new baby

Congratulations!
 
I nicked this link off another recent thread, it may be helpful to you:
 
[linkhttp://www.parents.com/parents/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/parents/story/data/1168550369447.xml]http://www.parents.com/parents/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/parents/story/data/1168550369447.xml[/link]

Try doing a forum search for more info.
 
I am expecting a baby due April.  We are doing everything we can to prepare for the new arrival but my main tactic will be segregation, supervision and confinement. 
 
Do your dogs have crates?  Do you have dog gates?  Do you use a clicker?  You can use these as tools to help encourage calm and relaxed behaviour, particularly around the baby.  If the dog is calm and relaxed he is less likely to mouth or nip.  I will also be teaching incompatible behaviours so that when the baby is around it's a cue for dogs to do X which keeps them safely out of harms way.  For instance, when I change the baby, if the dog is in the same room I want them to go to a certain spot so they can't nick the dirty nappy (yuk! [:'(]) or get overly curious about the baby.  A squirming/crying baby lying on the floor can trigger the "prey" instinct in some dogs and its better safe than sorry.
 
Its stating the obvious and I know when a new baby comes home it's a busy and stressful enough time for everyone, but try to remember to set aside a specific time each day to spend with your furries.  Get the other half to take over parenting for an hour or so each evening and go and walk the dogs, just you and them.  Play, do a little training and then send them to their crate with a nice stuffed kong and rescue the other half!  Thats what I plan to do anyway!  Gives you a break and some gentle exercise which I am sure is just what the doctor ordered.

So far, they seem ok, but the formerly scared/aggresive one stares at her about half the time.
Is this prey drive?

She may be

overly curious

...

Ton of solid training, so they do obey just about any command we give them.

Should they be allowed to sniff/lick the baby?
Lots of conflicting info here....

We ARE giving the pups lots of attention to help them through this...

Thoughts?

Thanks,
k

With regards to the prey drive, I can't really say without seeing the dog and baby!  What breed is the dog?  That would help you figure out the "motive" behind the fascination.
 
I would only ever let them near the baby if they were reasonably calm to start and then an inquisitive sniff and even a lick isn't going to hurt the baby.  Have wipes handy to clean the baby's hands and face afterwards and it goes without saying that the dogs should be kept clean and their flea and worm treatments up-to-date.....  The parasites animals can carry can be hugely harmful.  Ticks can cause Lymes disease for instance.
 
It's great that they are getting loads of attention, but limit this to key moments when they are being calm and well behaved.  A calm dog is safer around the baby.  A calm dog is more responsive and easier to work with.  Plus, if they figure out that naughtiness round the baby (jumping up on him or stealing his things) gets you chasing after them or telling them off it could quickly become a fixed behaviour - they learn it's a guaranteed way to get your behaviour so they keep doing it and it becomes ingrained.  This is why gates and crates are so useful....  A dog can be calmly removed (without looking at or speaking to them) if they become pushy, demanding or hyperactive.
 
 

Breed is mostly lab, some pit.

They are totally up-to-date on the shots, so thats not a worry at all.

We're just focused on knowing if her behavior is "acceptable" and if what training measures we have to take, like how to limit access and prevent any potential harm to the baby.

We do have gates, and are going to be trained on electronic collars, since our Trainer recommends them, which should help as well.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,
k

WRT training, most of that should have happened before the baby arrived anyway, so as long as they have plenty of groundwork and you are vigilant (but relaxed) then you should be OK.
 
My gut feeling is "No to the E-collar!!!!!"  Why does the trainer think you need one?  If I were in your position I would be concerned that the dog could associate the shock with the presence of the baby and come to really dislike the baby.

Lets look at this from the dogs point of view.  This new little squealing thing comes into the home.  They feel the need to check it out and continue to check it out on a regular basis.  The baby might as well be from another planet since she is totally out of their realm of experience.  They are going to react when she fusses.....they are reacting to a different experience and sound.  In time they should react less and less as she becomes more a part of the pack in their minds.
 
I sure wouldn't use an electronic collar.  I agree that the dog is going to associate the pain in it's neck with the baby and come to dislike and distrust her.  Further, there is no NEED to shock the dog for reacting to the baby, or for mouthing her foot.  She didn't BITE the baby and she backed off when told to do so.
 
Teach the dogs a solid leave it and apply it to the baby, but please do NOT use a shock collar.

I am a little shocked, an e-collar for this situation?
A little over the top for me. Glenda is right, the dogs will get used to the baby.

are going to be trained on electronic collars, since our Trainer recommends them, which should help as well.

 
 I wonder if a more sensible "trainer" would be a better idea.  I agree 100% with the above posters.  Setting your dogs up to hate that little baby is what shocking of your dogs will contribute. 
 
Also, never leave a baby or children unattended with dogs around.  The dogs have a natural curiosity but they certainly need to learn to relax and feel close with you as a family. 
 
