Retired in laws won’t come pick up dog before my due date

YABU.
Your poor in-laws probably want to help you but asking anyone to drive all that way to look after your dog is totally unacceptable, plus you assume that just because they are retired they have the time to do a 9 hour round trip (which could end up longer if there are any roadworks) sitting in a hot car to sort out your dog care.
How on earth was that idea even reached?
Did you ask them or did they volunteer?
Why have you made your dog their problem?
Get a grip and sort out a nearby friend to have your dog and also think about how the dog would feel going away to a strange house only to return to a different environment with a new baby.
He is part of your family, You could be creating a massive problem in farming him out.
All in all, a very bad idea.

The idea of having to have someone else’s nightmare dog, particularly a breed like a staffy would drive me up the wall. She’s lucky they even said yet!

Human child literally is more important. But I do think she should rehome. I wouldn’t trust a staffie that is scatty around a brand new defenseless baby. One issue and the dog and the baby will both be hurt (the baby possible seriously and the dog will then have to be put down).

YABU to expect your in laws to abide by your whims because they are retired.

I think you need to keep the dog at home too, sending them away may create resentment when they get back and see a new baby. I've got an enthusiastic labradoodle - whilst I was in hospital we arranged for the dog walker to come (I did have a planned section so appreciate making plans when you don't know what's happening delivery wise may be difficult) and then DH took home baby clothes on the first night to let dog sniff to get used to the scent. When we got home kept baby in the car seat, pet dog calm down and then gradually introduced - dog really wasn't fussed.

You’re being unreasonable, but pregnancy (late stages) tends to do that. My first was a very quick labour at 12 hours, and I’d had premature labour twice. I was told to expect at least 24 hours for a normal first time. I’d miss my dog too much to be separated weeks, we were parted for 48 hours with both dc. Couldn’t wait to get back to him. He also really helped get me up and moving when home. Make sure to send something with your dog with your smell to your in laws (as the baby will smell like you), and when born mail a baby blanket with the baby’s smell, have your in laws put it in the dog bed.

You are ridulous, entitled and downright cruel to your dog.
Dogs are family he needs to be with his and you need to be more considerate towards people doing you a massive favour and stop being so selfish.

Well, it's always interesting just reading the OP's posts. My sympathies are entirely with the in-laws and the dog.

I don't know anything about dogs, but your plan is to send him away at 9 days to due date, and PIL to have him till 2 weeks after birth?

What if your baby is late?! You could be up to 2 weeks overdue! So that's 5 weeks potentially your PIL will have your dog?! Surely that can't be what you're intending?

Hopefully not in real life 😂

OP,
We had a baby girl 4 years ago. We also had a lovely mature male lab. The dog instantly 'got it', and was very gentle & curious about his new little human companion. The lab was honestly the best influence we could have wished for on our little bundle of joy. As she grew up, she loved helping to feed him, & helping to put him to bed, and putting her teddies in with him whenever he was having a nap. It was all very cute & wholesome.

However, if he was a staffie I wouldn't have ever dared to try it tbh. These dogs are a very different breed to loving labs tbh, & have very different temperments, and can be very dangerous, frankly. I suspect the reason you want the in laws to take the dog for the initial weeks at all is you're a bit apprehensive. And you're right! The trouble is, with a staffie, you only need 1 bad day, or just 1 bad incident that will make you regret ever even considering keeping the dog.

So do yourself, your DH, your in laws & your unborn baby a really big favour, and rehome your (potentially) dangerous dog before your child arrives, so it never harms a member of your family. Good luck OP!!

Madness, I mean, personally, anyone with a Staffie doesn't really register on my normal register. Even more so if they have a baby. But you obviously have absolutely no idea of how babies and dogs work. Hint: big scary dogs and babies don't. Your poor inlaws. For goodness sake, people are bonkers these days.

So they are taking the dog from 9 days before your due date to 2 weeks after the birth which could potentially be over a month and then a very confused and over-excited staffie is coming back to find your attention completely consumed by a small creature which has appeared in his absence.

Can't see what could go wrong.

This is exactly good advice. Please understand that sending your dog away, even to a place he trusts, with such a change is going to at the very least confuse him and maybe make him behave out of character. Why wouldn't you just do introducing slowly and oversee their interactions?

When my very prem baby came home, I had 2 very docile but huge gentle giants. I was not worried for any sort of attack etc but clumsiness. First encounter was my dog putting his head very very gingerly into the basket a quick sniff and laid down next to them. I obviously oversaw every interaction and they were never left alone.

My point being if your dog is trusted, especially a Staffie and if he has shown no aggression and you are responsible parents and dog owners. There is no reason to send your dog away.

Sending your dog away and reintroducing him once baby is born is daft.

OP you know your dog. If you have the tiniest concern about your dog and the baby before/during/after your babies birth then the dog should go.

Just to be clear - the child actually is more important than the dog here. But I'm sure you recognise that? Surely?

I dont think its about when labour might start. It's about her being nervous with first labour. Probably best to have other ppl standing by.

It’s rare to start labour and the baby actually arrive within a few hours. It doesn't happen like the films and tv with the dramatic rush to hospital ( for the vast majority, especially for first baby). Chances are that even if you do start labour while he’s on the motorway, he’d get home well in advance of needing to get to hospital.

Poor dog, being replaced by your more important human child. Being sent away for weeks, not just whilst you give birth? Gross.

As others have mentioned I think sending the dog away temporarily may not be the best idea, as I suspect it would create longer term difficulties between the dog and baby. It’s better to bring the baby home, ideally with the dog already having smelt an item before the baby comes, and manage the introduction to the baby cautiously, eg dog has a look and sniff while baby is in car seat then gradually is allowed to approach you while you’re on the sofa with the baby etc. It’s positive you’ve got stair gates already but I’d also strongly recommend getting a dog crate, as the dog will benefit from having an area it can take itself off to if the noise (or touch when the child gets older) gets a bit much. You should also prep by making sure your big baby items are up now already and by occasionally playing crying baby noises.

Sending your dog away is a stupid idea.

If you have a staffy with behavioural problems and you’re genuinely worrying about his reaction to the baby then your in-laws are the least of your problems. I would be engaging a dog behaviourist to try to address this all up front. I doubt v much that sending your dog away and then bringing it back to a house with a baby is the right option. If the issues are serious enough you really need to rehome.

Take a look at these links.

How to prepare your dog for a new baby | Dogs Trust

How to introduce your dog to your new baby | Dogs Trust

Owning a dog when you’re pregnant | Dogs Trust

You don’t ’introduce’ the dog to the baby. You keep them separated with stairgates/doors and set up a positive reward system so the dog associates your baby’s approach/scent/presence with good things. You should not by any means allow the dog access to the baby or hold the baby near the dog.