Dog not coping with newborn

[Highlandttc]

Hi we have a 5 week old baby and our dog we’ve had for 10 years is really struggling to adjust to him.
when he’s quite or asleep/feeding he’s fine but as soon as he starts crying or gurning our dog reacts and runs over. He’s tried to nips the baby’s toes a few times and if we’re holding him and he’s crying badly the dog will try and pull at us.
we also can’t lay the baby on their playmat unless one of us is there to sit with the dog and he lunged at the baby out of nowhere quite aggressively. We’re not sure why he reacts so unpredictably, I’m not sure if it’s the noises baby makes? I don’t think the dog can tell the difference between a sad noise and a happy one. It’s a real strain on us as we adore our dog and trying everything we can to make sure he still feels as loved, if not more loved than ever before!
Aby advice appreciated!!!

There's hardly massive demand for an ageing dog who has shown aggressive behaviour towards humans 🤦🏽‍♀️

@DrJoanAllenby What do you suggest? They get rid of the baby??? You dog nutters are ridiculous. Someone will be along shortly to tell you all that dogs are better than kids, so just get rid of the kids! Absolutely mental!

Treats or a toy when the baby cries is a really dangerous idea. The dog could bite the baby and the baby cries and no treat appears so it bites again and again.

Well then be prepared for your baby to be injured - the dog is already showing you aggression and you aren’t responding to the warnings

PTS!!! JESUS! Dog trying to bite a baby is not on!

Small dogs can be propper cunts.
I had fox terrier and pekinese doog growing up and now min pin. They do place themselves high in pack order and do not want to leave that place for a baby.
This is why he is probabbly pissed when baby is takinv all attention and getting into dogs space (floor).

You can try getting advice from trainer experienced in baby and dog scenarios.
I managed to get my collie cross adjusted to chilren from growling to lying around as a log.
But collies and other flock/farm dogs do have better understanding of human babies and are more likely to collaborate.

That being said,I do not trust either of my dogs to be out of sight alone with children. Only dog I trusted that much was GSD cross but she was highly maternal saint.

God luck it is not easy and do not stress about shit coments. Just like dogs, people can be cunts..

What breed is the dog?

I ask because if it's something with a high prey drive or easily stimulated by crying sounds then this is going to be a bigger problem to sort. Well, I say that but the solution really is just to keep them separated.

I don't agree that a new baby necessarily turns a dogs life upside down. I have Labs and they accepted our baby immediately and showed no signs of stress or aggression. But then they are a very laid back breed. Other breeds much less so.

Sorry I've just seen it's a westie. Aren't they quite highly strung?

Anyway as I said - the solution is to keep them separate!

I'm not going to bother advising rehoming as you've already said you aren't doing that.

I have a newborn slightly older than yours and a 13 year old dog. We researched heavily before giving birth about potential reactions and it's quite common for dogs to nip their toes. Please note I'm not saying it's acceptable, just that it's a common reaction from dogs currently in the home when faced with the arrival of a small, crying infant. The internet articles we read in preparation said that dogs tend to do this as a way of letting the baby know they are lower in the hierarchy. These do tend to be very "gentle" nips as far as dogs go, but can obviously still hurt a baby. They don't break the skin. It's skin to tapping a child on the hand. Again, not that it's acceptable but providing some context.

The lunge you mention is where I'd be most concerned. You need to be using stair gates to separate them, treats when they're both in the same room and the dogs being calm and engage a behaviourist. I'd recommend a big playpen, potentially one you can also sit in (Amazon has some 2m x 2m ones) that hopefully are too high for your senior westie to jump in. This all needs sorting before the baby gets to 6 months and starts crawling. You can't realistically let a baby develop and crawl whenever they need to with a dog like that, you can't follow the baby round on the floor.

All of you in one room at night (asleep) does not seem a good combination.

Bloody hell. Once you’ve trained the dog to stop ‘lunging’ and ‘nipping’ at your crying infant, assuming you avoid disaster while that’s happening, then you will have an unpredictable toddler, who will carry, drop and grab at food, move and touch the dog in unpredictable ways, have tempting toys that look like dog toys, and make even more strange noises. I have loved past pets so much but how can you live with that risk? I have never understood how many dog attacks of children happen, but I guess this is how. I have a friend who has a facial disfigurement and anxiety from a family dog attacking her as a child, I wonder if there were similar warning signs that her parents decided were liveable with.

