New baby and grandparents' rottie

[Dorris83]

I have a three week old DS. Our first baby. We have a Labrador who we introduced to the baby really calmly (followed the dog whisperer advice... Ddog had been taken for a walk by my PILs. Dh and I went in and greeted ddog on our own (mil sat in the car with DS) we then brought DS into the house in his car seat and put him on the sofa. Ddog was on his lead and we kept him back from the baby and let him sniff from a respectful distance. Since then we've ensured ddog keeps the respectful distance and demeanour and its been great. Ddog still gets fed and walked at the same times each day so it's been a good intro I think and not too stressful for my lab.

So this is where I need some advice...

We're staying with my parents thus weekend, first time we've visited them. My parents have three dogs, an Alsatian, a lab and a rottie.

We travelled down this evening and both really needed a wee when we arrived ( tmi perhaps but it is important to the story I think!)

We arrived, dh raced into the house to use the loo. I let ddog out of the car and my parents three dogs came racing out. I greeted the three dogs briefly, took ds out of the car in his car seat and handed him to my dad to bring into the house.

I was pretty distracted at thus point as I really needed a wee, and I really needed to feed DS and was leaking milk. So I raced into the house sorted myself out then fed DS.

Alsatian and lab were fine, a bit interested but quite chilled with DS. Rottie however is full on. She's a lovely girl, she loves puppies, and she loves people. She is six years old and has been with my parents since a puppy. She's nicely trained and does listen mostly, but is VERY strong and has that stubborn rottie streak too...

After I fed DS I handed him to my mum for a cuddle and DS basically slept on my mum's chest all evening.

When DS finally woke up, rottie started getting rally excited. She was pushing her face at him and panting and trying to get close to him. My parents were telling her to stop and my dad was restraining her but she wasn't rally listening, she seemed fixated on ds.

She tried jumping up when my mum stood up with DS in her arms.

It's really unnerved me. I know tha risks of dogs and babies and that you shouldn't leave them alone with a baby which we won't... But I don't know what to do about the rottie.

I think we rushed the intro of the baby with my parents' dogs and underestimated how important it was to divot properly.

My parents adore their dogs and I worry they aren't taking the rottie's reaction seriously enough.

SO what do we do now? I want rottie to be calm and chilled around DS.

We've all retired to our bedrooms now and will not have contact with rottie until the morning. All the dogs are house dogs btw. We're staying until Tuesday and are moving to live closer to my parents so we will see them and the dogs quite often.

I'd appreciate some advice please!

[Dorris83]

Wow super long... Sorry!

[jenophie]

I have 6 dogs, all very large guarding breeds and i grew up with rottis. My partner and I are expecting our first baby in October and with my experience with dogs, I would never let an excitable dog near a newborn baby. I just don't think it is worth the risk. I don't think your parents are seeing the potential risks. You're not the rotties master so I'm not sure if she will listen to your commands, and by the sounds of it, your parents aren't being firm enough with the rotti. They may just be preoccupied and very excited seeing their new grandchild :) I would stress to them that the rotti must be taught to be respectful and calm around the baby. The excitable behaviour needs nipping in the bud now. If it isn't, it may cause problems when your baby starts to crawl, walk etc and the rotti may knock the little one over.

I would practice commands such as sit, down, etc when the baby is around. It would be beneficial for you to start giving commands, so she will listen to you as well as your parents. When she starts to get excited instruct her to settle down, away, sit or lay down, whatever command she is used to. If she isn't listening, I would put her out in the garden for some time out. Be consistent and firm and don't forget to praise her lots for calm, acceptable behaviour!

Also, I don't like the sound of the rottie being fixated on your baby. I personally wouldn't be comfortable with that if it is constant and she doesn't settle down and relax after a while.

I'm not a dog trainer but I have a lot of experience with dogs. I'm not sure if my post is any help but I wish you luck. :)

[Booboostoo]

What do they usually do when the rottie is excited? Did that not work with the baby?

Try having both the dog and the baby in the same room, the baby in someone's arms (perhaps you or your DP who are more neutral for the dog than its owner) and the dog working through its training to keep its mind occupied.

Is the dog crate trained? If yes giving her a high value chew in her crate and letting her have some time out may chill her.

Does the dog have a 'leave it' command? If yes use it to get her to back away from the baby. If she won't listen go back to strengthening the 'leave it' command.

Is the dog interested in toys? If yes, again have both in the same room but distract the dog with the toys.

[tabulahrasa]

I've got a Rottie...the chances of him being chilled around a baby are zero, he adores little people, unfortunately his adoration comes in the form of getting massively excited and trying to lick them everywhere.

He's big and clumsy and it's just too much, so I let him say hello (very managed by me) then give him something to keep him busy a nice big bone or a kong. I could do sit and stay or down and stay, but I'd have to do it literally the whole time someone was there, distraction works better.