Concerns with dog

emilydeone1

Hello everyone! My first post! Anyone have concerns with their dog and new baby? I know it's a bit early, but I have a dog who has bitten people in the past and am extremely worried.. Husband loves that dog to death, but I am so nervous!! Thoughts or suggestions, please!

kyrenora

I would keep them separate until the little one learns how to behave around animals, honestly. If the dog has bitten people before, a kid pulling its fur could be a problem. Let them see each other, but baby gates (for the dog) might be a good investment.

emilydeone1

Yeah I have read a lot in it, and it seems to point in the direction that if a dog has a past of biting, then the best idea is to get rid of it.. Which that conversation is scary. She would most likely have to be euthanized.. When I say she's bitten people, I mean a list of 15 individuals. I clearly have made up my mind on the situation but so nervous about the conversation with my husband

DaBearsFansWife

emilydeone1 said:

Yeah I have read a lot in it, and it seems to point in the direction that if a dog has a past of biting, then the best idea is to get rid of it.. Which that conversation is scary. She would most likely have to be euthanized.. When I say she's bitten people, I mean a list of 15 individuals. I clearly have made up my mind on the situation but so nervous about the conversation with my husband

How in the world has your dog had the opportunity to bite 15 different people? At what point do you just stop allowing your dog to interact with others?

ChristyM87

DaBearsFansWife said:

emilydeone1 said:

Yeah I have read a lot in it, and it seems to point in the direction that if a dog has a past of biting, then the best idea is to get rid of it.. Which that conversation is scary. She would most likely have to be euthanized.. When I say she's bitten people, I mean a list of 15 individuals. I clearly have made up my mind on the situation but so nervous about the conversation with my husband

How in the world has your dog had the opportunity to bite 15 different people? At what point do you just stop allowing your dog to interact with others?

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I thought dogs were given 2 chances?

JennyJensing

I know people have many different views on this and this may come off as harsh, but a dog that bites people has no place in society. The dog should be put down. Also, I give a serious eye roll to anyone who has a dog that's bit someone more than once and it is still living. I'm surprised you haven't been tacked with a lawsuit or the dog hasn't been stomped to death yet, honestly.

ETA: I am a HUGE dog lover. But we have to remember that they are ANIMALS, not HUMANS. When we brought our DD home, the pecking order of the house was clearly established and we wouldn't have tolerated either of our dogs biting her.

oneblessedmess

Yeah, I'm gonna have to jump on team "Get rid of the dog". 15 people is a ridiculously high number of people to bite. I have a dog and if she was a known biter there is no way I would feel comfortable having her in the house with my LO. Sorry. I hope your and your DH can come to an agreement.

bosco213

Anyone else think this is MUD?

And I agree, there's no way I would feel comfortable with a biting dog in my home, especially not with children. To answer your OP, I feel 100% comfortable with my dog around anyone, including children.

emilydeone1

Sorry to clarify, I am an animal lover as well, she is my husbands dog and we just got married. So her biting career was prior to me. She did bite me once as well, nothing severe, but scary. I completely agree in dogs get two chances. It is a surprise she still is alive. I'm just very concerned with the conversation.. He loves that dog so much.

emilydeone1

She's a Cane Corso mastiff.. So she's large. I have no idea would take her.. Most people she has bitten hsve been friends who have been over so nobody would take her

emilydeone1

And it's not drama, it's a huge concern of mine.

WafflesFriendsWork

I just had to delete my drafted post about getting a trainer asap. If I was you, I'd look into any alternative that got the dog out of your home before bringing home a baby.

Dogs are generally given one chance after a bite is reported - at least where I've lived. Usually a 10 day quarantine is required to make sure the dog wasn't carrying diseases. The dog is euthanized on strike two.

I don't have concerns about our dog and baby, but we do plan to take things slow. He LOVES our friends' kids and has been very gentle and tolerant. The only thing I'm concerned about is him stepping on the baby while we're in the car, but I'm sure I can find a restraint if necessary.

emilydeone1

Thanks ladies. It was a failure on his part. Unfortunately, a young, dumb guy who never owned a dog gets a cool, aggressive breed. I honestly needed reassurance that the best idea was to get her out of the house

oneblessedmess

You just have to be straight with your husband. Don't make him feel like his feelings don't matter, but emphasize that your concern first and foremost is for your child's safety. How terrible would both of you feel if the dog seriously injured your kid?

Absolute last resort if he cannot see reason- insist that the dog be kept separate from the baby at all times. Keep her outside most of the day if you have to, or utilize a muzzle when she is inside. But if it was me, I would have to put my foot down and say the dog has to go.

SJ7108

I am a dog lover too but I agree, you guys will have to get rid of the dog. Hopefully your husband will be able to understand putting his child's safety over the love of his dog. He might cry a bit but he will be okay.

