re about to welcome a newborn human into our home and have heard that babies and dogs can be a tricky combination.

We’ve been bracing ourselves for the transition over the past seven months, but quickly realized that crossing our fingers and hoping for the best wouldn’t be enough. Taking a proactive approach, we registered for a “bringing a baby home” class with Jeris and Eve Pugh, owners of The Martial Arfs, to learn all about introducing a new family member when a furry, four-legged one has gotten used to being the center of attention.

Our first child, Finley. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

We soon discovered that once an infant enters the picture, everything changes. And that can be especially stressful for the family pet. An animal you might otherwise trust — much like our sweet, sensitive Finley — can become anxious or aggressive and act out in fear. In fact, many dogs you wouldn’t normally consider very threatening — from a Papillon to a Lab — have all appeared in police reports for fatally wounding children.

The thought of our cherished Vizsla attacking our new baby was upsetting of course, but also eye-opening. That’s the kind of worst-case scenario most people prefer not to think about, but there are lessons to be learned from such incidents. Here are our 20 takeaways about mixing babies and dogs:

1. Bring your dog to the vet

Schedule a visit to the vet for before the baby arrives. Veterinarian examining dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

Jeris and Eve suggest requesting a full exam with bloodwork to make sure your dog isn’t experiencing any undiagnosed health problems. Managing both a newborn and a dog with a serious health issue can be especially challenging and time consuming, so it’s better to know what you’re dealing with ahead of time. Even though Finley seems relatively healthy, we’ll still get her checked about a month before the baby is due.

2. Desensitize your dog to new sights, sounds and smells

Turn on the infant swing, put up baby gates around the house and go for walks with the stroller. Play baby sounds like crying and cooing. Use baby lotion on your skin. Start carrying around a baby doll. Slowly introduce new stimuli before the baby arrives. Gradually making changes in advance will help manage your dog’s stress levels.

3. Keep all baby and dog toys separate

Better yet, teach your dog the “leave it” command. Do this well ahead of time so you’re not trying to train your pup when you have a newborn around. Finley is fairly good at leaving items alone but has a hard time giving something up once it’s in her possession — something we need to work on.

Dog toys and baby toys are often hard to tell apart, especially for the little ones. Chihuahua puppy with toy. Photography by Shutterstock.

4. Let babies and dogs mix beforehand

Try to recruit nieces, nephews and children around the neighborhood for short-and-sweet visits. We’ve been walking Finley through the park and near playgrounds where kids are running around and making noise.

5. Reduce activity levels

Inevitably, your dog’s physical and mental needs are not going to be met as readily as they were pre-baby. So we’ve tested out how Finley fares with reduced activity before the baby comes. Some days she’s fine, others she’s visibly frustrated. We’re getting her accustomed to less attention and activity overall.

6. Establish a baby-free zone for your dog

This can be a crate, a corner of the house or an entire room if there’s space. For us, this is the basement where Finley is free to roam and hang out with her toys and treasures sans crying baby.

Finley relaxes in her crate. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

7. Practice closing your dog out of certain rooms

You may need to keep your dog out of the baby’s room, your bedroom, or any other area where your little one is sleeping, playing or eating. Getting Finley used to closed doors isn’t easy. She always wants to be part of the action, but practice makes perfect.

And now, let’s talk about making the introduction.

8. Exhaust your pooch first

When you first come home, your dog should be mentally and physically exhausted so their energy level is nice and low. Hire a dog walker or ask a close friend or relative to exercise your pooch an hour before you’re due to arrive home. For us, Finley will likely have spent a day or two at doggy daycare prior to our return home — more than enough to exhaust her.

Finley will get plenty of playtime before we bring the baby home. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

9. Don’t rush things

Many new parents are in a hurry to get the dog and baby together as one big happy family. But the introduction should be slow and gradual. Your dog can see the baby more and more often, but they shouldn’t necessarily interact on a regular basis until boundaries are set and everyone is comfortable with how things are going.

10. Invite a sniff between the dog and baby

Once your dog seems at ease with the newest family members, try offering the baby’s feet for a little sniff. Keep interactions brief and positive with plenty of treats.

