Neighbors just adopted an 80lb adult pitbull

[Anonymous]

I foster and train very young puppies for a rescue. Pitbulls, taken early, can be trained to be just as safe as other breeds.

BUT

This one growled at you. That is incredibly concerning, OP. You must contact the neighbor and tell them that on no account must this dog enter your property and go near you or your children. He's 5, so it's going to be very difficult to train him out of his habits.

Get a camera, just in case something happens that you need to document. I'm sorry this is happening to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend concealed carry whenever the dog is outside. Those neighbors are awful. You need to be able to quickly protect your children from a large, untrained, nervous Pit Bull.

This is crazy talk! How much time would it take to do this? Aren't you afraid of your kids finding your gun and getting injured? That seems more likely than this dog

[Anonymous]

I would keep my kids indoors for now or drive them to a nearby park if they want to play outside. No way would I let them outside with that kind of dog around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I foster and train very young puppies for a rescue. Pitbulls, taken early, can be trained to be just as safe as other breeds.

BUT

This one growled at you. That is incredibly concerning, OP. You must contact the neighbor and tell them that on no account must this dog enter your property and go near you or your children. He's 5, so it's going to be very difficult to train him out of his habits.

Get a camera, just in case something happens that you need to document. I'm sorry this is happening to you.

I would rather have a dog growl at me than just go and bite me for no reason! Of course, tell the neighbor what you said but, honestly the op invited the dog over. I can't imagine the dog owner would want to be near op since their dog didn't like op!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I foster and train very young puppies for a rescue. Pitbulls, taken early, can be trained to be just as safe as other breeds.

BUT

This one growled at you. That is incredibly concerning, OP. You must contact the neighbor and tell them that on no account must this dog enter your property and go near you or your children. He's 5, so it's going to be very difficult to train him out of his habits.

Get a camera, just in case something happens that you need to document. I'm sorry this is happening to you.

Me again. My neighbor adopted a pitbull and for her whole life she was the sweetest dog. She never once growled at me or my kids, who were little when she first came home. If this one growls the first time he sees you, it's really not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foster and train very young puppies for a rescue. Pitbulls, taken early, can be trained to be just as safe as other breeds.

BUT

This one growled at you. That is incredibly concerning, OP. You must contact the neighbor and tell them that on no account must this dog enter your property and go near you or your children. He's 5, so it's going to be very difficult to train him out of his habits.

Get a camera, just in case something happens that you need to document. I'm sorry this is happening to you.

I would rather have a dog growl at me than just go and bite me for no reason! Of course, tell the neighbor what you said but, honestly the op invited the dog over. I can't imagine the dog owner would want to be near op since their dog didn't like op!

PP you replied to. No dog should ever growl at a person, period. I have a dog-aggressive northern breed that we keep a very close eye on and leash at all times, and he loves all humans - he would never even think of growling at a person. It sounds like these dog-owners are clueless so OP needs to tell them directly that this dog should be kept away from them at all costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foster and train very young puppies for a rescue. Pitbulls, taken early, can be trained to be just as safe as other breeds.

BUT

This one growled at you. That is incredibly concerning, OP. You must contact the neighbor and tell them that on no account must this dog enter your property and go near you or your children. He's 5, so it's going to be very difficult to train him out of his habits.

Get a camera, just in case something happens that you need to document. I'm sorry this is happening to you.

I would rather have a dog growl at me than just go and bite me for no reason! Of course, tell the neighbor what you said but, honestly the op invited the dog over. I can't imagine the dog owner would want to be near op since their dog didn't like op!

PP you replied to. No dog should ever growl at a person, period. I have a dog-aggressive northern breed that we keep a very close eye on and leash at all times, and he loves all humans - he would never even think of growling at a person. It sounds like these dog-owners are clueless so OP needs to tell them directly that this dog should be kept away from them at all costs.

Sure, have the owner keep the dog away. But, honestly some dogs do not like certain humans. Is it ideal? No, but, a growl is a warning which should not be punished. It is the way the dog communicated. Something op did that made the dog uncomfortable. My dog doesn't like kids and I can't train it out of him. That does not make me 'clueless' but, then again I don't put my dog in situations where there are lots of kids. Remember, the op invited the dog into their space. Perhaps the neighbor should have said no because the dog needs to adjust to being out of the shelter.

Point is the dog hasn't really done anything and op is perfectly within her rights to stay away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foster and train very young puppies for a rescue. Pitbulls, taken early, can be trained to be just as safe as other breeds.

BUT

This one growled at you. That is incredibly concerning, OP. You must contact the neighbor and tell them that on no account must this dog enter your property and go near you or your children. He's 5, so it's going to be very difficult to train him out of his habits.

