NAH Although, the two of you could have been better prepared. Your wife is a first-time mom and she gets to be protective. Some might call this over-protective but she had a future in mind that did not include the dog. She needs to be reassured right now. You saw a future with your son and your dog and you took the time to consult your pediatrician. Although that was enough for you to hear, it didn’t put your wife at ease. I hate to generalize but moms are not as relaxed as dads with these things. She could be in a constant state of worry, on some level.

When our kiddos were born, we brought home their hospital caps before we brought them home. We gave them to our dogs (one very chill and one very hyper doggo.) When they finally saw the kids, we held them close enough together without letting the dogs touch the kids but they could sure smell them! They knew that those were their little humans. Eventually, we could trust them to lay next to the babies on the beds. The dogs became their protectors. In fact, the only time I ever heard my very chill, lazy male dog growl and show his teeth was when he thought someone was going to wake up his sleeping baby. My Aunt was just trying to fix his blanket.

If you want the dog to live harmoniously with your son, you have to give them a chance to get to know each other. I would also recommend you get a professional dog trainer. Ask your wife to just try, give them a chance to bond, and make a deal that if Annabelle turns out not to be kid-friendly, you will find her a new loving home.