11. Always know where your dog is in the house

Be aware that your dog may be able to get into the baby’s crib. Closely monitor your pup in the nursery to make sure curiosity doesn’t take over. I have no doubt that Finley would jump into the baby’s crib given the chance, which is why she will never be left alone with the baby or in the nursery unsupervised.

Finley might think the baby’s bed looks more comfy. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

12. Your dog still needs some attention

Find out whether your dog benefits from 15 minutes of your intense focus or a little play throughout the day. As expected, dogs with more energy (looking at you, Finley) will present larger challenges, and you might want to consider a dog walker or daycare for some help. The same goes for smart dogs and attention seekers. Puzzles and games help to occupy a needy dog.

13. Don’t scold or punish

If your dog exhibits unwanted behavior, don’t yell at her and create bad associations between the baby and punishment. Instead, ignore the bad behavior, which is what we already do with our pup.

14. Do not give in to attention-seeking behavior

If your dog barks to be petted, ignore her. Remember not to scold or punish; simply ignore any efforts to get your attention.

15. Make eye-contact happen between babies and dogs (and other guests!)

It’s important that your dog practice a lot of eye contact with people because babies and toddlers are at the pet’s eye-level. Anyone who visits our home will be asked to make eye contact with Finley first.

Your dog and baby will make a lot of eye contact when they’re at the same level. Baby and dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

16. Plan a safe feeding space for your baby

If you always cuddled with Fido on the couch, don’t use that same spot to feed your newborn. We plan on using a glider in the nursery for most of our newborn’s feedings. We also learned to feed Finley during one of the feeding times to create positive associations.

17. Keep faces apart

Your dog may love licking your newborn’s sweet, milk-dribbled face. But it’s safer not to let the dog and baby faces get too close. There could be too much excitement, the baby could laugh or scream; there are too many unknowns.

18. Recognize your dog’s anxiety cues

A concerned dog has his ears back, looks away and licks his lips. If your dog exhibit these signs, bring him to a safe space away from the baby.

If your dog looks anxious around the baby, let them seek refuge in their safe space. Dog with baby. Photography by Shutterstock.

And lastly, don’t forget:

19. One at a time

Don’t ask the same person to watch babies and dogs at the same time. It’s too much at once.

20. Dogs can sense our anxiety

Don’t be afraid of the new situation, but take the proper precautions.

What do you think about dogs and babies? Have you ever brought home a new baby when you already had a dog? How did it go? Tell us your tips and experiences in the comments.

Read more about babies and dogs on Dogster.com: 

5 Signs Your Dog Is Not Ready for a Baby

3 Things to Do Before Introducing Your Dog to a Baby

Would You Ever Give Up Your Dog Because of Your Baby?

Do You Ever Worry About Your Dog Being Around a Baby?

What NOT to Do with Your Baby Around Dogs – Yours or Others

About the author: Whitney C. Harris is a New York-based freelance writer for websites including StrollerTraffic, Birchbox and WhattoExpect.com. A former book and magazine editor, she enjoys running (with Finley), watching movies (also with Finley), and cooking meatless meals (usually with Finley watching close by).

The post Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby appeared first on Dogster.

[jeffreyrwelch]

Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby

Snuggled. Spoiled. Doted upon. Loved within an inch of her life. Our dog, Finley, is truly our baby. She’s been my constant companion and the apple of my husband’s eye for the past two years. But we’re about to welcome a newborn human into our home and have heard that babies and dogs can be a tricky combination.

We’ve been bracing ourselves for the transition over the past seven months, but quickly realized that crossing our fingers and hoping for the best wouldn’t be enough. Taking a proactive approach, we registered for a “bringing a baby home” class with Jeris and Eve Pugh, owners of The Martial Arfs, to learn all about introducing a new family member when a furry, four-legged one has gotten used to being the center of attention.

Our first child, Finley. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

We soon discovered that once an infant enters the picture, everything changes. And that can be especially stressful for the family pet. An animal you might otherwise trust — much like our sweet, sensitive Finley — can become anxious or aggressive and act out in fear. In fact, many dogs you wouldn’t normally consider very threatening — from a Papillon to a Lab — have all appeared in police reports for fatally wounding children.

