Having a newborn & worried about my energetic dog

We trained our dog not go on the sofa when we had DC1, because we didn't want him jumping on DP when she was breastfeeding. We (and the dog) got so used to it that we later forgot why we'd done it and we eventually let him back on a few years later.

It depends how big your house is, but we basically just kept the dog and the baby very separate from each other, and made sure they were never alone together. We were never sentimental about the dog and the baby having a relationship with each other or interacting at all, really, just staying calm around each other - and now, when DC1 is 4, they get on really well. Our dog is also very food motivated so we focused a lot on training him to stay down and calm when the baby was eating. For DC2, we got a 'catchy' food catcher thing for the high chair so the dog can't instantly gobble up anything that falls on the floor. DC2 (18m) loves the dog but we don't let him chase, touch or otherwise bother him - he's too little to have good impulse control. The most important thing for us is to make sure that the dog knows we'll keep annoying children away from him, so he'll have no reason to be reactive with them.

The other thing we got which was useful was a newborn attachment for our tripp trapp high chair. It's a reclined baby seat suitable for newborns, but it's attached to the top of the chair so you don't have to put the baby down in a bouncer on the floor while the dog is there.

This dog should have been properly trained as a puppy or at the very least when you first considered having a baby. Staffys can be pretty strong and bouncy dogs, I’m not sure why anyone would have one without putting in some basic work to train them. I wouldn’t have a poorly trained one around my precious baby.

Good advice and yes, you will be told to get rid of the dog but FWIW I think it’s totally workable

Lots of exercise, look into a dog walker or we put our staffy into doggy day care. Lots of brain stimulating activities e.g snuffle mats and treats.
as much training as you can before baby is born. Our high energy staffy is great with our kids and understands when it’s time to chill out.
FYI the bulk of mumsnet is very anti dog so prepare for all the comments to get rid of the dog.

You’ve left this quite late to address OP

How much exercise is the dog getting that he is still this energetic in the house? He needs MINIMUM an hour a day, but possibly more (appreciate that’s not always possible when it’s this hot)

Your dog doesn’t need to be aggressive to need training.

Sounds like your dog has no impulse control. This is a skill that should be taught and practiced from a puppy.

You can’t expect him to be calm and relaxed on a bed/in the garden if he’s never been taught how to switch off and relax in day to day life.

See of there are any good trainers offering impulse control courses near you.

Bronze Good Citizen training would be suitable, or any other 6-8 week basic behaviour course, with lots of practice in between and after.

It’s a bit late to be having this conversation now. Training takes time, and did your partner know when you got pregnant that you would be wanting to ship their dog off to an unsuspecting family member for the foreseeable?

I don’t know what the right answer is here, but you are being unreasonable purely by bringing this up so late in the day.

Yes you need to train the dog as much as you can in the coming weeks. Sadly it's a short amount of time though. I used to walk around holding a doll and teaching my dogs not to jump lol but they were fairly chilled.

Can you look at dog walkers/daycare if needed? Get some energy out. Train him to be kept separate. Look into some snuffle mats or similar to keep him busy and tire him out.

You will likely need the dog to stay away for a little if things dont improve. It'll be hard at the start but hopefully you'll all find a new routine.

A poorly trained Staff and a newborn aren't the best combination.
Why hasn't your partner trained his dog properly?
Sending the dog away won't do anything to ameliorate the situation.

Put everything you can into extra training for the dog over the next month.
As another poster suggested, get the dog used to being in another room with a baby gate and see how he reacts.
I know it isn’t much time, but see where you’re at with training at the end of it. Dogs can sometimes learn and adapt very quickly, but overall baby’s safety needs to come first, so if he hasn’t calmed by the end, then yes, he may need to live elsewhere longer term. I’m assuming it’s just that he’s very excitable and energetic rather than shows any aggression?

Put your child first.
The dog goes elsewhere.

Or do you want to wait and see if there is a disaster

Is it possible to start practising putting the dog in another room using a baby gate? So he can still see you but is secure. You’d want to load it up with treats, dinner time etc, so he enjoys going to the room!

I'd speak to a dog trainer now if you are worried, and make any necessary changes now before your new arrival - although you don't have much time.

Without knowing your dog and your situation is very hard to tell you what to do otherwise?

You have a little bit of time to work on training 'place' or 'bed', if he isn't already trained to do that. I am sure I saw one of those dog training programmes with this exact situation recently. Obviously they make it look very easy and quick on the TV, and it will take a lot more time and patience in real life.

Yes, keep it at your in-laws.

Your baby should be your highest priority now and is counting on you to protect him/her.