Also, I have a friend who had to just give away her dog that she has had for something like 10 years after he bit her niece and then her son. It was hard and she cried but your kids come first.

Good luck with the conversation with your husband.

FarfalleBella9

Do not try to find someone to give a dangerous dog to. That is not fair to continue to put the dog and more people in harms way.

Two options:
Gate and rotate or Euth.

LadyAnnibal

My dog thinks he is a human. He looks like a pit/terrier but I'm no dog professional. I'm not too worried about him attacking anyone. I'm more worried about the poor boy trampling the baby from excitement.

I had a bull mastiff once named Moose and he thought he was the mother of a litter of kittens my cat had just given birth to. It was pretty hilarious.

I think you really need to talk to hubs about making her an outside dog, training her, and wearing a muzzle when she has to come in (adverse weather or whatever). It's a compromise and until the dog isn't bat shit crazy anymore that's all you can do outside of getting rid of doggy.

WafflesFriendsWork

I think PPs are smart to encourage you to bring in a professional. It takes the pressure off of you to be the "bad guy" and it might be easier for him to hear it from a professional. They might be able to suggest ways to keep everyone safe, but hopefully will help him realize it's time for the dog to go.

MaritimeMama3

Every year, babies are killed by dogs. Dogs that previously showed LESS aggression than your husband's. 

The dog has to go.

ETA: If this were my husband, I would consider chatting with his mother, father, or sister about it... Someone else who he respects and listens to. You may need some backup.

Bodoni

15 people! Yikes.  I'd be finding it a new home.

Our dog is a Lhasa/Cavalier mix, she's excellent with DS so I'm not really worried about how she'll treat the twins.  

jlbaker08

I have no problem with either of my dogs and they are part of my family, with that said a dog is a dog and even the sweetest dog without a rap sheet can bite. My little rat terrier grazed my DD with a tooth about a week ago because she was too close to the food bowl. Fortunately, DD is old enough now to understand that she was in the wrong and that if the dog bites her, the dog gets the boot (she loves the dog and is terrified that the dog will have to go away if she nips).

Fireworks813

I love dogs and I am nervous about my own dog when we bring home baby. I'm nervous because he is big and clumsy. I am not worried about him biting. If I were, my dog would be in major training.

Dogs that have bitten TERRIFY me. You never know what it will do, or who she will bite. Biting 15 of your family and friends is (I don't mean to sound harsh) but unacceptable and reckless. Dogs can be trained.... It's a sad conversation you'll have to have but necessary.

dot2point0

I am a huge dog lover, too. I am comfortable with my dog around LO. We were concerned with how our dogs would react to bringing a baby home. The nurses in L&D gave us LO's blankets to give to the dogs and introduce them to the new smells. And they told us that in a house where the dogs see their humans as the alphas, when a new baby arrives, they realize the baby is the new alpha of the house since the parents now do everything for the baby. The dogs will see the baby as their new alpha, too. This advice applied, at least in our case...

With a history of biting, how does your husband know the dog isn't going to turn on you or him one of these days? If there was a breakdown in training, then I don't think it's a stretch that the dog could stop listening to you or your husband.

Wishing you the best of luck when you speak to your husband. It's not going to be an easy conversation but I hope he realizes that the safety of his family comes first.

Ashelee13

Sounds like your dog is leader of the pack. He feels like he needs to protect your husband...which should not be the case. You can try to invest in a trainer but honestly the dog should never be trusted again. The dog should never have been put in the situation to bite someone after the first time.

That being said you can not rehome this dog. That is wrong to put that burden on someone else and potentially have him biting more people.

I agree with pp that maybe getting a trainer to talk sense into your husband is a good idea. That way you are looking like you at least want to attempt to keep the dog. Maybe even call the trainer and talk to them personally before you talk to your husband? You need to make sure the trainer is good with large dogs are least no has worked with aggressive dogs before (not all dog trainers have).

emilydeone1

I did reach out to a trainer to speak with in private. Yeah we would never rehome her.. It wouldn't happen. I honestly know she needs to be out of the house, just devastating that all I can think of is euthanizing. I doubt she would take take a muzzle... She won't anyone collar her but my husband or I She challenges my husband frequently.. I have extensive experience training horses and this dog is way more terrifying!!

TealAppeal

I love animals and have worked with rescue horses, dogs, and cats. It is so important that you describe how dangerous a very dominant, poorly trained dog can be around children. If she is still challenging him, she clearly has not accepted the pecking order. Children can easily be killed by a mastiff if they annoy, look like prey, get too close to "the dog's" person, etc. His own child would be at very high risk. Horses are not predators, dogs are. If you, his friends, a trainer, his family, and his boss can't persuade him to get rid of her or give her to someone who understands her history, you can have someone who was bitten report the poor thing before the baby comes home. I feel very sorry for this dog.

TealAppeal

P.S. Hi and welcome! Sorry your first post has generated such sad answers