Dog, cats, baby due - advice please

[Papergirl1968]

This is my first post in the Doghouse and I'm fairly new to dog ownership so please be gentle with me.
We have a rescued Staffie female cross, a feisty male cat and a very shy female cat. Daughter is 32 weeks pregnant and has moved back in, initially to look after me as I had neurosurgery ten days ago, but also she's 18, single and it makes sense that we raise her baby together.
We will be very vigilant about the pets, in particular the dog, around the baby, doing lots of research on how to introduce them etc.
Dog is very loving towards people. She can growl if you try to take something off her that she shouldn't have and bite in play but no real concerns. She can be reactive to other dogs but is getting better.
Male cat rules the roost. Dog tries to play with him and gets sworn at. Dog can at times be reluctant to walk past the cat and looks to us for help. She has flown at the cat when he's got too close to her food a couple of times though, and the other day flew at him while he was just sleeping on the radiator. Last night dog was on my bed when she flew at shy female cat who was eating on my bed. I saw the intense state she was giving the cat and was about to say something to daughter but it was too late. I know now we made a mistake by feeding the cat on the bed.
So, there have been a lot of changes in terms of daughter coming back, me going into hospital and coming out. Maybe they can sense she's pregnant and even that my tumour has gone, who knows? Daughter is also in full nesting mode, cleaning up the house which has been sadly neglected while I've been ill. I lost my sense of smell due to the tumour but she's brought all her cleaning stuff with her and they are different to what I used so again something for the pets to get used to. And she's changed where we feed them so again in retrospect, perhaps not the best timing.
We always separate the dog from the two cats when going out and generally know where they are in the house. Cats might be in bedroom, dog usually downstairs with us etc. Dog is currently sleeping overnight on daughter's bed and we know that must stop so she doesn't feel pushed out by baby.
We know very little about dog's background. She technically belongs to older daughter who can't take care of herself let along a dog. She came from travellers and we believe she was chained up as she will bite her lead when we put it in to walk her. She had a litter of puppies when she was probably quite young. We don't know what she's crossed with.
Thank you if you've read this far. I suppose my main question is we don't know how to react when dog flies at the cats. Instinct is to yell no, dog then shakes, we feel guilty and then give her lots of love and reassurance.

Hello,long time dog owner here. I have in the past had 2 rescue dogs at different times.one from the RSPCA we worked hard on for 2 years,he had lots of issues, wouldn't have trusted him with a baby,he did guard our then 5 years old DD. He was returned. Another from the Blue Cross,we met the owner,an elderly lady who said she was unable to walk the dog anymore. Also incontinent, aggressive, with us, people walking by. Returned after 6 weeks probationary period. I would absolutely NOT keep this dog with a baby due. I love dogs, one sitting on my feet now. Our dogs sleep on the bed/sofas, but we had them from puppies, they are invited on to the bed,also told when yo get off. They are trained, they respect boundaries. This dog: guards it's food, you tell it off,then feel guilty., attacks the cats. Does your other daughter who technically owns the dog live at home? I would not be introducing the dog to a baby. I don't know how long you have had this dog. You must have seen the dog attacks in the news. The dog is jealous of the cats,why do you think it will be ok with a baby. I also worked in the ED several years,saw a little boy with his face hanging in shreds after a dog attack. A work friend was also attacked by a rescue staff she had ... facial. She got rid of the dog. Sorry, this probably isn't the Answer you were hoping for.

We have a cocker spaniel who can be a bit guardy with stolen objects if you try to remove them, & with food only around our male cat. To be fair, the cat is an arsehole & does try to take his food given half a chance.

I also have an 8 month old baby. All the animals are great with him but interactions are very closely supervised.

I have been working with a behaviourist on the stealing, but the food & cat is more about management.

We have a stairgate and the dog is only allowed downstairs. Cats are fed upstairs. Dog is fed behind a closed door & bowl is removed straight afterwards so he has nothing to guard from the cat (who would otherwise waltz in to lick the bowl).

I would suggest choosing locations for feeding animals separately & removing dog bowl afterwards.

You say the cleaning products have been changed - I'd check there's nothing that would increase stress in the animals (citrus scents like lemon can make cats quite stressy, for example).

Stairgates / baby gates to keep dog out of bedrooms, & give cats a safe place to retreat to if needed.

New food - is the behaviour worse since switching? All about dog food is a good website. Sounds weird but our dog seems to steal less when fed raw food, & his general behaviour is better too. Our behaviourist suggested it might be due to lower carbs; no idea but it seems to work for us.

If the behaviour towards cat is recent I'd also suggest a vet check to rule out pain in the dog - pain, such as arthritis, can make animals more grumpy.

Thanks Nanny, I was afraid of hearing someone say this.
No, oldest daughter doesn't live at home and definitely isn't in a position to have the dog. Shy female cat also used to be hers and ended up with me.
I'm ex emergency services, now work for the NHS, myself and well aware of the risk of dog attacks. I know it only takes a second and that daughter will have to supervise closely and need to stay off her phone etc when I'm out or at work (I only work part time).
Rehoming will be a last resort but...never say never.

Your cat sounds like ours, Awkward!

• *Thank you, some great advice there. We haven't changed the dog's food, just where we're feeding her, well, all of them.

