Not an Easy Decision

Hi D-Mom. You've already gotten some great suggestions for what to do for now. For one thing, with a puppy some good crate time/down time is not such a bad idea - so I don't think you need to beat yourself up for that. If you need to crate the dog for a couple of hours to take a nap, then do so! When you get up, potty and play. Its not always as much how much QUANTITY time you spend with the dog, but more importantly QUALITY. There are a lot of things you can teach your dog while sitting down, such as tricks and to help you with things - like bring you the TV Remote.

Now, moving on to the after baby comes stuff. Yer gonna want to get the baby weight off, no? So, on your wish list for your baby shower include one of those nice jogging strollers, and a baby backpack. So then what? You can take the dog AND the baby for a jog or a walk. You're not going to want to hold a baby 24/7 - so give it some playpen time with some toys - and spend some time one on one with the puppy. Then swap - puppy in the kennel with some nice toys, and baby with you.

Point being that I think it CAN be done, but you will have to WANT it, and you'll have to get creative. One of my very best friends somehow manages two little boys (some of the best behaved kids I know), plus 50 or so sheep, a ton of ducks, a farm and a house, two LGD's (maremma and Gr Pyr), 4 Border Collies, a Chinese Crested, and a Finnish Spitz. And they're all just amazing.

I think your just feeling overwhelmed right now.  But, things will get easier you're not going to be pregnant forever and once the baby comes and you recover you'll be much more able to handle things. 
 
I don't have any kids but my good friend got a golden/husky mix puppy less than a year before her first daughter was born.

It was quite overwhelming at first and she was tired, but there are so many things out there now that make life easier, like the stroller idea Laura suggested.  If you can't fence your yard, they have those portable kennels that are only like $150 that would contain the dog for awhile outside while you have some time.  And, you've already got the inside crate if you need it.

It will be difficult escpecially at first with new dog, new baby.  But, if you can get some help and get thru the early stages it will be worth it.  My friends daughter and her dog are so close now, she can't imagine it any other way. 

Yes, they made mistakes, the dog took awhile to housetrain and he did get a bit nippy at the beginning. But, they worked thru it and I'm sure you guys can too.  Just like the baby as the dog gets older, it'll get easier too.  It will need to go out less, etc. 

Just think of your daugther or son at age three or four playing with the dog and all the wonderful times they will have.  It gets so much easier as they get a little older too.   You'll be glad you stuck thru it in the end, I'm sure of it.

I should have written this in my original post. I do not make decisions lightly. I did research on puppies for a year before I decided to get one. I fully understood/understand the physical responsibilities that come with having a puppy. I did not on the other hand have any time to do research on having a baby before we were blessed with our little surprise. So, while I did understand the physical requirements of a puppy, I did not know about the physical restraints of being pregnant.
Also, paying five hundred dollars to buy a dog is a little different from five hundred dollars to care for my child. And thank you, we cannot really afford our baby, we are working very hard to save money so we can have a happy life. Maybe you should ask questions before you make ignorant comments like that.
 

That was a big point in whether or not we were going to get her, my husband and I both want our children to grow up with a dog.
I am also worried about post-partum and a great way to overcome depression is to exercise, and coonhounds need lots of that. I knew she would be a sure-fire way to get me out of the house. I just feel like I am not giving her the time she deserves and it worries me she will not be an ok dog when she is older. She is socialized with our neighbors, all their dogs, and my five-year old nephew (who she loves). I have never ever met a dog who loved people and other dogs so much in my life, and coonhounds are supposed to have problems with strangers! We are trying very hard to make life easier for the both of us, we are moving into a bottom floor apartment (which will help life a lot) and my friend is willing to come over and help whenever I need it. I really want to make her work because I know I could never find someone to take her that would be good enough. Thank you so much for your encouragement. It really made my day.
Thanks to everyone who has given bits of encouragement and advice.
 
 

I honestly don't think that folks here were trying to be unkind.  The bottom line is that those of us who work in rescue see this all the time.  Cute little puppy, baby comes along, no more desire for the puppy and he ends up booted.  Our local freecycle allows free dog posts and I would be a rich woman if I had a buck for everytime I read "new baby coming, won't have time for the dog......"  I just want to scream MAKE TIME!!!  You took this baby in, you were supposed to be making a lifetime commitment to the DOG too, so darn it, find a way.
 
I know that stuff happens, I know that sometimes circumstances make it really difficult to honor the commitment that you made to an animal.  And I realize that I'm on the exteme end of things...I'm everyone's favorite foster mom because if I don't find good homes for my fosters, they end up staying....which is why I now have SIX german shepherds.  Three are failed fosters, and I don't own my home either.  We rent.  I've moved dogs and cats and bunny rabbits and fish tanks ALLLLLLL over this country because if I make a commitment to an animal, it's for life.
 
Please try to understand that negative comments are coming from those of us who are active in rescue, who are active in saving lives and trying to save good homes for these animals.  Many of us have heard the "new baby" new apartment/house, change of circumstances story many, many times.  And yeah, it makes us angry.
 
It sounds like you truely want to keep your pup.  Where there is a will, there is a way.  You'll find that way if you are truely commited to having a pup to grow up with your child.  And WE will help you in any way that we can to make this happen.
 