Reads: you guys have hurt my feelings not telling me what I wanted to hear!

I mean would it be preferable for strangers on the Internet to encourage you to allow your nervous and aggressive dog to stay at home and interact with your newborn who inevitably will be injured or worse. Would that be better for you?!

It's a very difficult situation.

'Lunging' could be interpreted in many ways - if there is no snarling, the dog may just trying to have a sniff or a lick of the new creature. But it's not worth the risk if that's not the case.

We have a small terrier, a lovely, friendly little dog. But also one who can be possessive. At the moment he lives between our house and DS, as he is actually DS's dog but they work full time.
Lovely though he is, I wouldn't feel comfortable with him around a small child who has effectively taken his place and expect to have him live full time with me and DH, should DS and his partner have a child .

I'm just giving you my sympathy with a difficult situation OP. Certainly it's worth trying a behaviourist if you are able to keep them separate in the mean time. I think there is actually specific training to prepare a dog for a new arrival, although possibly a bit late .

Alternatively do you have a family member who the dog is already familiar with who would be prepared to have him ?

Honestly it's not worth the risk. I say that as someone who learnt the hard way. 10 years ago I was in the same position with our westie and newborn. We did everything we could to keep the baby safe. Baby gates on all the doors and never allowed in the same room. It wasn't enough.

All it took was one moment of sleep deprived inattention. The dog came into the room through a not properly closed gate as DH was changing the baby on the floor. He was half asleep and didn't notice. Next thing he knew, the dog lunged and bit DS on the face.

I'm sorry, but it's just a matter of time.

Quite.
So when the second kid comes along and the first starts acting up, just give the first away right?
The poor dog needs breaking in gently. His peaceful world has been turned upside down.

Oh of course. Let's forget all the times that dogs have mauled babies to death, shall we?

The OP has come on here for advice, not to be told that dogs are more important than humans.

Too late I know OP but for maybe anyone who is pregnant with an old dog at home - get a sound desensitising app of a baby crying. Play it regularly to you dog at a quiet level for 2 weeks, increase level for next two weeks and so on. Meet up with friends with babies on neutral territory,. Gradually introduce what babies are to your dog.
OP, right now, if you won't rehome, you are going to have to be 100%certain the baby is never in reach of the dog. Take the baby in a sling on dogs walks to reinforce idea baby is part of pack. Reward dog any time the baby cries before he reacts to it. Then give him space while you deal with the baby. I would also seriously consider a soft muzzle introduced gradually but not associated with seeing the baby, just as part of a routine in the daytime if he and the baby are in a shared space. Make sure dog is very well exercised but, as he is old, make sure he's not in any pain which might make him irritable. Make sure dog has a safe bed where it's quiet.

But OP, it might well be past the point of change. He is old. The introductory period has been badly.mishandled. If your parents or someone he knows very well could take him for his final years it would probably be happy for him than having such a massive change to his home life.

Get rid of dog, I'm afraid.
Human and their safety comes first.
😐

Baby and dog sleeping in the same rooms is not a good idea. Please put your infant first.

This was my first thought, I must admit. Stair gates are a very temporary solution here.

OP@Highlandttc the muzzle is an excellent idea. Please speak to your vet asap to get further advice. Westies can be very good with kids but they were bred as ratters / to hunt small mammals remember and this is a stressful situation for the dog and for all of you involved.

With our insurance they offer video vet and video behaviourist, maybe check if you get similar. I really like DOGS BEHAVING (VERY) BADLY on channel 5 & Netflix and they are recruiting now - If you need Graeme’s help with your dog’s bad behaviour and would like to take part in the next series of Dogs Behaving Very Badly please contact the production team at [email protected] or call 020 7598 7365.

Keeping him in your room whilst you are all asleep does worry me. I don’t think you should rehome tomorrow but I do think you should set a deadline in your mind for massive improvement, then still not leave them together.