Pit Bulls and Babies.

bluepenelope · October 2009

So... my IL's live in another state and they have a pit bull that is almost a year old and nearly 100 lbs. ?We're staying with them over Thanksgiving.

I know that with proper training pit bulls can be safe around children but it still scares me. ?How do I know FIL has properly trained the dog? ?Also its not like we live close so that the dog has opportunities to get to know my DS and be comfortable with him in the house. ?Plus, we visited when I was 7 months pregnant and the dog decided it wanted to sit on my lap and I couldn't get it to stop/get down - he just kept coming and pushing through. ?He wasn't being aggressive, but it made me nervous.?

I've done tons of research and decided that I really don't want DS around the dog (if we lived closer and could properly introduce them and establish the relationship that would be different.) ?Thankfully DH agrees - we're going to talk to my IL's about not having the dog around DS unless FIL is there (this is a HUGE compromise in my eyes). ?

What do y'all think... ?

karskaren · October 2009

I think your concerns are valid. As a mother protecting your child is your first priority, and I am glad that you are doing what you feel is necessary to protect your LO.

renebean319 · October 2009

it sounds like y'all made a good decision...but might i add that not all pit bulls are vicious horrible animals that should never be around children.

just wanted to add that before people get all up in arms about pitbulls.

wifeypooh · October 2009

I agree. I think regardless of the dog breed, you need to be cautious around babies since you never know how they will react, particularly since the dog isn't yours.

melhearts · October 2009

I see your concerns but as an owner of a pitbull and a mom you have to be careful around ANY type of dog, not just a pitbull. Your right that you have to know how ANY dog was trained and raised but even little dogs could do great harm to a little baby. The little dogs are the skittish type and when LO's wail their hands dogs could get scared and bite. My dog came from the shelter when she was just 3 months old and we have had her ever since, she is now 3 years. I have never once seen any type of aggression. She is the complete opposite.

deeanneharris · October 2009

Since I am a mother that has had a dog attack her baby before (DD#1 was attacked by a boxer that was ours), I do not blame you at all. The dog is not familiar with your child and is very large. Things can happen even if the dog is properly trained when the child is that little. I wouldn't stay there unless the dog would not be in the same room with my child.

bluepenelope · October 2009

melhearts:
I see your concerns but as an owner of a pitbull and a?mom you have to be careful around ANY type of dog, not just a pitbull.? Your right that you have to know how ANY dog was trained and raised but even little dogs could do great harm to a little baby. The little dogs are the skittish type and when LO's wail their hands dogs could get scared and bite. My dog came from the shelter when she was just 3 months old and we have had her ever since, she is now 3 years. I have never once seen any type of aggression.? She is the complete opposite.?

?

I absolutely agree.. we are cautious with our own dog and its just a 26 lb terrier who has never shown aggression.

I don't in any way want to demonize the breed - I know they can be great with children with the proper training and supervision (I did research this and most sites say this)

However the damage done by a 100 lb animal is totally different than the damage done by my 26 lb terrier. ?And to be completely honest, it is hard for me as a mother to ignore the news stories. ?Could they be biased against the breed, sure, but I still have to take those warnings to heart, you know??

Shweensickle · October 2009

I think it's absolutely acceptable for you to not want large dogs around your baby - regardless of the breed. Our neighbor has a pit that's the sweetest, most affectionate mush of a dog I've ever met. But as you said, you don't know how well-trained this dog is around anyone, let alone small children. (dogs can get easily scared/intimidated by small children)

But please just don't make the assumption based on the breed. Pits are naturally very affectionate dogs, and have only been given a bad rep because of idiots breeding them to fight.

bluepenelope · October 2009

fredalina:
A dog and a young child should NEVER be left alone without a qualified adult to supervise (qualified meaning an owner or other person that the dog knows and respects), especially until the dogs have been VERY well observed around the child (i'll leave D in the jumperoo with my dogs while i'm nearby in the kitchen but didn't leave them alone at all for weeks after she came home, and i know my dogs really well).? It has nothing to do with the dog being a pit bull; i feel the same way about a chihuahua.

?

ITA and no dog will ever be alone with my DS (including my own.) ?