The thought of our cherished Vizsla attacking our new baby was upsetting of course, but also eye-opening. That’s the kind of worst-case scenario most people prefer not to think about, but there are lessons to be learned from such incidents. Here are our 20 takeaways about mixing babies and dogs:

1. Bring your dog to the vet

Schedule a visit to the vet for before the baby arrives. Veterinarian examining dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

Jeris and Eve suggest requesting a full exam with bloodwork to make sure your dog isn’t experiencing any undiagnosed health problems. Managing both a newborn and a dog with a serious health issue can be especially challenging and time consuming, so it’s better to know what you’re dealing with ahead of time. Even though Finley seems relatively healthy, we’ll still get her checked about a month before the baby is due.

2. Desensitize your dog to new sights, sounds and smells

Turn on the infant swing, put up baby gates around the house and go for walks with the stroller. Play baby sounds like crying and cooing. Use baby lotion on your skin. Start carrying around a baby doll. Slowly introduce new stimuli before the baby arrives. Gradually making changes in advance will help manage your dog’s stress levels.

3. Keep all baby and dog toys separate

Better yet, teach your dog the “leave it” command. Do this well ahead of time so you’re not trying to train your pup when you have a newborn around. Finley is fairly good at leaving items alone but has a hard time giving something up once it’s in her possession — something we need to work on.

Dog toys and baby toys are often hard to tell apart, especially for the little ones. Chihuahua puppy with toy. Photography by Shutterstock.

4. Let babies and dogs mix beforehand

Try to recruit nieces, nephews and children around the neighborhood for short-and-sweet visits. We’ve been walking Finley through the park and near playgrounds where kids are running around and making noise.

5. Reduce activity levels

Inevitably, your dog’s physical and mental needs are not going to be met as readily as they were pre-baby. So we’ve tested out how Finley fares with reduced activity before the baby comes. Some days she’s fine, others she’s visibly frustrated. We’re getting her accustomed to less attention and activity overall.

6. Establish a baby-free zone for your dog

This can be a crate, a corner of the house or an entire room if there’s space. For us, this is the basement where Finley is free to roam and hang out with her toys and treasures sans crying baby.

Finley relaxes in her crate. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

7. Practice closing your dog out of certain rooms

You may need to keep your dog out of the baby’s room, your bedroom, or any other area where your little one is sleeping, playing or eating. Getting Finley used to closed doors isn’t easy. She always wants to be part of the action, but practice makes perfect.

And now, let’s talk about making the introduction.

8. Exhaust your pooch first

When you first come home, your dog should be mentally and physically exhausted so their energy level is nice and low. Hire a dog walker or ask a close friend or relative to exercise your pooch an hour before you’re due to arrive home. For us, Finley will likely have spent a day or two at doggy daycare prior to our return home — more than enough to exhaust her.

Finley will get plenty of playtime before we bring the baby home. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

9. Don’t rush things

Many new parents are in a hurry to get the dog and baby together as one big happy family. But the introduction should be slow and gradual. Your dog can see the baby more and more often, but they shouldn’t necessarily interact on a regular basis until boundaries are set and everyone is comfortable with how things are going.

10. Invite a sniff between the dog and baby

Once your dog seems at ease with the newest family members, try offering the baby’s feet for a little sniff. Keep interactions brief and positive with plenty of treats.

11. Always know where your dog is in the house

Be aware that your dog may be able to get into the baby’s crib. Closely monitor your pup in the nursery to make sure curiosity doesn’t take over. I have no doubt that Finley would jump into the baby’s crib given the chance, which is why she will never be left alone with the baby or in the nursery unsupervised.

Finley might think the baby’s bed looks more comfy. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

12. Your dog still needs some attention

Find out whether your dog benefits from 15 minutes of your intense focus or a little play throughout the day. As expected, dogs with more energy (looking at you, Finley) will present larger challenges, and you might want to consider a dog walker or daycare for some help. The same goes for smart dogs and attention seekers. Puzzles and games help to occupy a needy dog.

13. Don’t scold or punish

If your dog exhibits unwanted behavior, don’t yell at her and create bad associations between the baby and punishment. Instead, ignore the bad behavior, which is what we already do with our pup.

14. Do not give in to attention-seeking behavior

If your dog barks to be petted, ignore her. Remember not to scold or punish; simply ignore any efforts to get your attention.