Get a camera, just in case something happens that you need to document. I'm sorry this is happening to you.

I would rather have a dog growl at me than just go and bite me for no reason! Of course, tell the neighbor what you said but, honestly the op invited the dog over. I can't imagine the dog owner would want to be near op since their dog didn't like op!

PP you replied to. No dog should ever growl at a person, period. I have a dog-aggressive northern breed that we keep a very close eye on and leash at all times, and he loves all humans - he would never even think of growling at a person. It sounds like these dog-owners are clueless so OP needs to tell them directly that this dog should be kept away from them at all costs.

This is not true. Growling is a form of communication. It can mean fear, pain, anxiety, attention seeking, excitement/playful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foster and train very young puppies for a rescue. Pitbulls, taken early, can be trained to be just as safe as other breeds.

BUT

This one growled at you. That is incredibly concerning, OP. You must contact the neighbor and tell them that on no account must this dog enter your property and go near you or your children. He's 5, so it's going to be very difficult to train him out of his habits.

Get a camera, just in case something happens that you need to document. I'm sorry this is happening to you.

I would rather have a dog growl at me than just go and bite me for no reason! Of course, tell the neighbor what you said but, honestly the op invited the dog over. I can't imagine the dog owner would want to be near op since their dog didn't like op!

PP you replied to. No dog should ever growl at a person, period. I have a dog-aggressive northern breed that we keep a very close eye on and leash at all times, and he loves all humans - he would never even think of growling at a person. It sounds like these dog-owners are clueless so OP needs to tell them directly that this dog should be kept away from them at all costs.

Sure, have the owner keep the dog away. But, honestly some dogs do not like certain humans. Is it ideal? No, but, a growl is a warning which should not be punished. It is the way the dog communicated. Something op did that made the dog uncomfortable. My dog doesn't like kids and I can't train it out of him. That does not make me 'clueless' but, then again I don't put my dog in situations where there are lots of kids. Remember, the op invited the dog into their space. Perhaps the neighbor should have said no because the dog needs to adjust to being out of the shelter.

Point is the dog hasn't really done anything and op is perfectly within her rights to stay away.

The dog HAS done something critically important! He has said, in the clearest language he knows: "I don't like this situation, and if it occurs again, I might escalate". The dog is communicating - he's doing what he needs to do. OP understand what he means, and she's doing what she needs to do (telling the owners, educating her kids, thinking of means to protect her family). The question is, are the owners going to do what THEY need to do?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP back. I appreciate the ideas. A front yard fence is not an option in our neighborhood. All of the front yards are open, connect, and serve as communal play areas for the kids, which has been very idyllic.

I'm harboring hope that maybe the neighbors are reconsidering the adoption. They've only had the dog for a week. Even the father struggles to control it when walking it on leash. I suspect they are realizing that they may have bitten off more than they can chew, and hope they may return it for a more suitable pet for their own family and our neighborhood in general. There would certainly be no shame in doing so.

np Dogs in shelters need time to decompress. If they were living in a shelter for some time it will take time to not be stressed. Many dog owners can struggle and feel overwhelmed but, with time and training most can overcome.

This isn't really your business and you are judging a dog who really hasn't done anything. Feel free to keep away but, please don't harass your neighbor.

I hope they keep the dog and it naturally adjusts to their new life.

Actually, no. The dog has done something: it growled at a neighbor while being walked by someone who doesn't appear to have it under proper control.

I love pits. I've owned several. In the right hands, they're great dogs. This doesn't seem to be that, and OP is right to be concerned.

[Anonymous]

The real problem is the staff at the animal shelter. They are supposed to do some due diligence in ensuring the animal is a good fit for the adopting family and their home. What we almost certainly have here are shelter staff who ignore the statistics and continue to believe that pitbulls are simply misunderstood, and likely guilted the vulnerable adoptive family into taking it home. If there's an attack, the liability should fall squarely on the shelter. These are animals that should be destroyed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have an HOA?

Suggest going thru HOA to express your concerns. If not, yes, immediately put your concerns in writing - especially detail the dog growling-then deliver letter to the family in person. I’d begin the conversation with, “this is a very awkward thing to mention and I do y want it to harm our neighborly relationship, but I have some serious concerns about your new dog. I’ve had to put it in writing.”

My then preschool son was knocked over and attacked by a neighbors’ off leash dog that had wandered into our front yard. I was pregnant, and inside the door putting on my shoes and getting ready to walk to the school bus stop when I heard my son scream - it happened that fast! The dog was running away but I so wish I could have either been witness to the attack and intervened and or killed the dog. Horrific experience and this was a small spaniel, older family dog. My son had 15 stitches on his face and lip. Absolutely brutal.

