How would you deal w/neighbors pit bull?

Question

My next door neighbor has a 2 year old pit bull.

When I go into my yard, the dog does not bark at me, my husband, nor my teenaged son. For some strange reason, the dog barks like crazy at my 3 year old daughter. (No my daughter has never poked at the dog or anything like that. She's never been in the yard unsupervised and is strictly instructed to stay back from the fence when we are outside).

When the dog would bark at my daughter, I would stomp my foot and say, "go away" and the dog would move away from the fence and sit down or something. Now, the dog doesn't back down and stands there barking it's head off.

I told my neighbor that I was concerned and she told me not to worry because the dog is just very playful and probably just wants to play with my daughter (ah...not going to happen). Not that it matters, but the neighbor is a police officer.

How would you handle the situation?

Answer 1

put trees or a privacy fence along that side so the dog does see in the yard a child might have done something when the dog was young that why it doesn,t like children be sure to keep this child away from the dog good luck

Answer 2

How would you handle the situation if the dog were NOT a pit bull?

I had a paper route, and every morning while on the route I would encounter a very scary yellow lab that was kept on a chain at the front of the house. Every morning he would run, barking and snarling toward me to the end of his chain with his hackles up.

I got in the habit of keeping dog treats in my pocket. Every morning as I dropped off the paper I would toss the Lab a treat or two, but otherwise ignore him.

As time passed, the Lab would still run to the end of his chain, but without the snarling and hackles up,and would only bark once.

I never attempted to touch him or get close to him, though.

I don't know if that is the "right" way to handle a dog, but it worked well enough for me. I just thought I'd share. I think it could be a good idea to introduce the dog and your child in an appropriate way, as someone else suggested.

**edit** DON'T do as someone mentioned and give the dog a stare-down. This is potentially a REALLY dangerous thing to do. You'd be asking for a fight.

Answer 3

there is not much you really can do except to supervise your daughter at all times in the yard (like you've been doing), and to pay attention to the dog's behavior (if anything changes, if the dog shows any other signs of aggression then go directly to your neighbor and discuss the change with her)
if the dog ever attempts to bite or attack any member of the family through the fence, then I urge you to make an anonymous call to your local animal control and explain the situation to them
good luck!
ps worst case scenario, you could always file a complaint about the barking being a noise disturbance rather than go the route of a "violent dog"
it would help you to have a video tape of the dog quiet, then have your daughter come out side and show in the tape how the dog goes from being quiet to violently barking at your daughter; this evidence may be crucial if it becomes a legal issue later on

Answer 4

I think the issue here is that your daughter can't go into the yard without listening to the dog bark the entire time you are in your yard. He may outgrow it or just get bored if you ignore him. It's probably because of her size, some dogs don't like that kids are on a face to face level with them. I would say talk to the neighbor about the barking and if he won't do anything report it to animal control. The problem being since he's a police officer you could be opening Pandora's box on yourself.

Answer 5

QUOTE "believe it's the approach wherein the puppy has been raised. If it has not ever found out its position within the '%' then it is going to be willing to behave out" Actually the reverse is right, generally the violent Pits are good proficient and realize precisely their position within the %. Just keep in mind that there's a legitimate motive that those who could teach a puppy this manner could opt for a Pitbull. Pits could be a suitable puppy, however they are able to even be proficient to be one of the vital violent puppies on this planet. Where the rub is available in to play is while you're approached through a Pit that you've not ever obvious earlier than, HOW WAS THE DAMN THING TRAINED?? The second you show that worry from no longer figuring out, the puppy is aware of it.

Answer 6

O.K. 1. The breed DOESN'T FREAKING MATTER. Your problem is your NEIGHBOR'S DOG IS ACTING AGGRESSIVELY TOWARD YOUR DAUGHTER. This behavior would be EQUALLY PROBLEMATIC if the dog was a Golden Retriever, a Lab, a Poodle, or a Pomeranian.
2. you are handling this correctly. Sorry there is nothing you can do except complain to the neighbor or possibly the home owner's association. you can also report a bark nuisance to the police. as far as you reacting in the moment Yes, use you most firm "teenager out after curfew" mom voice and say "NO." don't back down. teach your daughter to say "NO."

Answer 7

Has your daughter ever been properly introduced to the dog? See if you can arrange for the officer and his dog to meet with you in THEIR house (the dog needs to be in HIS environment with his master closeby). Have your neighbor show the dog that your daughter is a friend and and let him sniff her. This will make the dog more comfortable with her and less likely to do anything lest she happen to get close to the fence. The fact that the dog belongs to a police officer tells me that it's probably obedient enough calm down when your neighbor tells him to. The key is for you not to panic or be too nervous while this happens. Be calm. Be friendly. The dog will respond better that way.

Answer 8

I own a pit bull, and your neighbor is probably right. Mine seems to really like to play with kids, even though I consider myself a resposible pit bull owner...he does not play or go out in the yard by himself. He is always on leash. Call the animal control in your area and tell them. So what if your neighbor is a cop, they still break laws too. Does the dog have a rabies tag on? If not, you have him right there. They are to be worn at all times.

Answer 9

The pit is probably not familiar with small children. My suggestion (with strict supervision of course) Have the child give the dog some treats and pet the animal. Dont feel threatened about the dog being a pit..Sounds like the owner is responsible enough to have such an animal. Any dog not familiar with small children would react the same..My grandmother raises Newfoundlands ( gentle giants) and some of them react the same way to small because they arent familiar with these small beings. ..they are curious..and interaction does help.

Answer 10

Make sure your daughter stays away from the fence. Some dogs just don't like kids. If the dog is in its own yard, behind its own fence, there isn't anything you can do.