Am I being unreasonable?

Question

My mother inlaw has a 11yr old Basset hound that she keeps mainly in her garage, in a kennel, that she never lets out and he has had some seriouse aggression problems with her and her family. I have a 2year old daughter who has been raised with my child friendly dogs, and has never had a reason to fear or be scared of my dogs. Last week, I was attacked and dragged down to the ground by her Basset hound, and it scared the mess out of me. A few days later my husband went up there to feed him, and he approached him wagging his tail and then attacked him too (my husband grew up with this dog). Now I have a seriouse issue with allowing my daughter to go up there, and I'm being called vindictive and unreasonable by my husband and his mother. Am I? I am a Vet tech, who worked with military working dogs, and seen the results of K-9 aggression first hand and don't want my 2 yr old to run the risk of a bite or mauling. I simply stated I don't want my daughter up there with that dog...

My inlaws feel I'm being vindictive because their dog attacked me un provoked. I don't think I am, and I'm truely holding my childs best intrest at hand. There dog has even attacked and bitten them on several occasions. They keep in in his crate 5 days a week from 6am to 7pm, and occasionally on the weekend if they remember they allow him outside on the chain. They keep telling me that they will keep him in his crate in the garage - however he was supposed to be locked in his crate when he attacked me, (they had trouble locking it) and my daughter is in that stage of opening doors, and of course I worry that she'll open the door to the garage and he'll get her then (There family room connects to the garage). Am I the only one that feels this strongly about this issue, are there people in similar issues, if so how did you deal with it?

I have tried offering up suggestions, from getting the dog seen by a vet (incase its medically induced aggression), to seeking the advice of a trainer, to even putting an outdoor run for him, but she gets so defensive about it and does thing her way because its convient and not whats best for the dog. This whole issue with the dog is starting to tear a huge rift btwn my spouse and I, because I don't understand how he doesn't see this dog as a threat, and how his mom not making any effort to get this dog help, and not giving me assurance that she can keep the dog away from my daughter! So when I say I don't want my daughter at her house with that dog there, I'm looked at as the bad guy - a bad guy for holding my daughters safety first? I'm really looking for some kind of support or how people have delt with this in their own lives, because my husband doesn't support me on this at all. Thank you to all those who have been suppportive.

Answer 1

If you are a Vet Tech, then you must know that the dog (a normally friendly, goofy breed, not a vicious breed) is behaving in this manner most likely due to their way of keeping this dog. He has no life, no real interaction with humans, is forced to eat, sleep and probably eliminate all in that little crate most of the time. The dog would be much better off to be euthanized than to go on living like this. You also should know the laws in the state you are in, a dog bite should be reported (I know that we don't always report a family bite), the same as a gun shot wound by any physician that treats one. Did you see a physician about your bite? Did you report it?

Now, down to real basics. You are the mother of that child. She is your responsibility to protect and care for. Would you let her play in a street if statics showed that there were only an average of 12 cars a year on that road? Probably not..... You know this dog is dangerous and that he has managed to get out of the crate when unexpected. Other times he is chained (which really does some horrible things to a dogs' psyche) and could get to your daughter. I would not get into an arguement or discussion with your in-laws or husband but simply state, "I am responsible for seeing that my daughter is protected. It is my judgement that she could be in danger from the dog so she will not be in the presence of the dog, ever." Assure your in-laws they are more than welcome to come to your home to visit and see their granddaughter and family outings for dinner, movie, picnics....etc. all will be done.

Don't give in to pressure. You don't want to have to explain to your daughter later why you regret not following your instincts. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 2

You are not being unreasonable and if your husband would rather have his daughter attacked by a dog than keep her protected he is not much of a father or husband. That poor dog needs to be taken out of that situation immediatley, and probably put down humanely, I don't like saying that, but if the dog has attacked unprovoked on more than one occasion, something needs to happen. I have a bassett hound and he is the sweetest thing ever. I hope that things work out for you and your daughter.

Answer 3

No, you are not. Your trepidations about leaving your child in the pressence of an unstable dog is warranted and justified. Her safety should be one of your top priorities... and it is a shame that both Grandma and papa don't see it that way. This dog sounds nothing like an angelic pet and his aggitated interations with people make him a genuine threat to the safety of your daughter.
And... what everyone else needs to get in their head, including your M-I-L and husband, is that just because they are bigger than the dog does not minimize the damage it could do to them. When a dog snaps... ANYONE can become a victim having to deal with SERIOUS life threatoning or scarring injuries!

Answer 4

You are being completely reasonable and totally responsible. Your first duty is the safety of your child. Stick to your guns, and show them this post if they malign you for your insistance on your daughter's safety. My husband's oldest son was badly mauled by the dalmatian owned by his brother, the child's uncle. It literally ripped half his face off. The only thing that the kid did to 'provoke' the dog was knock on the door and hand his uncle his keys back that he'd mistakenly left in the door. The state required him to euthanize the dog. He's still a bit snotty about it, but I can only imagine that dog would have killed a kid if it got a chance.

Answer 5

Nope I don't think you are being unreasonable who would want their child to be around a dog that attacked two people in the past month. I think you are doing the right thing by keeping your daughter away from the dog and it's not like you said you wouldn't go to their house anymore. You are just trying to keep your daughter from the dog. Don't let them get you down just stick to your feelings and keep your daughter away.

Answer 6

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. I wouldn't let my kids go somewhere if I knew they had a dog like that.

While any dog can be a risk, some are bad news waiting to happen.

I'm sorry but I wouldn't trust a 2 year old to keep aggessive dog and friendly dog seperate. To a 2yr old a dog is a dog.

Answer 7

Did she start keeping hiim in the kennel because he was agressive, or did this come after keeping him in the kennel all the time? I think the dog has some serious cabin fever after being locked up all the time. If this is a behavior change, though, he needs to be taken to the vet.

Answer 8

I agree with every other poster that you aren't being unreasonable. As a matter of fact if it were my child, my husband, my mother-in-law, I would tell them they are being unreasonable and that the matter isn't open for discussion period. A mama bear is fearless with her cubs. What I'm not understanding is why both your husband and his mother would call you vindictive. Vindictive would be if you refused to let her see her grandchild after she securely confined the dog to your satisfaction, she hasn't. The fact that you're posting this issue suggests that you are doubting your decision, there's no compromising on this one in my mind. Good luck.

Answer 9

what the heck? that is so cruel. that sounds like animal abuse to me.... no wonder the dog is aggressive.. hes locked up in a cage all day. that is really horrible. maybe if the dog was out in the backyard like a normal dog should be then he wouldn't be aggressive...so if your a vet tech who works with dogs how can you let them keep the dog in a cage for 13 hours a day??

Answer 10

I think if I were kept in a cage all of my life I would have some aggression problems, too. It's very sad that this dog is so aggressive, but I understand your concern with your daughter being around him and think it is completely justified.