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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
What would you do?? (kind of long)
My brother and I live in a different state than our mom. We are both going home for Thanksgiving/E's birthday. My brother has a pit bull and I don't want him to bring it because E is at the stage where he pulls, pokes, and is always going after our dog in some way or another, but we have a puggle who has been with us since before he was born. My brother thinks I am being SO unreasonable and doesn't understand that I don't want to risk E being around a huge dog that has never been around babies! ALSO, we are having E's party at my moms house and a lot of my friends are coming with their LO's. I wouldn't take E to a party if there was going to be a pit bull and I didn't know anything about it, and I'm sure some of my friends will feel this way and won't end up coming. I don't even want him to keep it in the basement or anything. Basically, I don't want him to bring the dog. He is leaving one of his dogs at home so I don't understand why he can't leave both. I just wish he could understand where I am coming from.
Am I being totally unreasonable? Or do you agree with me? Would you want your LO around a pit bull that has never been around babies?
ETA - When I was in high school my brother had a different pit bull that we had to put to sleep because it literally tried to eat my neighbors dog... and the reason why is because their dog stepped in our front yard. We had to use mase to get my brothers dog to un-latch from the other dog. SO, that is the reason why I don't trust the breed altogether to begin with. My brothers dog is sweet, but so was our old dog and for some reason it snapped ONE day when it had seen our neighbors dog many times before.
Even after this, he STILL doesn't understand why I don't want the pit bull around DS.. He says, his dog would never ever do anything.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: What would you do?? (kind of long)
Just because he is a pit bull, doesn't mean he is going to attack. Try and think of him as just like any other dog. How is the dog around other people. I'm gonna assume the dog is fine with other people since he is traveling with it. Why is he only bringing one dog and not the other one?
I know that it automatically doesn't mean he is going to attack. I guess one reason why I am so uneasy about pit bulls is because when we were in high school my brother had a different pit bull that we had to put to sleep because it literally tried to eat my neighbors dog. Since then, I flat out don't like the breed. The dog is good around people, but has never been around babies. Therefore, he hasn't been around babies that out of no where will pull his tail, ear, poke him in the eye... I'm scared that if something WERE to happen.. I could have prevented it.
The other dog is staying at his house and his friend is going to go over during the day, let it out, play with it, etc. That's why I don't understand why he can't leave both dogs at home!
I wouldn't bring my child around any big dog for an extended period of time- pitbull or not at this point either. And if you all will be staying in the same house, I don't blame you at all for asking that he leave it at home with the other dog.
I guess if it were me and if he insists on bringing it, I'd either stay in a hotel and be OK with him leaving the dog in the basement during the party or not go altogether.
click the pic (blog)
I agree. Especially a big dog that has never been around babies! That's my whole thing.. I just wish he would understand where I am coming from! He is 25 and acting like a CHILD about this whole situation. I just don't even know what else to say to him. I was so excited about going home to see all my family and friends (we just moved 19 hours away from home 2 months ago) and now I'm worried about all this! UGH!
Well I am one of those people who hates pit bulls so I might be a little biased, but even if it weren't a pit bull just another large dog it would bother me. We have two very large siberian huskies and even though I know they would never ever hurt LO I still don't fully trust them to be around him. He also pulls their hair and tails and they don't really care but I wouldn't want to risk someone else's dog reacting badly to that. I totally understand where you are coming from and I don't see why if he is leaving the other dog at home he can't also leave that one. And yes, if I knew that there would be a pit bull at a party that we were going to I might not go (even if DS wasn't with me). I guess I just think about those stories you hear about families having pit bulls for years around their children and then one day they just snap and maul someone. Like I said, I am already anti-pitt but any big dogs around LO would make me nervous.
Thanks for your input, ladies. I agree 100%. I am just going to call him and tell him how it will be. If he really feels the need to bring the dog than I am going to stay elsewhere and we will have E's party elsewhere so I need to know now. I will not risk putting my little man that means the most to me in this entire world in a dangerous situation! I hope he can understand and leave the dog at home.
I'm not anti-pit in any way (one of my good friends has two of them, and they are the most well-behaved, loveable dogs I've ever seen). However, I would be nervous about DD being around any large dog that has not been exposed to the "love" a baby would show them. Many dogs get nervous the first few times around babies. I do understand your fear.
Why are you not comfortable with him leaving the dog in the basement while the baby is out and about, though (not flaming, just curious)? I would think that might be an ideal solution. That way your brother can bring his dog, and you don't have to worry about the dog biting your child or any of the other party guests. Then when it's just the normal adults around, he could bring the dog out for attention.
I would not trust ANY dog larger breed dog that you have not been around. I just read this story yesterday - maybe you should print it for your brother.
https://current.com/news/92748644_3-day-old-newborn-dies-in-jacksonville-after-being-mauled-by-pit-bull-terrier.htm
a side note, I honestly hate when people bring their pets to family functions. No matter the size they can be a bother to alot of people - allergies, annoying barks, getting under peoples feet, begging for food, etc. That is just my opininon.
I'm not sure if you saw what I wrote when I replied the first time. When I was in high school my brother had a different pit bull that we had to put to sleep because it literally tried to eat my neighbors dog... and the reason why is because their dog stepped in our front yard. We had to use mase to get my brothers dog to un-latch from the other dog. SO, that is the reason why I don't trust the breed altogether to begin with. My brothers dog is sweet, but so was our old dog and for some reason it snapped ONE day when it had seen our neighbors dog many times before.