15. Make eye-contact happen between babies and dogs (and other guests!)

It’s important that your dog practice a lot of eye contact with people because babies and toddlers are at the pet’s eye-level. Anyone who visits our home will be asked to make eye contact with Finley first.

Your dog and baby will make a lot of eye contact when they’re at the same level. Baby and dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

16. Plan a safe feeding space for your baby

If you always cuddled with Fido on the couch, don’t use that same spot to feed your newborn. We plan on using a glider in the nursery for most of our newborn’s feedings. We also learned to feed Finley during one of the feeding times to create positive associations.

17. Keep faces apart

Your dog may love licking your newborn’s sweet, milk-dribbled face. But it’s safer not to let the dog and baby faces get too close. There could be too much excitement, the baby could laugh or scream; there are too many unknowns.

18. Recognize your dog’s anxiety cues

A concerned dog has his ears back, looks away and licks his lips. If your dog exhibit these signs, bring him to a safe space away from the baby.

If your dog looks anxious around the baby, let them seek refuge in their safe space. Dog with baby. Photography by Shutterstock.

And lastly, don’t forget:

19. One at a time

Don’t ask the same person to watch babies and dogs at the same time. It’s too much at once.

20. Dogs can sense our anxiety

Don’t be afraid of the new situation, but take the proper precautions.

What do you think about dogs and babies? Have you ever brought home a new baby when you already had a dog? How did it go? Tell us your tips and experiences in the comments.

Read more about babies and dogs on Dogster.com: 

5 Signs Your Dog Is Not Ready for a Baby

3 Things to Do Before Introducing Your Dog to a Baby

Would You Ever Give Up Your Dog Because of Your Baby?

Do You Ever Worry About Your Dog Being Around a Baby?

What NOT to Do with Your Baby Around Dogs – Yours or Others

About the author: Whitney C. Harris is a New York-based freelance writer for websites including StrollerTraffic, Birchbox and WhattoExpect.com. A former book and magazine editor, she enjoys running (with Finley), watching movies (also with Finley), and cooking meatless meals (usually with Finley watching close by).

The post Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby appeared first on Dogster.

[stiles-wtf]

Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby

Snuggled. Spoiled. Doted upon. Loved within an inch of her life. Our dog, Finley, is truly our baby. She’s been my constant companion and the apple of my husband’s eye for the past two years. But we’re about to welcome a newborn human into our home and have heard that babies and dogs can be a tricky combination.

We’ve been bracing ourselves for the transition over the past seven months, but quickly realized that crossing our fingers and hoping for the best wouldn’t be enough. Taking a proactive approach, we registered for a “bringing a baby home” class with Jeris and Eve Pugh, owners of The Martial Arfs, to learn all about introducing a new family member when a furry, four-legged one has gotten used to being the center of attention.

Our first child, Finley. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

We soon discovered that once an infant enters the picture, everything changes. And that can be especially stressful for the family pet. An animal you might otherwise trust — much like our sweet, sensitive Finley — can become anxious or aggressive and act out in fear. In fact, many dogs you wouldn’t normally consider very threatening — from a Papillon to a Lab — have all appeared in police reports for fatally wounding children.

The thought of our cherished Vizsla attacking our new baby was upsetting of course, but also eye-opening. That’s the kind of worst-case scenario most people prefer not to think about, but there are lessons to be learned from such incidents. Here are our 20 takeaways about mixing babies and dogs:

1. Bring your dog to the vet

Schedule a visit to the vet for before the baby arrives. Veterinarian examining dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

Jeris and Eve suggest requesting a full exam with bloodwork to make sure your dog isn’t experiencing any undiagnosed health problems. Managing both a newborn and a dog with a serious health issue can be especially challenging and time consuming, so it’s better to know what you’re dealing with ahead of time. Even though Finley seems relatively healthy, we’ll still get her checked about a month before the baby is due.

2. Desensitize your dog to new sights, sounds and smells

Turn on the infant swing, put up baby gates around the house and go for walks with the stroller. Play baby sounds like crying and cooing. Use baby lotion on your skin. Start carrying around a baby doll. Slowly introduce new stimuli before the baby arrives. Gradually making changes in advance will help manage your dog’s stress levels.

3. Keep all baby and dog toys separate

Better yet, teach your dog the “leave it” command. Do this well ahead of time so you’re not trying to train your pup when you have a newborn around. Finley is fairly good at leaving items alone but has a hard time giving something up once it’s in her possession — something we need to work on.

