Who was in the wrong here??

Question

We were at somebody's home and my 10 month old daughter was sitting on the couch with my husband. This person's daughter owns a pit mixed dog, and it was laying in it's bed a couple of feet away. My daughter wanted to get off the couch so she leaned forward, and looked at the ground but didn't actually get off the couch.

The dog growled and snapped at my daughter, but my husband quickly pulled her away. The owner of the dog actually yelled at my husband for not controlling our daughter!! My daughter did not provoke the dog at all, she didn't even go near it.

I think this dog is essentially dangerous around my child and do not want to visit anymore if the dog is there, they say I'm being paranoid.

I am worried because the dog owner has a child, but seems to favor the dog more, I worry that the baby might get bit as it gets older.

I'm not saying it's a dangerous dog because it's a Pit, I am concerned because it acted out like that.

I should also say, this is not an untrained dog. The owner trains dogs for a living and this dog has won many competitions including obedience.

I am just mad that the owner yelled at my husband, my husband was holding our daughter the whole time, she just bent over to look at the floor.

BTW my "mutt" is a pug/shar pei mix

Answer 1

First rack your memory and check for a few things:
1) did the dog have any toys, food, chew things on his bed?
2) what age of child is the dog used to being around?
3) had the dog met your child before?

You can't correct instinct in a dog, so if he had some sort of chew thing, food or toy on his bed, he was defending his stuff. However, dogs must ALWAYS be put in their place, something this trainer ought to know. A dog, especially a powerful dog like this can NOT be allowed to growl, snap, or bite at anyone like that. The dog was in the wrong, even if defending his stuff, he should have been removed from the room and put away for a while to remind him who the master is. Dogs don't really see kids as master over them, though, they see kids as other puppies. I wouldn't have let my child anywhere near the dog's bed, since dog's often will defend their space, but then, why is the dog bed so gosh darned close to the company on the couch anyways? Exactly what KIND of training has the dog been through? Simple obedience or has he had any kind of guard training? Pits ca be a more agressive breed, but all dogs have some drawback to them.

We own a rottweiler, and since this is a big powerful dog, she's not even out to roam the house when company, ESPECIALLY company with kids is over. Not b/c she's mean, but b/c she could easily hurt someone without even meaning to. My son climbs all over her, and kisses on her and plays with her, but never without me sitting right there.

Try and figure out WHY the dog acted the way he did, and then perhaps it can be fixed, if you want to take that chance. If you can't come up with a reason, I wouldn't chance it. The dog may just not like kids.

OK, all that said, you're not being paranoid, your child was in danger and you have every right to try and avoid that danger. The owner was definitely in the wrong, and should have apologized, even if he knew his dog was defending his turf. Doesn't matter, people come before dogs. Let them know you'd love to have them over for dinner, and that can open the door to staying friends without endangering your daughter.

Answer 2

Well if that dog is so well trained it should not have felt compelled to have to growl at your daughter. I believe you have every right to be upset and protective of your daughter. A good trainer makes their dog feel comfortable around all groups of people and helps the pet to not feel threatend by other animals and people. Pits are sometimes a dangerous dog anyway, not always but sometimes. You should discuss how you feel with your friends in a polite manner. You don't want any child, or anyone else to get hurt by this dog. I think the owner of that dog needs to do some more "training" with that dog. It is sad when people baby their dogs more than their kids and will defend the dog instead of seeing things like that as a warning sign as to the safety of their own child.

I own a pure bred American Rat Terrier which is also a very protective dog. While my dog barks at people he has NEVER snapped or growled at anyone because I have trained him to feel comfortable enough around people where barking is all he needs to do, and we're working on stopping the barking too.

Mixed mutts are some of the cutest dogs in the world. You get the best of several different breeds. I've owned several "mutts" and they are my favorite dogs in the world. The "muttier" the better.

I hope this situation gets resolved in an appropriate manner for everyone, including the dog. IF the dog does actually bites someone, it could be put down and no one wants that. Even if it IS in the dogs home, owners are supposed to have control over their pets.

Answer 3

They had no right yelling at your husband. You should of gotten up and left instanctly. You are right in not taking your child there anymore as long as the dog is there. They should put the dog in a secure area when ever they have company. As far as the child that lives in the home I dont think there is anything you can do. If the dog acts out again and you wittness it, you should call the dog pound. Any dog that is normally well behave, and acts the way this dog did, there is room for conceren. I would think that the dog may possible be ill. Say a prayer for all that lives with this dog. Pits are breed to fight, it is in there blood.