I'm mainly talking about having the dog around DS at all... ?I've decided that if FIL is around then I'm okay with them being around each other b/c the dog listens to him. ?The dog doesn't listen to MIL or grandma and so I don't trust the situation. ??

Rizzo5 · October 2009

melhearts:
I see your concerns but as an owner of a pitbull and a mom you have to be careful around ANY type of dog, not just a pitbull. Your right that you have to know how ANY dog was trained and raised but even little dogs could do great harm to a little baby. The little dogs are the skittish type and when LO's wail their hands dogs could get scared and bite.

This exactly...and we own two pitbull mixes.

avakatesmama · October 2009

I think pit bulls have a bad rep because of what they're capable of. My mother is a nurse and she had a patient who had a pit bull, never bit, sweet animal blah blah. One day the dog decided unprovoked to take a bite out of her arm (a chunk came out, and this was through a heavy winter coat). Just something to think about. I personally cannot fathom people having pit bulls and babies together, it kinda nauseates me. I don't think I would go unless it was guaranteed the dog would not be in the same room as DS. I have nothing against them, just what they're capable of, my cavalier king charles spaniel could not do the same damage a pit bull could. Just please be careful!

melhearts · October 2009

bluepenelope:

melhearts:
I see your concerns but as an owner of a pitbull and a mom you have to be careful around ANY type of dog, not just a pitbull. Your right that you have to know how ANY dog was trained and raised but even little dogs could do great harm to a little baby. The little dogs are the skittish type and when LO's wail their hands dogs could get scared and bite. My dog came from the shelter when she was just 3 months old and we have had her ever since, she is now 3 years. I have never once seen any type of aggression. She is the complete opposite.

I absolutely agree.. we are cautious with our own dog and its just a 26 lb terrier who has never shown aggression.

I don't in any way want to demonize the breed - I know they can be great with children with the proper training and supervision (I did research this and most sites say this)

However the damage done by a 100 lb animal is totally different than the damage done by my 26 lb terrier. And to be completely honest, it is hard for me as a mother to ignore the news stories. Could they be biased against the breed, sure, but I still have to take those warnings to heart, you know?

They sure are biased against the breed and it's a shame because they were bred to be watchdogs over babies. I agree that there is more of a risk because of the weight, but that is why I never leave my baby alone with the dog. Everytime I walk out of the room I make Nova (dog) come with me. I completely understand your feelings. I mean if I didn't research the breed and own a pit I would be a little worried too, especially since everyday you see on the news another story about a pit attacking someone or another animal. It's a shame because when they attack they think they are pleasing their owner's because that is what the owner trained them to do!! Makes me sick!! Well have fun on your trip!!

g8orell · October 2009

melhearts:
I see your concerns but as an owner of a pitbull and a mom you have to be careful around ANY type of dog, not just a pitbull. Your right that you have to know how ANY dog was trained and raised but even little dogs could do great harm to a little baby. The little dogs are the skittish type and when LO's wail their hands dogs could get scared and bite. My dog came from the shelter when she was just 3 months old and we have had her ever since, she is now 3 years. I have never once seen any type of aggression. She is the complete opposite.

I agree with this...you need to be careful with any dog. I am a HUGE dog lover, had them all my life. I was always very comfortable with dogs. When I was 5, we were at my mom's best friend's house - they had an Airdale (sp?) which is nto very aggressive and we would literally go there like every other day. One day, I hugged her and she bit me and I had to get 10 stitches in my face! Thankfully, I was never scared of dogs after that, it was like it never happened. With that said, my sister has 2 pit bulls that are the sweetest, most lovable dogs in the world! And she has 3 kids who are now 10, 8, and 5....but they were all born after they had the dogs. The also had a cocker spaniel that they had to give to a rescue shelter b/c that dog was crazy - my nephew was about 7 at the time, sitting in his bed playing Xbox and the dog ran in his room, jumped on his bed, and grabbed my nephew by the neck and started biting! My BIL had to run in there and grab the dog! And he's a 25lb cocker spaniel!

melhearts · October 2009

avakatesmama:
I think pit bulls have a bad rep because of what they're capable of. My mother is a nurse and she had a patient who had a pit bull, never bit, sweet animal blah blah. One day the dog decided unprovoked to take a bite out of her arm (a chunk came out, and this was through a heavy winter coat). Just something to think about. I personally cannot fathom people having pit bulls and babies together, it kinda nauseates me. I don't think I would go unless it was guaranteed the dog would not be in the same room as DS. I have nothing against them, just what they're capable of, my cavalier king charles spaniel could not do the same damage a pit bull could. Just please be careful!

