Anonymous wrote:OP, once you have a baby, then child, you will socialize with other families with babies and your child will have playdates and sleepovers. You will be taking an enormous risk having a reactive dog in the house. Even if put in a bedroom, etc, there is always the risk the dog will get out. I think you need to try to find an adult only home for the dog.

OP this is something else to think about. We have friends with a highly reactive dog. Kids cannot have anyone over, or if they do they send the dog to a relative’s house. It’s very disruptive.

Get rid of the dog.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP has responded but not admitted to the breed.

OP doesn’t really need to, though- it’s a reactive dog and has bitten before. It doesn’t matter if it’s a miniature poodle or a pit bull.

Of course it matters. Some dogs do damage when they bite, some don't. I would be less worried about a small dog than a dog that could take a child's face off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is sad but sometimes you have to get rid of them. You can always have another baby though.

I see what you did there.

You are so gross.

Anonymous wrote:PETA advises to let the dog eat the baby. It's natural.

Thank you for your helpful suggestion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My “I hate everyone” dog adored my baby. It was instant. Dogs know.

My dog that hated all children - and I mean vehemently detested - though was fine with adults - also instantly adored our child. Literally was the first and only kid she ever loved. Still couldn’t bring another child close to her that wasn’t ours.

So you never had play dates?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t want a dog that I don’t trust in a house with my infant. If you can find the dog a good, happy home, why would you risk this?

OP here. We trust him with us 100% and with strangers after initial meeting, and feel very confident that he will never lay a tooth on someone he likes. To actually answer your question, reread my post. I don't even know if we can rehome him if needed, that was my whole question. Plus, we love him dearly and don't want to throw away his life with us for no reason. But I do know the gravity of if he doesn't like the baby, and if that situation presents itself we want to be ready to do something.

To another poster who has asked, he is 6 and I am 30. So no, we are not comfortable with waiting for baby until he passes. I can't say we haven't thought about it, but no.

he has nipped a stranger once, and if given the chance would bite a stranger if we were not able to introduce them properly.

The dog has ALREADY bitten someone (nipped delusional), and is prone to biting? This is not a kind dog. You should live in fear around your baby. Babies and toddlers are rough, they drop things, they fall, they hit, they pull fur. This dog? He’ll “nip” your babies face off.

I could never relax if my child was around a dog with a bite history. I believe kids and dogs should be supervised or separated, but if the dog has bitten people before, even a quick lapse in supervision say while you run to the stove because the rice is boiling over wouldn't be worth the risk for me. Or you think your partner is walking the dog and you lay the baby on the floor activity mat while you shower but turns out they didn't leave because your partner took a work call.

With a dog who doesn't bite, the risk just isn't the same.

Anonymous wrote:My “I hate everyone” dog adored my baby. It was instant. Dogs know.

My dog that hated all children - and I mean vehemently detested - though was fine with adults - also instantly adored our child. Literally was the first and only kid she ever loved. Still couldn’t bring another child close to her that wasn’t ours.

My 25 lb mutt loves kids. Hates my own. Vet thinks he’s jealous. Just lots of growling and acting like a disgruntled old man.

Look up Dog Meets Baby in Instagram. You don’t need to buy a course, she has lots of tips if you just follow long enough. You know your dog best but she has suggestions for rules like dog gets off the bed when baby is there. It could be helpful to start training the dog now.

I think worst case if you don’t want to rehome the dog, you just have to keep them separated. Never together alone and even when supervised keep dog and baby separated by a sufficient gate. But like other posters said you just have to wait and see. The dog may change as it gets older too.

PETA advises to let the dog eat the baby. It's natural.

You could ask a breed rescue about potentially rehoming, they may not take. Your best bet is likely to find a no kids home yourself. Shelters tend to put down biters. I'd ask your behaviorist for suggestions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is the dog? If he is older already, you might just delay your childbearing plans until he passes and avoid the issue altogether.

Oh, for G*d’s sake.

Don’t do this for a dog.

Agree. It’s mental illness to delay parenting an actual child until your old dog dies.

Anonymous wrote:It is sad but sometimes you have to get rid of them. You can always have another baby though.

I see what you did there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wait and see what happens. You're overthinking it.

+100 most dogs get into protective mode over the child.

My grandfather's dog did that when my brother was born. The dog would not let my mom pick up the baby when he cried. He guarded the baby and bared teeth at anyone who came near. Needless to say, that dog was never near that baby again.

The dog my family had when I was a baby did the same. My older sisters resented me for being the reason they had to give up their dog.