We just delivered a newborn 1 week ago and since she's gotten home my dog won't stop obsessing over here, barking and whining.
Just a little background on my dog, he's a rescue dog and had separation anxiety for the longest time. He guards our home and us non stop and barks at strangers. He's bitten a few people also. He's a small dog, 10 pounds. I don't trust him to get close to the baby so we been keeping him on a leash around the house. Here are the things I've tried.
1.) I've tried sitting with him and just sternly saying no when he barks or crys, then giving him treats when he stops (although he doesn't really stop, he just pauses for maybe 10 seconds). I don't think this can be a long term solution, I would have to invest hours and hours to this method and I don't even know if there will be a pay off.
2.) I've tried letting him sleep with some of the baby's clothes. (although I stopped the last few days)
3.) I've introduced him to the baby on a leash but getting close to her just gets him even more nervous and anxious, he whines even louder. I can't just let him get close enough to smell because he might nip her, we don't know. He is wagging his tail but I'm not sure I can assume this means he won't bite her.
4.) I've Tape recorded her crying and played it for him while he's eating so he associates her crying with something positive. Now I am just having him stay in a seperate room with her crying clip playing on a loop to see if he gets used to it.
Our house is small, 1400 square feet so even with him being in another room, we hear his barks really loud. Everytime he hears the baby cry he goes nuts, barks, whines real loud, and scratches the door like a maniac trying to get through.
My wife has gotten so fed up with him and I'm fixing to go back to work in a couple days. She's already stressed out enough having to care for a newborn and not getting sleep but the dog brings the stress to another level.
Are there any other ideas that I can try to get this to work out? Getting rid of him is not an option, I've had him for 8 years since I rescued him and he's a good dog, loves his family but just has never been able to get over his anxiety around strangers and curiosity when something new comes to the house.
Just a little background on my dog, he's a rescue dog and had separation anxiety for the longest time. He guards our home and us non stop and barks at strangers. He's bitten a few people also. He's a small dog, 10 pounds. I don't trust him to get close to the baby so we been keeping him on a leash around the house. Here are the things I've tried.
1.) I've tried sitting with him and just sternly saying no when he barks or crys, then giving him treats when he stops (although he doesn't really stop, he just pauses for maybe 10 seconds). I don't think this can be a long term solution, I would have to invest hours and hours to this method and I don't even know if there will be a pay off.
2.) I've tried letting him sleep with some of the baby's clothes. (although I stopped the last few days)
3.) I've introduced him to the baby on a leash but getting close to her just gets him even more nervous and anxious, he whines even louder. I can't just let him get close enough to smell because he might nip her, we don't know. He is wagging his tail but I'm not sure I can assume this means he won't bite her.
4.) I've Tape recorded her crying and played it for him while he's eating so he associates her crying with something positive. Now I am just having him stay in a seperate room with her crying clip playing on a loop to see if he gets used to it.
Our house is small, 1400 square feet so even with him being in another room, we hear his barks really loud. Everytime he hears the baby cry he goes nuts, barks, whines real loud, and scratches the door like a maniac trying to get through.
My wife has gotten so fed up with him and I'm fixing to go back to work in a couple days. She's already stressed out enough having to care for a newborn and not getting sleep but the dog brings the stress to another level.
Are there any other ideas that I can try to get this to work out? Getting rid of him is not an option, I've had him for 8 years since I rescued him and he's a good dog, loves his family but just has never been able to get over his anxiety around strangers and curiosity when something new comes to the house.