Anyone else have a pit mix?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does your dog have a bite warning at daycare?

The kid in this case were babies. Your kids are older. It's incredibly rare for there to be any fatal dog attacks at all - but when there is one, it's usually babies or very old people, because they are most frail.

My family had a pittie for 15 years. She died 10 years ago, without having harmed anyone in her whole sweet life.

Don't get weird about your dog. We also don't know the whole story with what happened here. It is very unlikely that the dogs just suddenly became Cujo out of nowhere. But that said, no matter what type of dog you have - exercise caution. Never ever ever leave a baby alone with a dog, especially a big dog.

OP here. When he's around strangers, especially indoors, he gets anxious and then growls and snaps. He's never actually nipped or bitten anyone though, as far as I know. He just looks like he's going to. Outdoors, he's a happy go lucky, friendly dog. It's very strange and I assume has something to do with his shelter experiences.

We were incredibly lucky to find this daycare because they specialize in rehabbing dogs after surgery. So they are used to grouchy, irritated dogs who don't want to be there. They take healthy dogs for day play and overnight boarding as a side hustle. He goes 3 mornings a week for exercise and to keep him acclimated to the staff so we can leave him overnight when needed.

I would be much more worried about the fact that your dog growls and snaps at people than what the DNA test says. I wouldn't trust any dog that growls and snaps at people around my kids.

Isn't it normal for dogs to do this, especially adult rescue dogs? When we first got him, we were strangers to him and he was scared of us. It's not like we raised him from puppyhood. I looked it up online and it said the last thing you want to do is train these behaviors out - because this is how they warn you that they are uncomfortable with whatever you are doing and how to ask you to stop. If you train it out, they'll just lash out and bite without warning you first.

He doesn't growl and snap at us anymore and he's especially tolerant of me and DH (for example, he lets us take things out of his mouth that he picks up on walks when we need to) but we're still careful about checking his body language.

There's a difference between punishing him for growling and trying to train him to be more comfortable around strangers.

You are 100% right that growls are good. They are warnings, they tell you when your dog is getting uncomfortable. It's really good your dog growls and doesn't bite.

But the cause of the growls is something you can work on. A trainer could help you recondition the dog so that he learns to like strangers because they give him cheese, for example.

Rescue dogs aren't broken or damaged, though. You don't know his story, you don't know what's in his past - but there are just some dogs who don't like strangers, and they can come from breeders, loving homes, shelters, whatever.

[Anonymous]

Your.
Kids.
Should.
Not.
Have.
To.
Walk.
On.
Eggshells.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.

[Anonymous]

Get rid of the dog before something happens.

[Anonymous]

You are a horrible parent for making your kids adjust their behavior and lives and comfort level in their own home on a daily basis instead of rehoming a dog you *clearly know in your gut* is a danger to them.

I said what I said, and don’t bother replying, because it ain’t changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your.
Kids.
Should.
Not.
Have.
To.
Walk.
On.
Eggshells.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.

I didn’t get that from OP’s post at all. Sounds like they’ve taught the kids to observe the dog’s body language and stay away if the dog doesn’t want to be bothered. Sounds like dog ownership 101 to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your.
Kids.
Should.
Not.
Have.
To.
Walk.
On.
Eggshells.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.

I didn’t get that from OP’s post at all. Sounds like they’ve taught the kids to observe the dog’s body language and stay away if the dog doesn’t want to be bothered. Sounds like dog ownership 101 to me.

The dog’s moods and feelings matter more than the kids, got it. The kids cannot be themselves and be carefree and comfortable in their own home; got it.

We had dogs growing up. We were certainly respectful and observant and responsive to their needs, but not out of fear of bites or being mauled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your.
Kids.
Should.
Not.
Have.
To.
Walk.
On.
Eggshells.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.

Why so snarky? OP seems like a responsible dog owner who has taught her kids to be respectful around dogs, including their own. This is a GOOD thing. Dogs are not toys or machines and should not be treated as such. Of course they will react if people take their food, pull their tails, and generally behave poorly.

Your dog sounds like a normal and sweet pup, OP. I would echo the other poster's suggestion about having your kids feed them sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your.
Kids.
Should.
Not.
Have.
To.
Walk.
On.
Eggshells.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.

I didn’t get that from OP’s post at all. Sounds like they’ve taught the kids to observe the dog’s body language and stay away if the dog doesn’t want to be bothered. Sounds like dog ownership 101 to me.

". They know not to approach him on his bed and to never bring friends or strangers around him." WTF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your.
Kids.
Should.
Not.
Have.
To.
Walk.
On.
Eggshells.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.

I didn’t get that from OP’s post at all. Sounds like they’ve taught the kids to observe the dog’s body language and stay away if the dog doesn’t want to be bothered. Sounds like dog ownership 101 to me.

The dog’s moods and feelings matter more than the kids, got it. The kids cannot be themselves and be carefree and comfortable in their own home; got it.

We had dogs growing up. We were certainly respectful and observant and responsive to their needs, but not out of fear of bites or being mauled.

The two older boys are a little more hesitant because he’s growled or barked at them more in the past but they’re not scared of him. They’re just more careful about paying attention to his body language and respecting it. Our daughter was 10 when we got him and he is very tolerant with her in a way that he wasn’t with the boys early on.

But it’s getting much better. When we picked him up from overnight boarding yesterday, he got into the car next to my oldest son then laid down and put his head on his lap. Of course DS was thrilled. We all love the dog and would be heartbroken to give him up. He’s lying right next to me on the couch right now with his head pushed up against my leg. He is learning to be affectionate.

We’re doing our best to make this work. He’s our first dog so this has all been a learning process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your.
Kids.
Should.
Not.
Have.
To.
Walk.
On.
Eggshells.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.