I think you're right to ask and to be concerned. I suspect that you need to be more consistent with your approaches to feeding and sleeping areas. Resource guarding dogs can be dangerous and I think you should speak to someone who really understands this and how to ensure neither your cats or the baby are out at risk.
I had a rescue dog when DD was born and we made changes around where the dog was allowed to go in the house long before the baby arrived and never ever left the baby with the dog unattended. But, this was also a dog with a perfect track record of good behaviour towards people. Dog did none the less guard the baby against anybody who wasn't immediate family. Not with aggression but she always placed herself between the baby and the new person. I have no doubt she would have bitten someone if she thought they were going to hurt the baby.
My point being dogs do react to newborns and if you have some issues already it's a really good idea to get some expert advice.

Honestly from the way you have described that dog, I wouldn’t have her in the same home as a baby. It’s unsafe and none of you would ever forgive yourselves if the baby was injured or worse by this dog.
I was on the fence when you mentioned the growling, sliding off the fence when you said she bites ‘in play’ and firmly off the fence by the time you mentioned her ‘flying at’ the cats in an aggressive manner. I’m not being horrible but you saw what was going to happen and still didn’t have time to do anything when the dog went for the cat on the bed.. that’s not your fault, but it’s something you need to bear in mind. You couldn’t stop that dog if it went for the baby either.
I’m not saying that as someone who doesn’t like dogs, or doesn’t think dogs and babies ‘go’ together, because that isn’t me. I have two dogs myself and a <18 month old son. One dog was here before DS and one came after. The behaviour difference between mine and yours is stark tho. Again, not trying to be horrible at all because this is so sad for you and I would bet very good money on her behaviour being a result of her past before you, but the facts are the facts.

Papergirl, how long have you had the dog?

About three years, I think , Nanny.

This is really difficult, I’m not a fan of rehoming but have had several rescue dogs over the years including staffies. However, this dog guards resources and is jealous/aggressive.
Now, it might be that the dog guards the baby and wouldn’t harm them but the likelihood of attacking the cats could well increase if the cats went near the baby.
In your position I’d be heartbroken to rehome the dog but the potential for serious injury or death to baby or cats is too high.
At the very least you need to get a dog behaviourist round to the house asap and see if behavioural changes are possible.

Or rehome the dog with a good rescue centre.

To add,my friend (also nursing) was a very experienced staffy owner of many years, this dog came from a friend of a friend.

Problem is I'm broke, scraping by on another six or eight weeks off work on statutory sick pay, and I guess dog behaviourists are expensive.

What has the dog been like for the past 3 years?

@TellSomeoneElse
Most dogs 'bite' in play, like mouthing rather than biting, I don't think that's an issue at all, play is how dogs fulfil their natural instincts safely. Staffies in particular play 'bitey-face' with each other!

Feeding pets separately is rule #1 though when they're not totally relaxed together. Food is a major flashpoint as it's one of their most valued resources. Dogs and cats all need a safe space to eat (and sleep) where they won't be bothered by each other (or people).

Not much trouble really.
Always clashed with feisty cat (ususlly instigated by feisty cat) and pretty much ignored shy cat. Good with visitors, especially gentle with children and with my very frail mum.
She's just lunged towards feisty cat again. He was on radiator minding his own business. Dog hadn't eaten her food which was across the room so will now pick that up. I pushed dog away with my foot and said a firm no, and she's gone up to daughter.

This sounds like dog, cat, food and you were all in same room. Again, feeding separately is really important. If the dog is not eating it could be she's too stressed in that situation - perhaps by presence of the cat. Is there a different room you could feed her in without cats having access?

I know what was meant by it, and it’s just not something I’ve ever accepted as okay with my dogs, personally. With each other, in play, fine and that isn’t what I was talking about. It’s just not acceptable to me. Different strokes and all that.

@TellSomeoneElse
Sure I agree it's not a desirable behaviour with people, just saying I don't think it's a red flag for potential aggression thats all!

Yes, I will try feeding her separately.
Just to add that when out and about she knows where every bloody dog lives on our various routes. She has a couple of dogs she hates and has previously had run ins with, but she also has a doggie boyfriend. She's very tolerant of puppies and pretty respectful of bigger dogs or when outnumbered. She will still stand and stare at other dogs she encounters but in the last few weeks, while daughter has been walking her, she has got much better for not otherwise reacting. She used to run in a semi circle at the end of her lead with her full weight straining towards them. All you could do was brace yourself and grip her chain with two hands until the other dog had gone. But she's a lot better now.

Hi OP,

The stakes are high here so it is very important that you seek appropriate advice from a professional. Your insurance may cover a vet behaviourist or an APBC behaviourist. Also! Dogs trust have launched a helpline which may be able to support you with this.

Good luck!

Also when we first had her she could growl a bit if we went too close to her food and she's ok with that now.
So improvements in some ways, but new worries in others.

Oops, that's me misreading about the food!

Re the play biting - our cocker needs a game of tug, & our behaviourist recommended it as we were unsure whether we should be encouraging the behaviour. We only play it outside, and have a rope toy we use with a cue word ("get it"). He "wins" and then we practice his drop cue.

Dog training advice and support on FB can offer proper behaviourist advice for free.

Thank you all.
Lots to think about. Lots of research to do.