Pittbull question...?

Question

My friend has a very well behaved female pittbull. I won't let the dog around my toddler... And my friend thinks I'm being too over protective.... Am I?

Or... Are the rumors about pittbulls untrue?

Answer 1

You should be careful around ANY dog.

The only reason the rumors seem to be true are because of crappy pet owners! And when Pits do attack, it tends to be more severe because they are SO VERY VERY strong! But any dog can be a good dog with the correct guidance and training!



You are never overreacting when it comes to the safety of children around pets that are not yours! Kids have a way of pissing off the most friendly dogs, I don't think you are over reacting at all.

Answer 2

Well for me it is the opposite. I don't like toddlers around my dogs (Maltese and a APBT), since they don't know not to poke at eyes, pull ears and tails and pinch. I can't count how many time I have been pinched, hit, and had my hair pulled by over excited toddlers, why would I subject my dog to that? I'm a firm believer that most small children who get bit when no one is around have done something to hurt, anger or scare the dog. Why do you think more dog bites happen when the child and the dog are alone?? I've also witnessed older kids doing lots of things they shouldn't to dogs when they think no one is looking. So when I tell parents not to leave any child alone unsupervised with the family dog, it is more for the dogs protection then the child's. I trust children who don't know better (even if they should) even less than I trust dogs, but more often than not it is the dog that loses it's life.

Answer 3

Well, do you trust this dog? As long as you carefully supervise the situation, there shouldn't be a problem if she is well behaved. Just like any dog, if there is a young child, they should be carefully watched.

I dont believe in the pittbull rumors. I think the media likes to pick on the poor dogs. Search pitt bulls on google. There are more good stories out there than bad ones. I'm guessing that for every 1 bad pittbull story, there are probably atleast 100 good ones. Also realize, I highly doubt your friends dog was trained to kill. The pitt bulls that attack are the ones that are specially trained to attack. The only fault the pitt bulls has is its strength and thier BRAINS. They are so smart, but that makes them sensitive. As long as the dog has been loved and trained properly, there should be no problem.

Just make sure you supervise the situation, but I'd advise you to do that for ANY breed of dog, especially the bigger ones.

As for introducing your child to the dog; take it slow. Maybe a few minutes every time you go over. SHow your toddler how to properly pet the dog and let the dog get used to your kid. I think dogs are a great way for young children to really see how things, beside them (who believe that the world revolved around them) work. It also helps them learn how to control thier hands. Saying "be gentle" and helping them stroke the dog is a great way to get started! Just ensure that someone is always watching. Dogs are dogs and kids are kids.

Answer 4

Most rumors like that are untrue; pitbulls are usually stereotyped as being mean and aggressive, but that's not always the case. If she's well behaved and sweet I'm sure she wouldn't hurt your child at all. :) Unless the dog has a history of biting, then I would worry. But don't judge the dog by the rumors, you'll be mistaken.

Answer 5

My cousin's sister owns a pitball and you would never know by his personality. Tank is a very friendly and gentle dog. He greats everyone and I have never seen him act aggressive to any stranger or anyone. Tank has been around a 2 year old child for the last couple years and he is the most playful dog. Tank is that little baby's best friend, he is so gentle with her.

I think it just depends on the dog rather than the dog breed. Parents should keep an eye on their kids with any dog. Many dog breeds can cause serious injuries to children, even labador retrievers.

Answer 6

Pitbulls are generally very people-friendly animals and not a danger. However, toddlers are unpredictable and can scare any dog (not just pits). Frightened dogs can bite if they feel threatened. If the dog is not used to toddlers, I would make sure that the two are always supervised, but if people are around, I'm sure the tot and the dog will be fine.

Answer 7

there is not any such ingredient as a foul canine, in basic terms a foul proprietor! i be responsive to various pittbulls that are friendly. in actuality, the sole canines i've got ever seen chew all and sundry have been the little yappy lap canines! My daughter became into bitten on the face by utilising a Shih-tzu while she became into 4 months old curiously because of the fact she became into eye-point with the canine, yet my 70 pound shepherd blend would not blink an eye fixed if the toddler ripped out a clump of hair!

Answer 8

has the dog ever been around kids? if so then let the dog go near the toddler, just be sure to watch them. if the dog shows any aggression, remove the child. a lot of attacks happpen when kids are alone with the dogs, or outside by themselves. pits that are not bred or trained to be mean normally don't attack. a friend of mine had a male, intact pit and a 3 year old daughter who liked to pull on anything she could get her hands on (including man parts). the dog never batted an eye. i love pits, my next dog will probably be a pit.

Answer 9

I had raised my daughter with pitbulls and we never had an issue. Now what I would be asking your friend is wether the dog has been properly socialized with toddlers, does she jump, get overly excited etc. every dog is a potential danger to children if they were never predisposed to them and taught proper behavior it is NOT a breed thing. Even people that fight them whom I hate to all certainty anyway those dogs are trained from day one to adore humans and do not bite humans just other dogs.

Answer 10

The fact is that you should care for your toddler before your friends dog or your friends feelings. Who cares if you are being over protective? I have always been a fan of the saying that there are no bad dogs just bad owners, but as I've grown, I now am understanding that some breeds due to over breeding, in breeding, etc. just can have bad traits bred in. The pit bull is an unfortunate example of this and unless this pit is AKC registered from reputable breeder that prides themself on temperment breeding, I just wouldn't take the chance.