I didn’t get that from OP’s post at all. Sounds like they’ve taught the kids to observe the dog’s body language and stay away if the dog doesn’t want to be bothered. Sounds like dog ownership 101 to me.

The dog’s moods and feelings matter more than the kids, got it. The kids cannot be themselves and be carefree and comfortable in their own home; got it.

We had dogs growing up. We were certainly respectful and observant and responsive to their needs, but not out of fear of bites or being mauled.

+1000

OP, think about what lessons you are teaching your children, about how to live in their house and how to train a family dog. They aren't learning any good lessons right now. Re-home the dog. And be more careful if you get another family dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We adopted a rescue dog about a year ago. We were told that he was a greyhound mix but according to one of those DNA tests, he is ~ 24% pit and the rest is Golden Retriever, Chow Chow, and Chihuahua.

Anyway, I'm just feeling a little unnerved by him because of the news about that horrible pit attack on the two babies.

He's a sweet dog but can be skittish around strangers. For this reason, we require our kids (youngest is 11 and oldest is 15) to be very careful about how they approach him or pet him. They know to gently put their hand out to allow him to sniff first and not to put their hands on top of his head. We're careful about observing his body language and respecting his boundaries if he seems tense, if he's yawning or licking his lips a lot, if he's giving whale eyes, and especially if his tail is tucked. They know not to approach him on his bed and to never bring friends or strangers around him. He's very open and affectionate with me and DH, probably because we feed him. For exercise and boarding, he goes to a specialty daycare and his file is accompanied by a warning that he might bite so I don't worry about that too much. They know how to handle dogs like him and he has warmed up to the staff considerably. Daycare has definitely been helping his socialization issues. But how do we know if he is a ticking time bomb at home?

He doesn't have the typical pit musculature or jaw, does that matter? He has a long narrow snout and long skinny legs (which may be why the shelter thought he was part greyhound).

I'm just a little unnerved by this idea that a loving family dog who has been nothing but perfect for years can suddenly snap and maul two kids and their mom.

I am unnerved about all the considerations and modifications you have had to make.

OP here. Really how so? All we do is observe his body language and leave him be if it seems like he wants space. We let him come to us when he wants attention (which he often does! He's a sweet dog). He likes our family. I think he sees the five of us as "his pack." He just doesn't like strangers, probably because a stranger scooped him off the street once and stuck him in a terrifying shelter. He's a great, easy dog in other respects - doesn't bark, doesn't shed much, doesn't beg or try to get up onto our counters, he's not clingy, doesn't have any separation anxiety, he gets along great with a wide variety of dogs at his daycare, etc.

I agree. He has you trained and wary. Chow chows are also aggressive dogs. Not a good mixture there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your.
Kids.
Should.
Not.
Have.
To.
Walk.
On.
Eggshells.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.

I didn’t get that from OP’s post at all. Sounds like they’ve taught the kids to observe the dog’s body language and stay away if the dog doesn’t want to be bothered. Sounds like dog ownership 101 to me.

The dog’s moods and feelings matter more than the kids, got it. The kids cannot be themselves and be carefree and comfortable in their own home; got it.

We had dogs growing up. We were certainly respectful and observant and responsive to their needs, but not out of fear of bites or being mauled.

The two older boys are a little more hesitant because he’s growled or barked at them more in the past but they’re not scared of him. They’re just more careful about paying attention to his body language and respecting it. Our daughter was 10 when we got him and he is very tolerant with her in a way that he wasn’t with the boys early on.

But it’s getting much better. When we picked him up from overnight boarding yesterday, he got into the car next to my oldest son then laid down and put his head on his lap. Of course DS was thrilled. We all love the dog and would be heartbroken to give him up. He’s lying right next to me on the couch right now with his head pushed up against my leg. He is learning to be affectionate.

We’re doing our best to make this work. He’s our first dog so this has all been a learning process.

“He is learning to be affectionate.”

And your children are learning that the dog is more important than their comfort and ability to be carefree in their own home. We had dogs, and learned to be respectful, responsible, responsive and observant. But never—not for one minute—did we feel anxious, afraid, unsettled or unable to be totally at ease in our own home because of our dogs. Thank you to my mom and dad for putting us first, always.

[Anonymous]

A dinner g that regularly growls and snaps at his owners is one step away from a solid bite. Are you really ready to have your dog bite a member if your family or a friend ?

[Anonymous]

How that dog turned into dinner. Sp check yikes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your.
Kids.
Should.
Not.
Have.
To.
Walk.
On.
Eggshells.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.

I didn’t get that from OP’s post at all. Sounds like they’ve taught the kids to observe the dog’s body language and stay away if the dog doesn’t want to be bothered. Sounds like dog ownership 101 to me.

". They know not to approach him on his bed and to never bring friends or strangers around him." WTF.

Strangers inside his home is his big trigger, especially if they try to approach him to give him unsolicited attention. Since we know this, why would we force the issue on him? It’s not a big deal to not be allowed to give a random dog unsolicited attention.

He sleeps in our sunroom off our living room and runs in there whenever people come over. As long as they don’t approach him, it’s all good. He doesn’t care. If they try to come into “his room” in order to pet him, then yeah he barks and growls to say “stay away.”

The kids’ friends know he is not a stranger friendly dog and they are all old enough to follow the rules in someone else’s home. Our big rule is: don’t go near the dog. I don’t see what is wrong with that. The kids don’t care. No one has ever tried to force the issue. My husband or I am always home to make sure that wouldn’t happen anyway.

He is capable of getting used to people (like some of our extended family members and the staff at his daycare) but it takes a long time and repeated exposure.