Gotta weigh in here.  Had two dobermans, just out of grad school, no job in my field.  Guess what, pregnant.  OK  giving up the dogs was not an option.  Babies do just fine being left alone in a crib for a nap while dogs get their time.  Of course Morgan was a bit miffed at me.  She would not come near Jerilyn and I if I was nursing.  Morgan easily learned to accept Jerilyn, Marshall decided to be big brother.  I think dogslyfe had it right.  It can be done, you just have to want to do it.  You have a number of options presented, find the ones that fit for you and start planning.  Consider finding other expecting moms in your area (check with any possible childcare associated with your husband's school.)  Work out a sitting co-op.
Start clicker training you puppy now so you can interact with the dog easily teaching tricks as an activity when working outside is not possible.  Got steps in the house?  lay games for retrieving or recalls with the dog on the steps.  Both of you can get some exercise that way.
You are going to do what you are going to do.  I just think if you are looking for support and verification of giving up the dog, this board and boards like it are very unlikely sources of that kind of validation.

I am a 20-year-old first time mom (thank you ladies for the bits of mom advice) who is still a full time college student who has wanted a dog her whole life. My husband found the dog and got her for me and now I am worried I cannot give her the physical attention she needs.
It seriously is not a matter of not having time. I am really sorry if I came across as being that way. I have plenty of time, school is almost out for the semester and I will have all summer with her. When I first posted, it was just a matter of I had extreme pain when I moved and I would hyperventilate and almost faint from walking up and down the stairs because I had a very elevated heart rate and my blood pressure was not at its best.
I would not have gotten her if I did not have any time for her. And I know I will have tons of time after the baby is born too. I was just worried that taking out a very big dog (she is going to be massive!) while holding a newborn would not be an easy thing for me to do. She does not pull on her leash until she sees another person or dog. I am working on having her sit still until I tell her she can play but it is slow going.
This really is not an issue of time at all. I just get frustrated when I have people reprimanding me for something that I do not have a problem with. And I am really sorry if that is what I came across as, an irresponsible owner who decided after getting the dog (and knowing she was pregnant) that she did not have time for it, because that is not what I am. I have not thrown this dog away. She is sitting in my kitchen right now. I am not going to give the dog away unless I have to go on bed rest and even then, I could send her four hours away to live with my family until I was better! I was asking people if they thought I should give her away, yes, but I got a resounding no with lots of very good advice. That works fine for me. 

D-Mom, I just wanted to send warm wishes.  Personally, I think that if you are seeking to do what is best for mom, baby and puppy then you are in the right frame of mind and you will end up working it out.  It sounds like you were just worried about the puppy's needs...how anyone could fault you for that, I just can't understand.  []

I think that it seems like you are willing to do what it takes in the best interest of all involved, and honestly I think you are a bit attached to the puppy and really don't want to give him up.
 
You will find what works, amazing what we are capable of when put in tough situations. It will be great if you can get into a lower apartment, then you won't have to worry about the stairs anymore.
 
You'll work things out, and you'd be amazed how adaptable our dogs can be when we go through tough times. When I first brought my hyperactive dog home I lived in a very small apartment, about 650 sq feet.. with 4 cats who hated him. We were cramped, but we made it work. Things got even more cramped when I started packing after I bought a house, but we all adapted and made it through.. and you will too.
 
Good luck with everything.

You might fit her with a Premier Easy Walk harness, or a Gentle Leader, so she can't pull, for your safety, and the baby's.

ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d

You might fit her with a Premier Easy Walk harness, or a Gentle Leader, so she can't pull, for your safety, and the baby's.

 
That's what I was going to do once she got a little bigger if she still pulled a lot. I've heard hounds can have sensitive skin though, so I wanted to try to train her as best I could before I tried an over-the-nose gentle leader.

I've not known scenthounds to have any more problems than any other dog.  My Basset used to always wear a Gentle Leader when out. Not because she pulled, but because she had Big Neck-Little Head syndrome and I didn't want to chance her slipping her collar while we were out. She never had any problem with it[]

Maybe you should ask questions before you make ignorant comments like that.

 
You may think my comment ignorant, but if you have seen as many dogs go to open admission shelters because their human got pregnant as I have, you might have a different opinion.  Frankly, many of those dogs die simply because someone got "overwhelmed". 

I was asking people if they thought I should give her away, yes, but I got a resounding no with lots of very good advice. That works fine for me.

 
Even if I pissed you off, I'm really glad you are keeping your dog.  The Easy Walk Harness or a Gentle Leader headcollar will allow you to walk a large dog with little trouble, all other things being equal.  Please don't hold it against those of us who have some serious experience with discarded dogs and what happens to them,  for calling a spade a spade.  Had you come to us and asked, "Oh my, I'm pregnant - how can I keep my dog?" the responses might have been phrased in a manner that was acceptable to you.  By your own admission, that is not what you did.  But, now that we know you are committed to your dog, keep hanging out with us and we'll try to help you through the rough spots.

I bought an Easy Walk Harness after it being suggested to me by Anne, and I have to say it has made a world of difference in my walks with my dog. He would pull me so hard my body would ache when I got home. I have arthritis in my collar bone so the pulling really was a problem for me, but he doesn't do it with the Easy Walk.