Wonder if there are some good behaviorist books that may help you out. 

Hmmm....I see what everyone's saying about electronic collars.

We'll rethink that.....

Of course we understand that their world has been turned upside-down with all of the commotion. And the truth is, they've done better than expected. I think that we're new parents who are...perhaps over-concerned, with the behavior of their dogs to their new child. And, its been less than a week....

The greatest concern is that, even though we've gone through some rigorous training, the small dog has some fear-based aggression and has acted on it in the past, and may do so again. Granted, it was before training, and since then, no problems. The dog has strong hunting instincts as well (why I asked about the "prey drive" thing).

We are aware that you NEVER leave a baby/infant and an animal alone. EVER. Creation of any relationship is gradual.

We're going to see how this week plays out and plan accordingly.
After hearing all of this, I see 2 things a bit more clearly:

1) This dog acted badly once, but has acted good since. (We're still concerned - not sure if its justified or not)
2) We've new parents. Everything is scary.


Any additional comments or thoughts would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks,
k

Have you read any books by Patricia McConnell or Suzanne Clothier?  There must be some books that would help you to understand new baby and dog mechanics in the family home, and how to alleviate stressfulness and promote healthy behaviors.

When Thor and Sheba were still under a year old, we started getting foster children who were infants.  We had one baby who was 7 weeks old and I could leave her in the pumpkin seat on the floor and both would lay there and watch her (I was always in the room).  If she fussed, both would rise, I'd tell them "leave it" and they would lay back down, but keep an eye on the fussy little bundle.  These children were NOT part of the pack, long term, yet the dogs accepted them as visitors who needed to be treated with respect and maybe a lot of that was because I was relaxed about it. 
 
I have always had dogs, and when I started bringing home MY babies, there were just no issues...and back then we didn't know to bring home the babies cap so the dog could get used to the smell.  We just did it and expected good behavior.

Time for classical conditioning and positioning during reinforcement.  Get some REALLY REALLY high powered food items cut up in sizes of a woman's pinky nail.  I would use chicken boiled in water full of garlic powder;  lunchmeat sliced about 3/8 thick;  swiss cheese, cooked liver or liver brownies.  Prepare small treat bags (I like the snack size ziplocks)  Place up to 20 treats in a bag,  mass freeze them in a gallon zip lock.  Take them out to thaw (put them in your pocket for a fast thaw).
 
Set up some situations where you have the baby and food in one place and the dogs are in another.  As soon as you walk into the dogs area, pitch a treat AWAY from you.  The dogs will learn that baby means food but at a distance.
 
Next method.  Now during specific times of day (before baby is fed but baby is quiet; after diapering, while holding baby and sitting,  times when you are not frazzled and child is quiet)  move the dog some distance way from the child by walking slowing into the dog's area.  Praise and give a treat. 
 
If you provide the reinforcer at a distance, initially, that will set the occassion for the dogs to stay farther away in the hope of a treat. 
 
While baby is sleeping work on some basic obedience commands sit, down, stand, a come command with a sit in front, a byme/with me command with dog at your side, tricks etc.  This will help increase the speed at which the dog's follow directions.
 
If the dogs have any inappropriate behavior, calmly stand and using your body block them from the area and push them into another room (with the space bubble).  When they return, let them come back and only stay when appropriate.  Throw out a treat or two when appropriate and the basic behaviors of staying a bit of distance, being calm and under control will become habitual.
 
I would probably start NILF  very rigidly so that the behaviors are well established in your habits and the dogs behaviors prior to the baby shifting into toddler mode.

If they easily obey commands, why put them on e-collars?

Baby=shock=bad baby.

ORIGINAL: kalik

Breed is mostly lab, some pit.

They are totally up-to-date on the shots, so thats not a worry at all.

We're just focused on knowing if her behavior is "acceptable" and if what training measures we have to take, like how to limit access and prevent any potential harm to the baby.

We do have gates, and are going to be trained on electronic collars, since our Trainer recommends them, which should help as well.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,
k

ORIGINAL: dogslife

are going to be trained on electronic collars, since our Trainer recommends them, which should help as well.

I wonder if a more sensible "trainer" would be a better idea.  I agree 100% with the above posters.  Setting your dogs up to hate that little baby is what shocking of your dogs will contribute. 

Also, never leave a baby or children unattended with dogs around.  The dogs have a natural curiosity but they certainly need to learn to relax and feel close with you as a family. 

Wonder if there are some good behaviorist books that may help you out. 

I agree.  E-collars have their uses, but are not a good idea with a fearful or aggressive dog, as they can make matters worse, much worse.  Please hire a competent trainer or behaviorist to help you.  This person isn't the one, I'm afraid.

"Childproofing Your Dog" by Brian Kilcommons is a good resource.