I don't necessarily care if the dog was in the basement during the party, but I know that some of my friends will and they won't bring their LO's. I know that people who have experienced being around nice pit bulls have a totally different opinion, but if you haven't been around pit bulls at all, MOST people would just rather keep their children away. Just for the sake of being safe!
I love my brother and have nothing against his dogs, but I just don't want them around my son. I just wish he would understand where I'M coming from rather than thinking I'm attacking him.
Thank you!
No, the dog will most likely not bust down the door. But, there isn't a gaurentee the door will stay shut either. I was at my in-laws and it was asked repeatedly to keep the basement door shut for the same reason. However, a kid opened it mistakenly and the dogs ran out. Fortunately, they nothing happened, but you can't trust any dogs. Because, in fact - they are dogs.
Regarding your brother's old dog: dog to dog aggression and human aggression are not at all related. Neither of my dogs likes other dogs but they are amazing with my son and other children. Do you know pit bulls used to be nanny dogs in England back in they day?
All dogs should be supervised with children regardless of breed. With that said, your brother needs to make sure his dog is ok with children before bringing him over to a party attended by kids. He also needs to closely supervise his dog
I don't think you are being totally unreasonable based on the following:
The dog (leave the breed out of it) has never been around a baby, therefore, is unfamiliar with them. I also think it's fine for your brother to leave the dog at home- I wouldn't bring a dog (of any breed) to a kids birthday party because it's already going to be chaotic as it is. Your brother is defending his dog because you have expressed concerns (and maybe even offensive ones, if you are just saying "because it's a pit bull, it is bad!" but he also needs to respect your feelings, IMO.
I do think the breed discrimination and you lumping "pit bulls" in the category that they are all dangerous is completely unreasonable.
If you would like the dog to stay at your brother's home, by all means, that is fine, but don't say it's just because it's a pit bull. That shows ignorance regarding the breed as a whole, IMO.
Check www.pbrc.net and www.badrap.org if you would like to educate yourself a little more on this breed. Sounds like a few posters could use it.
I have a pit bull. I am not the least bit worried about her and my baby. But would I have her out, running around during a birthday party full of crawling/unsteadily walking babies? No. That has nothing to do with her breed. It has to do with being responsible and keeping the chaos to a minimum.
Research and links, please?
Or did you just make this up? Because all I find when I google this unfounded information you are spewing are media stories, most of which can't even pinpoint for sure what breed of dog "attacked for no reason."
ITA 100%
I've read this three times now.
DOG AGGRESSION =/= HUMAN AGGRESSION.
And ditto everything Punky said.
Any breed of dog is unpredictable when it is facing a new situation.
Yeah, it's a no brainer not to allow kids to manhandle your dogs. When we have kiddie visitors, I have rules- and they will be enforced when this one comes along too. They are simple rules that are very easy for them to follow.
This website outlines a lot of where I educated myself on dogs and babies and how I have approached this.
And yeah, never leave a dog and a baby unsupervised. That is no-brainer #2. So many attacks on children are due to corrections by the dog (who cannot be expected to say, "now, little johnny, you are annoying me, go away!" He says that with growls and moving away, much of which go ignored or unnoticed by parents.
Dog on dog aggression is a relatively common breed trait for all terriers- jack russell terriers are one example. Claiming that animal to animal aggression is equal to animal to human aggression is faulty logic. If not, then if your cat or dog has ever killed a mouse, snake, bird, squirrell, groundhog etc... then by all means, they too must be human aggressive.
It's obvious you are afraid of this dog for merely being a pit bull. In order to form an educated opinion of this dog, don't you think you should meet it first? See what your brother has done in terms of training him? What this dog's individual temperament is?
Do I think your brother bring his dog- no. Do I think your panties should be in this big of a wad- no.
Perhaps having an adult conversation with him about the logistics would be a good place to start. How does he plan on supervising the dog (I would suggest on leash or crated when he cannot be supervised). How will he react if the dog is nervous/fearful/anxious around small children? Some thigns you need to consider are how you plan on supervising dog/child interactions. How will you teach your child not to hit/poke/prod/pull at a dog? Maybe in this dialogue you both can come to an agreement that is safe for everyone... even if it means a little give on your part.
Shelby adopted after 9 months!
I completely agree 100%. Do some research.
Yeah...that's my unpredictable pit bull in my sig...the one wearing the kitchen funnel on his head sitting next to my 15mo old (who, incidentally is not allowed to poke, pull or go after ANY of our dogs).
This is a completely uneducated and incorrect statement. Do some research before spewing such myths out as truth.
And I agree that children should be supervised around ANY dog, regardless of size or breed. OP is right to be concerned about having her child around a dog that is not accustomed to being around children. She is not right to be concerned solely based on the dog's breed.
This situation with OP's brother can be solved if both the brother and OP are responsible and take the appropriate steps to make sure everyone is safe.
Mr. Sammy Dog
Where is your reputable source for this information?
How many Pit Bulls have you met in your life? What first hand experience have you had with Pit Bulls?
Clearly none if you are spouting off these ignorant, completely false comments.
This. Pitbulls are great dogs, and I think you should stop your daughter manhandling your Puggle and teach her how to behave around dogs, because even they have boiling points and could do a lot of damage.