The hardest relationship change in motherhood was with my dog

I’m quite worried about this too with a newborn on the way so one solution I’ve come up with is to use an app like “Borrow My doggy”. It connects you with local people that want doggy company and can walk your dog during the day and give them the attention they need. I haven’t tried it yet but I’ve signed up. Before I give birth, I’m going to see if I can find someone local that wants to hang out with my dog a few times a week so that it eases the burden on us.

Hope this helps you and if you do end up using it, do let us know how it goes!

My dog is similarly a little like our first baby haha. She is very good and so patient but one habit I've never been able to get her to drop is barking at visitors to the house... the number of times she has woken baby!! I get so angry at her for it although she's just doing what sh6e always done.

I take her to a doggy daycare once a week (which i always did pre-baby too) and also to see my dad who she loves. My dad is retired but mum won't let him get a dog so he loves walking her for me! This means about 3-4 times a week I don't have to walk her.

Walks twice a day must be a right pain though, I can understand why you're trying to find an alternative. Perhaps some time in the house mentally taxing him could replace a walk and make him feel he's got your attention? Not tried borrow my doggy but worth a go?

I'm doing the exact same, walking the dog twice a day with baby - while LO was small I used the carrier and that made it slightly easier. I feel super guilty too when our dog looks bored and I haven't given her enough attention. I tend to involve her in playtime, she lays next to us during tummy time and give her rubs and praises. While we are out on walks and she's off the lead I make sure she gets plenty of exercise with the ball and plays with other dogs if she can.
I know it's super hard, but as baby gets bigger it will become easier.

I’m the same. Sadly had to re home one dog as she didn’t like baby. We tried a behaviourist but safety first. The other dog is ok but he doesn’t leave us alone. And I want boundaries because at the end of the day he’s a dog right. And baby is obsessed with him which has its own issues! (Grabbing risk)

Thanks everyone - it’s nice to hear I’m not alone with these feelings. I take him to doggy daycare once a week which I also did pre baby, and like other posters we do as much off leash time as we can. He is also a barker at home but he’s learnt “shhh” which is great because I don’t have to tell him off I just shh even preemptively and he gets it (9/10 times lol). It’s more that I can just feel his energy and see it in his eyes that the thing he wants most is me and I can’t give him 100% of me. I guess I just feel guilty in this dynamic at the moment. My daughter has just started daycare once a week so I’ll make that morning after drop off something fun for us to do together like the beach etc. I’m also thinking maybe a dog walker option would be a good idea as suggested as it would mean he gets a fun outing and it would take the pressure off me. Thank you again everyone 🙏🏻