Long story, but now that I think of it, get a few other neighbors on your side. This dog must never be allowed off leash, must be walked in a short leash (and possibly muzzled) and must always be supervised (never allowed to be at large either not even accidentally) and never allowed to be behind an “electric fence.”

If you brought this over to me it would harm our 'relationship' This dog is a living being and allowed to show discomfort ( growl) If the dog had bitten than sure you would have a fair argument. Obviously your experience pp was a horrible one but, op's situation is not the same

No, it's not. And no, you don't need to wait until it bites to point that out.

And if someone needing to tell you your business harms your 'relationship', that relationship was trash to begin with. Adults shouldn't need to be told to keep their dogs under full control at all times. It's the law where I am (moco) and probably where you are, too. Beyond that, it's just sane, smart dog handling.

[Anonymous]

Your only recourse is to move. Call the realtor and tell the kids tonight they will be going to a new school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foster and train very young puppies for a rescue. Pitbulls, taken early, can be trained to be just as safe as other breeds.

BUT

This one growled at you. That is incredibly concerning, OP. You must contact the neighbor and tell them that on no account must this dog enter your property and go near you or your children. He's 5, so it's going to be very difficult to train him out of his habits.

Get a camera, just in case something happens that you need to document. I'm sorry this is happening to you.

I would rather have a dog growl at me than just go and bite me for no reason! Of course, tell the neighbor what you said but, honestly the op invited the dog over. I can't imagine the dog owner would want to be near op since their dog didn't like op!

PP you replied to. No dog should ever growl at a person, period. I have a dog-aggressive northern breed that we keep a very close eye on and leash at all times, and he loves all humans - he would never even think of growling at a person. It sounds like these dog-owners are clueless so OP needs to tell them directly that this dog should be kept away from them at all costs.

Sure, have the owner keep the dog away. But, honestly some dogs do not like certain humans. Is it ideal? No, but, a growl is a warning which should not be punished. It is the way the dog communicated. Something op did that made the dog uncomfortable. My dog doesn't like kids and I can't train it out of him. That does not make me 'clueless' but, then again I don't put my dog in situations where there are lots of kids. Remember, the op invited the dog into their space. Perhaps the neighbor should have said no because the dog needs to adjust to being out of the shelter.

Point is the dog hasn't really done anything and op is perfectly within her rights to stay away.

The dog HAS done something critically important! He has said, in the clearest language he knows: "I don't like this situation, and if it occurs again, I might escalate". The dog is communicating - he's doing what he needs to do. OP understand what he means, and she's doing what she needs to do (telling the owners, educating her kids, thinking of means to protect her family). The question is, are the owners going to do what THEY need to do?!

We are in agreement. The dog growled and communicated they didn't like the op. Talk to neighbor about keeping dog away and op can too. What do the dog owners need to do besides keeping the dog away from op? The dog doesn't have to like op! My dog doesn't like kids and I doubt parents would want me to 'train' my dog with their kids! So we stay away from kids! Pretty simple.

The op wishing the dog goes away is just that wishful thinking!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have an HOA?

Suggest going thru HOA to express your concerns. If not, yes, immediately put your concerns in writing - especially detail the dog growling-then deliver letter to the family in person. I’d begin the conversation with, “this is a very awkward thing to mention and I do y want it to harm our neighborly relationship, but I have some serious concerns about your new dog. I’ve had to put it in writing.”

My then preschool son was knocked over and attacked by a neighbors’ off leash dog that had wandered into our front yard. I was pregnant, and inside the door putting on my shoes and getting ready to walk to the school bus stop when I heard my son scream - it happened that fast! The dog was running away but I so wish I could have either been witness to the attack and intervened and or killed the dog. Horrific experience and this was a small spaniel, older family dog. My son had 15 stitches on his face and lip. Absolutely brutal.

Long story, but now that I think of it, get a few other neighbors on your side. This dog must never be allowed off leash, must be walked in a short leash (and possibly muzzled) and must always be supervised (never allowed to be at large either not even accidentally) and never allowed to be behind an “electric fence.”

If you brought this over to me it would harm our 'relationship' This dog is a living being and allowed to show discomfort ( growl) If the dog had bitten than sure you would have a fair argument. Obviously your experience pp was a horrible one but, op's situation is not the same

No, it's not. And no, you don't need to wait until it bites to point that out.

And if someone needing to tell you your business harms your 'relationship', that relationship was trash to begin with. Adults shouldn't need to be told to keep their dogs under full control at all times. It's the law where I am (moco) and probably where you are, too. Beyond that, it's just sane, smart dog handling.

The dog owner did keep the dog under control since the dog did not get away and bite her or her children! Just stay away from neighbor's dog.