Dog toys and baby toys are often hard to tell apart, especially for the little ones. Chihuahua puppy with toy. Photography by Shutterstock.

4. Let babies and dogs mix beforehand

Try to recruit nieces, nephews and children around the neighborhood for short-and-sweet visits. We’ve been walking Finley through the park and near playgrounds where kids are running around and making noise.

5. Reduce activity levels

Inevitably, your dog’s physical and mental needs are not going to be met as readily as they were pre-baby. So we’ve tested out how Finley fares with reduced activity before the baby comes. Some days she’s fine, others she’s visibly frustrated. We’re getting her accustomed to less attention and activity overall.

6. Establish a baby-free zone for your dog

This can be a crate, a corner of the house or an entire room if there’s space. For us, this is the basement where Finley is free to roam and hang out with her toys and treasures sans crying baby.

Finley relaxes in her crate. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

7. Practice closing your dog out of certain rooms

You may need to keep your dog out of the baby’s room, your bedroom, or any other area where your little one is sleeping, playing or eating. Getting Finley used to closed doors isn’t easy. She always wants to be part of the action, but practice makes perfect.

And now, let’s talk about making the introduction.

8. Exhaust your pooch first

When you first come home, your dog should be mentally and physically exhausted so their energy level is nice and low. Hire a dog walker or ask a close friend or relative to exercise your pooch an hour before you’re due to arrive home. For us, Finley will likely have spent a day or two at doggy daycare prior to our return home — more than enough to exhaust her.

Finley will get plenty of playtime before we bring the baby home. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

9. Don’t rush things

Many new parents are in a hurry to get the dog and baby together as one big happy family. But the introduction should be slow and gradual. Your dog can see the baby more and more often, but they shouldn’t necessarily interact on a regular basis until boundaries are set and everyone is comfortable with how things are going.

10. Invite a sniff between the dog and baby

Once your dog seems at ease with the newest family members, try offering the baby’s feet for a little sniff. Keep interactions brief and positive with plenty of treats.

11. Always know where your dog is in the house

Be aware that your dog may be able to get into the baby’s crib. Closely monitor your pup in the nursery to make sure curiosity doesn’t take over. I have no doubt that Finley would jump into the baby’s crib given the chance, which is why she will never be left alone with the baby or in the nursery unsupervised.

Finley might think the baby’s bed looks more comfy. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

12. Your dog still needs some attention

Find out whether your dog benefits from 15 minutes of your intense focus or a little play throughout the day. As expected, dogs with more energy (looking at you, Finley) will present larger challenges, and you might want to consider a dog walker or daycare for some help. The same goes for smart dogs and attention seekers. Puzzles and games help to occupy a needy dog.

13. Don’t scold or punish

If your dog exhibits unwanted behavior, don’t yell at her and create bad associations between the baby and punishment. Instead, ignore the bad behavior, which is what we already do with our pup.

14. Do not give in to attention-seeking behavior

If your dog barks to be petted, ignore her. Remember not to scold or punish; simply ignore any efforts to get your attention.

15. Make eye-contact happen between babies and dogs (and other guests!)

It’s important that your dog practice a lot of eye contact with people because babies and toddlers are at the pet’s eye-level. Anyone who visits our home will be asked to make eye contact with Finley first.

Your dog and baby will make a lot of eye contact when they’re at the same level. Baby and dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

16. Plan a safe feeding space for your baby

If you always cuddled with Fido on the couch, don’t use that same spot to feed your newborn. We plan on using a glider in the nursery for most of our newborn’s feedings. We also learned to feed Finley during one of the feeding times to create positive associations.

17. Keep faces apart

Your dog may love licking your newborn’s sweet, milk-dribbled face. But it’s safer not to let the dog and baby faces get too close. There could be too much excitement, the baby could laugh or scream; there are too many unknowns.

18. Recognize your dog’s anxiety cues

A concerned dog has his ears back, looks away and licks his lips. If your dog exhibit these signs, bring him to a safe space away from the baby.

If your dog looks anxious around the baby, let them seek refuge in their safe space. Dog with baby. Photography by Shutterstock.