I NEVER leave my DD alone with my pitbull, nor would I leave her alone with a 5 pd yorkie. No your dog may now have the same jaw pressure but he can still do damage to a baby!

bluepenelope · October 2009

I know I keep saying it but I don't want people to think I'm just singling out this breed... I know I have to be careful around all dogs...

its just IL's have a pit bull and they have a not so good reputation and I think it is b/c of what the damage they are capable of doing. ?I know how important this dog is to my IL's (FIL in particular) and they are also very sensitive about the bias against pit bulls. When we talk to them, DH and I decided to try not to focus on the breed, but the size and the lack of interaction and opportunity to properly train. ?That said, the news stories about pits scare the crap out of me - and my decision is in a small way based on the breed, just not entirely. ?Its a combo of breed, size, lack of training, lack of interaction all rolled into one. ?

I knew that I might offend some, and I'm sorry if I did - but as a new mom its hard to get past the fear.?

melhearts · October 2009

bluepenelope:

I know I keep saying it but I don't want people to think I'm just singling out this breed... I know I have to be careful around all dogs...

its just IL's have a pit bull and they have a not so good reputation and I think it is b/c of what the damage they are capable of doing. I know how important this dog is to my IL's (FIL in particular) and they are also very sensitive about the bias against pit bulls. When we talk to them, DH and I decided to try not to focus on the breed, but the size and the lack of interaction and opportunity to properly train. That said, the news stories about pits scare the crap out of me - and my decision is in a small way based on the breed, just not entirely. Its a combo of breed, size, lack of training, lack of interaction all rolled into one.

I knew that I might offend some, and I'm sorry if I did - but as a new mom its hard to get past the fear.

I wasn't offended becaus as a new mom myself I am worried about certain things too! You have every right to be worried since you really don't know the dog all that well. But honestly I think as long as you are around the baby and keep the dog at a safe distance you should be fine. Maybe only have the dog out when your FIL is home, otherwise maybe they could put the dog in another room.

bluepenelope · October 2009

"Maybe only have the dog out when your FIL is home, otherwise maybe they could put the dog in another room."

this is what we're thinking.

I think I'm just really nervous to have this discussion with the IL's - thanks for letting me practice with y'all.

I'm pretty sure they are going to be offended. ?

arcticwolf · October 2009

I have 2 pits that I am comfortable having DS around, however, I will not leave them alone in the same room. Hell, I wouldn't even leave the two of THEM in the same room alone! That said, I DO put them away when we have guests over (crate trained), especially guests with children. I don't get offended having to do this as I know peoples fears. Hopefully, your FIL has the same mindset.

And a side-note (not to start a debate) quite a few of the "pitbull attacks" they show on the news are not even pits. Just sayin'.

F&G777 · October 2009

I do NOT trust pit bulls - I've seen 3 'turn' right before my eyes & go after a child (a child that the dog knew) - first priority is to protect your child (whatever the breed of dog) - you can never be too careful. I don't care what anyone says a dog is an animal & if it's jealous or feels threatened it will attack no matter what breed (and I'm not a dog hater - i grew up with dogs) - just my opinion.

cathy_and_matt · October 2009

We have a bulldog who has never shown aggression towards any human or dog, who is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever meet, and I still don't leave DS alone with her. I've only recently even had them on the floor together (while I'm there of course), and she has to stay off of the blanket he's on. And that's with pretty good voice control over her. So no, it's not at all unreasonable to establish that you don't feel comfortable having a dog around your baby.

Having said that, pits really do get a bad rap, which is a shame since they used to be called "nanny dogs" since they were so good with children. The reason that they're used so viciously is because of their intense love and loyalty to their owners, which makes them ideal fighting dogs. It's horrible what bad breeding has done to them.

becca7903 · October 2009

being cautious is the best thing for sure... but maybe to just help out a bit, our neighbors have a pit bull. their daughter is about to turn 2. all her life, this dog has let her crawl all over her. it's really quite cute... so pit bulls are definitely a product of their environment...

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