Who was in the wrong here part 2?

Question

I posted this question last night but had something to add and I am just fuming!! The gist of it is...We were at somebody's home (a relatives) 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 but didn't actually get off the couch, my husband was holding onto her still. 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.

So tonight we went to dog owner's SISTER's house. And she brought the dog there. She got very mad at me when I asked if the dog could be kept in a

room then where my daughter is playing. We drove an hour to visit and was invited, I don't think it was so much to ask to keep the dog away from my child, but the owner seems to think I insulted her greatly!!

She has even had the nerve to bring the dog to my house without asking, how do I tell her to keep that dog away from me!?!

I should also say that I don't think the dog is bad because it's part pit, I just the owner lets it behave like that.
She treats it BETTER then her own child.
And I can't just avoid them because they are related to us.

We have dogs of our own, and my parents have 2 golden retrievers and although there are all friendly, if I notice that someone is not comfortable around them, I put them somewhere else in the house until the company leaves, I think that what you would do out of respect.

Answer 1

You are absolutely in the right here and have the right as well as the responsibility to tell this woman to keep her dog away from your child, particularly in your own home. Pit bulls are classified as inherently dangerous animals in most states, due to their breeding as fighting dogs, their ferocity (due largely to inbreeding), their power, ability to lock their jaw when they bite, and inability to feel pain when they are attacking making it near impossible to separate a pit bull from that which it is attacking. As a pit bull owner, this woman is well aware of all these qualities and even with the proper care, a well mannered pit bull can become aggressive without provocation and at a moments notice. I myself was brutally attacked by a friends pit bull that i had known for years - It actually bit right through my pinkie finger, which was able to be saved. A small child should not be around a dog like as children tend to make sudden movements which could easily provoke the dog. If you plan a visit ask in advance for the dog to be locked in a room (I have a 10 lb dog which I lock away when friends visit because they are scared, so trust me, it's not too much to ask for), and if they refuse, then don't go. If they are good friends, they will understand your natural concern for the child. You are doing the right thing here, stick to your guns and good luck.

Answer 2

I think your relative is very rude and definitely wrong! I love dogs more than I like most people, but if a dog growls and snaps at a child, provoked or not, the dog and the child should not be allowed to be close together. If you ever have your child around that dog again, just make sure your daughter is not allowed to be near the dog. Even the most loving dog can become aggressive in certain situations, especially around children if they are not used to them. Just pray the dog never gets the chance to bite any child!

Answer 3

You have only one priority to be concerned with here: the safey of your child. Anything else in this mess is just someone else's problem to deal with. I totally agree that you need to keep distance between the child and the dog. And you're right, it doesn't necessarily mean the dog is bad or something. But, hey, animals are unpredictable ... all animals. And once an animal has shown an inclination of aggression toward people, or especially toward a child, it's up to the humans in the situation to be sure it doesn't happen again. Do not worry who you have offended. And if they come to your house with the dog uninvited again, just do not allow the dog inside. If they leave, they leave. If you go to another house and they show up, leave. I don't care how long you drove to get there. Bottom line: your child's safety. If something were to happen to her and you tried afterward to justify your inaction of protecting her by any of the reasons you've mentioned, you would feel horrible and sound ridiculous. You are in the right. Stay there.

Answer 4

Be very direct. Tell them that the dog is NOT welcome at your home. If the bring the dog ask them to leave the dog outside, or better yet take it home. And by all means call ahead before you visit these people and find out if the dog is going to be there. Don't take chances with your daughter please. While Pits on the whole are very nice animals they can be vicious and unpredictable and can maul a child in a matter of seconds.