Answer 4

You ARE NOT WRONG! I don't know where you live, but recently here in my city we have had a massive rush of pitbull and pitbull mix attacks. One man was atacked in may, he is stil lin the hospital. Another woman died from an attack. There have been several more and NONE, I repeat NONE of the dogs were said to be provoked for any reason. You have no idea what that dog could do, weather it was a pitmix or not has no bearing, the dog was VERy aggressive toward your child and it's your job to protect her at all costs. If they cannot accpet that, then they are not real friends. You cannot afford to take any chances. If you feel like you are in error - err on the side of caution. That way your daughter will be alive and safe. She is more important than any dog or friend. You have every right to feel the way you do and i am glad that you felt that way. Keep your family safe and refuse to visit if the dog is on the property. Stick to you guns!!!! Good Luck!!

Answer 5

First off to all the ignorant people out there PIT BULLS AREN'T BAD DOGS! there are only BAD OWNERS!!!!!!!!! second, it doesn't matter the breed most dogs are uneasy around little kids. If this dog isn't always around little kids it wants to be the dominate one because it is larger then your child. Or even if it is around small children maybe that child has done somthing to the dog to make it react that way. It is true that little kids don't know how to act with ALL pets, but in this case your daughter didn't do anything to provoke the dog. The dog could have been startled, it happens. You shouldn't hold that against the dog. My advise is to keep your child away from the dog until she gets bigger. The dog owner shouldn't have yelled at you guys though, that's just poor judgment on his part. Hopefully you guys can work this out just remember that accidents Do happen and no one was hurt. that's what really matters here.

Answer 6

Pit bulls are very territorial/ dominant dogs!! They are known for being over protective of nothing!!! Not that it is a bad thing, but they are not the kind of animal children, especially babies should be around unsupervised!! You should stay away because babies don't know better & don't understand that when he growls they should move!! Your baby is your main concern you will be doing the right thing!! & your friends should consider whom would be yelling if your husband had not pulled your daughter away & she had been bitten!! as for thier child the dog will be more used to thier child because it is there always so they should be fine as long as they are always watched when together!! Speak up to them about your concerns, they may not have realized that they are in the wrong!! Or that thier child may be in danger!!

Answer 7

The dog owner is in the wrong. Dogs know that children are smaller and weaker than adults. Good family dogs will protect children and be leery around very large and intimidating people. I see you wrote that you're not saying it's dangerous because it's a pit. Why the hell not? Pits are vicious dogs. That's not to say they can't be sweet dogs their entire lives, but they are far more likely to turn on an owner or a child than most other breeds. That dog knew your baby posed absolutely no threat, but snapped anyway. Bad dog, bad dog. Pits are crazy, from lineage and inbreeding, and most people buy them knowing it. Usually some dumb *** hillbilly who thinks its cool to have a big mean crazy dog. Yeah, real cool. I heard in California they were passing laws to start euthanizing all pits that didn't come from professional breeders. Too many maulings I guess.

Answer 8

I would have to say that this dog in question is very protective and alert of its surroundings and people in general. It sounds like the dog doesn't trust younger children seeing they are more unpredictable, it may have thought your daughter was making a move too quickly or that you're daughter was not obeying commands to stay put until given a command to move, seeing this is a trained dog it recognizes when others are not following the rules also. I believe it was very wrong of the other person to reprimand your husband, your child did nothing wrong and the dog should definitely have been reprimanded instead.

Answer 9

Your daughter might have just triggered something in the dog. The owner did need to address the dog and not your husband. I would never take me dog to someone who is like that. I would not go over there with your child if the dog is like that. The owner will soon learn about there dog when their child gets older.

Answer 10

The dog was probably nervous around the child so acted out. However, your first priority is your child. DON'T bring her around this dog again, ever! (At least not until she's older.) My daughter was bit in the face once when she was 5 but a Rott. We were at a garage sale, the people told us she was very friendly and wouldn't hurt a fly. My daughter loves dogs, so reached out to pet the dog. She jumpped up and bit her right in the face. Thank God she was okay, and it didn't scar. But I called the police to report it anyway. Your child is far more important than any dog, or even your friend's feelings.