And lastly, don’t forget:

19. One at a time

Don’t ask the same person to watch babies and dogs at the same time. It’s too much at once.

20. Dogs can sense our anxiety

Don’t be afraid of the new situation, but take the proper precautions.

What do you think about dogs and babies? Have you ever brought home a new baby when you already had a dog? How did it go? Tell us your tips and experiences in the comments.

Read more about babies and dogs on Dogster.com: 

5 Signs Your Dog Is Not Ready for a Baby

3 Things to Do Before Introducing Your Dog to a Baby

Would You Ever Give Up Your Dog Because of Your Baby?

Do You Ever Worry About Your Dog Being Around a Baby?

What NOT to Do with Your Baby Around Dogs – Yours or Others

About the author: Whitney C. Harris is a New York-based freelance writer for websites including StrollerTraffic, Birchbox and WhattoExpect.com. A former book and magazine editor, she enjoys running (with Finley), watching movies (also with Finley), and cooking meatless meals (usually with Finley watching close by).

The post Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby appeared first on Dogster.

[grublypetcare]

Babies and Dogs — 20 Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Newborn Baby

Snuggled. Spoiled. Doted upon. Loved within an inch of her life. Our dog, Finley, is truly our baby. She’s been my constant companion and the apple of my husband’s eye for the past two years. But we’re about to welcome a newborn human into our home and have heard that babies and dogs can be a tricky combination.

We’ve been bracing ourselves for the transition over the past seven months, but quickly realized that crossing our fingers and hoping for the best wouldn’t be enough. Taking a proactive approach, we registered for a “bringing a baby home” class with Jeris and Eve Pugh, owners of The Martial Arfs, to learn all about introducing a new family member when a furry, four-legged one has gotten used to being the center of attention.

Our first child, Finley. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

We soon discovered that once an infant enters the picture, everything changes. And that can be especially stressful for the family pet. An animal you might otherwise trust — much like our sweet, sensitive Finley — can become anxious or aggressive and act out in fear. In fact, many dogs you wouldn’t normally consider very threatening — from a Papillon to a Lab — have all appeared in police reports for fatally wounding children.

The thought of our cherished Vizsla attacking our new baby was upsetting of course, but also eye-opening. That’s the kind of worst-case scenario most people prefer not to think about, but there are lessons to be learned from such incidents. Here are our 20 takeaways about mixing babies and dogs:

1. Bring your dog to the vet

Schedule a visit to the vet for before the baby arrives. Veterinarian examining dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

Jeris and Eve suggest requesting a full exam with bloodwork to make sure your dog isn’t experiencing any undiagnosed health problems. Managing both a newborn and a dog with a serious health issue can be especially challenging and time consuming, so it’s better to know what you’re dealing with ahead of time. Even though Finley seems relatively healthy, we’ll still get her checked about a month before the baby is due.

2. Desensitize your dog to new sights, sounds and smells

Turn on the infant swing, put up baby gates around the house and go for walks with the stroller. Play baby sounds like crying and cooing. Use baby lotion on your skin. Start carrying around a baby doll. Slowly introduce new stimuli before the baby arrives. Gradually making changes in advance will help manage your dog’s stress levels.

3. Keep all baby and dog toys separate

Better yet, teach your dog the “leave it” command. Do this well ahead of time so you’re not trying to train your pup when you have a newborn around. Finley is fairly good at leaving items alone but has a hard time giving something up once it’s in her possession — something we need to work on.

Dog toys and baby toys are often hard to tell apart, especially for the little ones. Chihuahua puppy with toy. Photography by Shutterstock.

4. Let babies and dogs mix beforehand

Try to recruit nieces, nephews and children around the neighborhood for short-and-sweet visits. We’ve been walking Finley through the park and near playgrounds where kids are running around and making noise.

5. Reduce activity levels

Inevitably, your dog’s physical and mental needs are not going to be met as readily as they were pre-baby. So we’ve tested out how Finley fares with reduced activity before the baby comes. Some days she’s fine, others she’s visibly frustrated. We’re getting her accustomed to less attention and activity overall.

6. Establish a baby-free zone for your dog

This can be a crate, a corner of the house or an entire room if there’s space. For us, this is the basement where Finley is free to roam and hang out with her toys and treasures sans crying baby.