Answer 5

pit bulls have always been my breed of choice they are the most lovable animals you can imagine. how ever i have been in the shelter business for 15 yrs or better and i have seen my share of my beloved breed. as well as being lovable they can be just as nasty(as with any breed)and deadly you are talking about your defenseless 10 month old child . although i love this breed this is one of your deadlier breeds this dog does not like children (not all pitbulls )and this you can not change keep your daughter from this dog next time he will not growl he will BITE. your friend doesn't have a clue and has no business owning this type of dog you have to be a responsible owner you have to know your dog and his limits everyone has them (limits) this is why this breed is bred to die because of their owners. if your friend canot respect your wishes concerning her dog and well founded they are she is no friend . further more no one should assume they can bring the dog to someone else home with out asking. this person does not use her head. and by doing that someone IS going to be hurt. and the dog will DIE and that's a shame for everyone. tell your friend to get a poodle if she is going to be that irresponsible. as i have always said there are no bad dogs just bad owners and i think it is time for a new friend your daughters life just might depend upon it .

Answer 6

A DOG IS A DOG!!!! A child is a child!!!! This owner is going to have not a protective dog-but a HUGE LIABILITY on her hands !!! The dog needs to be reprimanded so he knows right behavior from wrong behavior!!! the only thing she is teaching the dog is how to get away with ripping someones face off and not understanding its bad behavior!!!Poor dog needs to be placed into a home that will take the time to train it properly-what an idiot!!!They should not be allowed to own animals!!!!

Answer 7

You might try asking them what point they are trying to prove. Clearly they think it was your daughter's fault, which it wasn't. Are they waiting till it happens again and your daughter is injured so that they can say, "See! It's HER fault!" as they're toting your injured child off in an ambulance?

I don't care if it's a pit bull or a maltese. We all have a responsibility as dog owners to prevent problems. These people have a major chip on their shoulders and are out to make sure they're going to win in this situation. I think they're nuts. Let them keep to themselves with their dog if that's the way they want it. I hope another child doesn't pay a bigger price for their dog's aggression.

Answer 8

You were not wrong at all. It seems this dog was not properly socialized and needs to be watched closely around children. Any responsible dog owner would want their unproperly socialized dog away from the thing/things that the dog has not been socialized with. I do this with one of my dogs...actually, I just make sure I am in control of her at all times (I know for a fact that she would never bite because I know my dog's personality to a "T" unlike the person you are talking about).

As for them bringing the dog to your house....your house, your rules. Just like when people come to my house...my dogs, my rules. My rules are "No touch, No talk, No eye contact" with either one of my dogs until I say so. The vistor has no say so in this.

Your daughter's well being is most important in this case. It seems like they don't set up enough boundaries for their dog to live by. That's my personal take on it...

Answer 9

I can't believe that a dog owner can be like that, your poor girl she'll end up being frightened of dogs if she had to be around one like that, I'm the same as you if a person doesn't like dogs you let it go out in the garden or put her in another room, and if your daughter wanted to get down to play she wasn't doing anything wrong.
I would tell this person if they can't leave the dog at home then don't bother visiting it's as simple as that babies come first .

Answer 10

The dog owner is completely wrong. I have 3 dogs of my own. I know all of my dogs' temperaments as much as I can. One of our dogs is about 35 lbs and a lot of people are scared of him, he looks like a baby pitt but is really a rat terrier. He is extremely protective over me so I know that when I have company I need to keep him right next to me and if he acts up in any way that is unexceptable he gets punished and locked in his cage. The same goes for the other two, my smallest dog somehow gets enraged when women come into our home or come close to my fiancee. We all laugh that she's protecting my assets, but it is not funny because she can end up biting someone. I do not allow her to act up, when I know there is a woman entering our home they are warned not to try to pet her before entering my home. She looks so cute and harmless girls are always wanting to pet her. If we see that the dog does not like this person we do not put the dog around her. It's pretty simple. I am currently seeing a trainer for my dogs to work these problems out. As a pet owner it is our responsibility to keep the dog and surrounding people safe. It is completely irresponsible for that dog owner to continuously put your daughter in the presence of their dog. They are in complete denial and do not deserve to have that dog. Pitts are not dangerous is they have a good temperament and are put under strict training. I have friends with pitts and they are more well behaved and nicer than my own smaller dogs. It is all up to the pet owner, they owe it to the dog to get proper training and/or keep it out of situations where it becomes agressive. Otherwise, the dog can hurt someone, if this happens the dog will be put down.