Aggressive dog and our baby is on the way

Couldn't you seperate them while you are gone?  My two dogs love eachother dearly, but can still get on eachothers nerves.  I always have them seperated when I am not there to watch them.  I use a Babygate to seperate them.  If you think that the lab could jump the baby gate, you could put another one on top. (I have done that while looking after my parents lab mix). 

Caprice is right - separation may be the way to go. They've had 3 years to practice this behavior, so curing it may well be close to impossible. Prevention is probably your best bet: separate them when you aren't actively watching them, spend time working on obedience commands so they'll listen around each other and the future baby, and consider using a work to earn program to set boundaries for them.

Other than the fighting, how are they?

I agree that seperating them while I am out helps a lot.  Most of the attacking happens while we are in the same room like last night while I was cooking dinner.  Seperating the dogs from one another and from the baby in our small house will be difficult.  We have been working on some obedience commands so hopefully that will improve the situation.  They are great dogs, it's just one is getting old and crabby. : )  Thanks for the advice. 

Don't give up![]
If you keep working on it, things will get easier.  I wish you the best of luck!
Hope you stick around - and WELCOME!

Why don't you try putting Rescue Remedy in the water bowls?  It should help calm them down.

ORIGINAL: Hollysmom

Why don't you try putting Rescue Remedy in the water bowls?  It should help calm them down.

 
thats not a correct solution , thats a lazy and unreliable solution for EVERYDAY occurances.
Dont give up on your dogs, beef up their obediance and seperation is the key. This is how you hear those stories "dog attacks baby" and then the dog gets put down....although I'm not suggesting this is your case, far from it so please dont take offense, BUT if your spaniel is a grumpy one with arthritis its not going to take well to a baby or toddler crying, scream, pulling its tail, taking up its space, or pulling it coat. I would also suggest giving you spaniel a safe retreat, maybe a kennel or something where he can be alone

Here's a good DVD to get: "Multiple Dogs" by Trish King.
(Tawzer Dog Videos)
Or, read Patricia McConnell's book, "Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage and Enjoy Your Multi Dog Household". (dogwise.com)

This is a horrible situation, and can't be much fun for the dogs.  Also, if your infant or toddler gets in the middle, well, you know that isn't good.  Especially in view of the impending blessed event, it would seem prudent to seek the advice of a competent behaviorist.  (Animal Behavior Society or IAABC)

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Rude behavior

Richard-dragin ~ I think your post is extremely uncalled for. This person came here for advice, how dare you question their ability to be a good parent. We should be here to help and give advice, not to judge and make assumptions. JMHO!

I totally agree you need to seek professional help immediately, don#%92t try and fix this on your own with a baby on the way!!  
 
IMO, you are not going to correct this problem by January, or not enough to feel you trust your dogs around a baby, the chance of an accident alone with two fighting dogs and a child is scary.  Management is key for safety (both dogs and humans, it's not safe to be braking up dog fights) now and while you work with a professional.  I would recommend a behaviorist and not a trainer.  I would also suggest that you immediately get your dogs accustomed to areas that contain them or crate train them and keep them away from each other when you#%92re not with them.  If you start that now, you will have a place for your dogs to go once the baby comes and this way you don#%92t need to worry about a fight breaking out around the infant at times when you may leave the room or can#%92t supervise them 100%.
 
With all that said, this dog seems to have some medical issues; slightly blind and has arthritis.   I don#%92t know much about it but I am sure slightly blind could play apart in this behavior and also pain due to arthritis.  I just thought I would mention it, it may play a part.
 
When ever I hear of aggressiveness and children in the same home I am first to say, safety first.   I believe you can never be to safe, I have a dog who showed food aggression and for all intensive purposed he is now good but I will never allow him to lay around when food is being prepared or while we are eating when my 5 year old is around, he is always crated or put outside during those times.  We had an incident in the beginning where he went after my son while there was food in the room, my DH and I were eating snacks and the dog was cuddled by the fire and my 5 year old ran into the room to show us something when my dog sprang up and went after – thankfully never made contact but I will never put the two of them in that situation ever again – just can#%92t trust it.  My point is to please be careful, work with your dogs and I am sure between training and good management all can live together safely and happily.
 
 

Richard you and I were posting at the same time.  Wow, totally uncalled for!!

OP, I know other people with fighting dogs who tried to manage it unsucessfuly for years - breaking up dog fight all the time and they loved their dogs too.  Ultimatily the best they could do was keep them seperated at all times.  One slept upstairs and one down, they even went as far to alternate where they slept to keep it fair.[8|]  Not all of us know what to do although we try our best.  Seeking help now knowing your having a child is the first sign of being a great parent! []

Seek professional help and keep your dogs seperated for their saftey when your not home and for after the baby comes you can keep them seperated when you need to.  The job to fix these dogs is no harder now than it would have been 3 years ago and its never to late!!  It requires a commitment, guidance, atients, time - did I say time? and some time.[]  In the meantime, be a manager of their interactions. 

yeah richard, real helpful... *cough*######*cough*.  Would you rather be in a house where the owners care enough to try and do something to keep both dogs around with a new baby or live with richard??  yeah thats what i though.  Anyways someone said they didnt see this possible by january, but your newborn baby wont be spending any time alone or even on the floor or any where close to your dogs for what i assume will be many months, so there is lots of time to work with your old dogs.  Best of luck.

Have you people read the original post? How am I the problem when she tells us they have been fighting for three years and she comes home and they are covered in blood and now that she is having a baby IN THREE MONTHS it occurs to her that there is a problem. Some of the suggestions have not been very well thought out to say the least and this person needs to be told the truth and not some sugar coated crap that some of you want to spew. I assure you I am not a psycho and am very level headed. I can also assure you that I care about dogs and sometimes someone needs to be told something harsh to wake them up.

I think all the advice you've gotten here is good but I think that the springer needs to be vet checked asap. And call in a behaviorist asap too.