Finley relaxes in her crate. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

7. Practice closing your dog out of certain rooms

You may need to keep your dog out of the baby’s room, your bedroom, or any other area where your little one is sleeping, playing or eating. Getting Finley used to closed doors isn’t easy. She always wants to be part of the action, but practice makes perfect.

And now, let’s talk about making the introduction.

8. Exhaust your pooch first

When you first come home, your dog should be mentally and physically exhausted so their energy level is nice and low. Hire a dog walker or ask a close friend or relative to exercise your pooch an hour before you’re due to arrive home. For us, Finley will likely have spent a day or two at doggy daycare prior to our return home — more than enough to exhaust her.

Finley will get plenty of playtime before we bring the baby home. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

9. Don’t rush things

Many new parents are in a hurry to get the dog and baby together as one big happy family. But the introduction should be slow and gradual. Your dog can see the baby more and more often, but they shouldn’t necessarily interact on a regular basis until boundaries are set and everyone is comfortable with how things are going.

10. Invite a sniff between the dog and baby

Once your dog seems at ease with the newest family members, try offering the baby’s feet for a little sniff. Keep interactions brief and positive with plenty of treats.

11. Always know where your dog is in the house

Be aware that your dog may be able to get into the baby’s crib. Closely monitor your pup in the nursery to make sure curiosity doesn’t take over. I have no doubt that Finley would jump into the baby’s crib given the chance, which is why she will never be left alone with the baby or in the nursery unsupervised.

Finley might think the baby’s bed looks more comfy. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

12. Your dog still needs some attention

Find out whether your dog benefits from 15 minutes of your intense focus or a little play throughout the day. As expected, dogs with more energy (looking at you, Finley) will present larger challenges, and you might want to consider a dog walker or daycare for some help. The same goes for smart dogs and attention seekers. Puzzles and games help to occupy a needy dog.

13. Don’t scold or punish

If your dog exhibits unwanted behavior, don’t yell at her and create bad associations between the baby and punishment. Instead, ignore the bad behavior, which is what we already do with our pup.

14. Do not give in to attention-seeking behavior

If your dog barks to be petted, ignore her. Remember not to scold or punish; simply ignore any efforts to get your attention.

15. Make eye-contact happen between babies and dogs (and other guests!)

It’s important that your dog practice a lot of eye contact with people because babies and toddlers are at the pet’s eye-level. Anyone who visits our home will be asked to make eye contact with Finley first.

Your dog and baby will make a lot of eye contact when they’re at the same level. Baby and dog. Photography by Shutterstock.

16. Plan a safe feeding space for your baby

If you always cuddled with Fido on the couch, don’t use that same spot to feed your newborn. We plan on using a glider in the nursery for most of our newborn’s feedings. We also learned to feed Finley during one of the feeding times to create positive associations.

17. Keep faces apart

Your dog may love licking your newborn’s sweet, milk-dribbled face. But it’s safer not to let the dog and baby faces get too close. There could be too much excitement, the baby could laugh or scream; there are too many unknowns.

18. Recognize your dog’s anxiety cues

A concerned dog has his ears back, looks away and licks his lips. If your dog exhibit these signs, bring him to a safe space away from the baby.

If your dog looks anxious around the baby, let them seek refuge in their safe space. Dog with baby. Photography by Shutterstock.

And lastly, don’t forget:

19. One at a time

Don’t ask the same person to watch babies and dogs at the same time. It’s too much at once.

20. Dogs can sense our anxiety

Don’t be afraid of the new situation, but take the proper precautions.

What do you think about dogs and babies? Have you ever brought home a new baby when you already had a dog? How did it go? Tell us your tips and experiences in the comments.

Read more about babies and dogs on Dogster.com: 

5 Signs Your Dog Is Not Ready for a Baby

3 Things to Do Before Introducing Your Dog to a Baby

Would You Ever Give Up Your Dog Because of Your Baby?

Do You Ever Worry About Your Dog Being Around a Baby?

What NOT to Do with Your Baby Around Dogs – Yours or Others

About the author: Whitney C. Harris is a New York-based freelance writer for websites including StrollerTraffic, Birchbox and WhattoExpect.com. A former book and magazine editor, she enjoys running (with Finley), watching movies (also with Finley), and cooking meatless meals (usually with Finley watching close by).

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