How to approach neighbor about his kids walking big dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is completely irresponsible of your neighbor, especially if they just adopted the dog and have no real knowledge of how he will react.

i would talk to the neighbor. Tell them your concerns without mentioning the words "pit bull." Just say he's a large dog and the boy doesn't seem able to control him, and you're concerned. If they are not responsive, take other action -- i.e., call animal control. I would take this very seriously.

P.S. -- I'm a dog lover who has loved pit bulls but would never in a million years get one. Why in the world people continue to adopt them when they are such button-pushers is beyond me.....

Well, speaking as someone who does adopt pit bulls - we adopt them because we like them. They're the dog we connect with, we want to give an underdog a chance, they are what's there when we go to the shelter looking for a dog, we are hoping that by us walking around with a pit people will start to see that pits are just normal dogs and they won't be such button-pushers, etc. Does that help explain it?

What exactly are you hoping will happen now, OP? You want the kids not to walk the dog alone? You want...what, exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd probably approach the neighbor and talk to him about your dog - not his. Tell him the reason that you cross the street is because your dog is not dog friendly and you're trying to avoid confrontation. I think if your neighbor understands that he might be more open to your concern about his kids walking his dog.

Also, if your dog is that poorly behaved around dogs that he will be aggressive - he needs to be walked with a muzzle. That's irresponsible on your part.

I don't think that the Op should have to explain to anyone that she and her dog do not want to meet THAT dog or any other strange dog. It is up to that neighbor to keep his dog under control. And it is fine to say "I do NOT want to meet that dog."

It is not up to Op or the Op's dog to put up with this menacing, uncontrolled animal. Sorry. That isn't just dangerous for Op and her toddler but also dangerous for those children walking that dog. If they simply drop the leash and the dog comes at Op's dog, Op could drop her dog's leash and there is no telling who they'll run up to. Not safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd probably approach the neighbor and talk to him about your dog - not his. Tell him the reason that you cross the street is because your dog is not dog friendly and you're trying to avoid confrontation. I think if your neighbor understands that he might be more open to your concern about his kids walking his dog.

Also, if your dog is that poorly behaved around dogs that he will be aggressive - he needs to be walked with a muzzle. That's irresponsible on your part.

I don't think that the Op should have to explain to anyone that she and her dog do not want to meet THAT dog or any other strange dog. It is up to that neighbor to keep his dog under control. And it is fine to say "I do NOT want to meet that dog."

It is not up to Op or the Op's dog to put up with this menacing, uncontrolled animal. Sorry. That isn't just dangerous for Op and her toddler but also dangerous for those children walking that dog. If they simply drop the leash and the dog comes at Op's dog, Op could drop her dog's leash and there is no telling who they'll run up to. Not safe.

OP said HER dog is the reactive one. Not the other dog. It doesn't sound like anyone is being "menacing" here.

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP.

People who have kids and pits in the same house are idiots.

There will be no reasoning with him until some kid or some dog gets attacked, bit or killed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, OP here and I am really surprised at these answers. I see that their dog wants to approach my dog and can drag an adult in my direction. The only reason this hasn't happened yet is that I haven't been out at the exact same time his kids were holding the leash. I'm supposed to wait for someone to get hurt before I bring this up?

My dog is a jerk, but my dog is under the control of an adult: there is zero chance of my dog pulling me over or getting free. However, we could not outrun my neighbor's dog, if my neighbor's kid dropped the leash or was pulled off his feet.

I'm the poster who asked if the pitbull had been aggressive towards humans. Apparently you don't have an answer to that question. Any dog behaviorist will tell you that just because a dog pulls on a leash and is drawn to other dogs, it doesn't mean it will want to attack that dog, or bite a human being.

So now let's get to *your* dog. If you think your dog will attack an incoming pitbull, then by all means, please warn the neighbor. It's your duty.
Say that *your* dog is the reactive one, and needs to be kept separate from the pitbull, and that you are concerned his kids might not be able to prevent an interaction. The ball will then be in his court, and he will have no grounds to be offended.

[Anonymous]

PP again - look at it this way. If your dog bites the neighbor's kid because the kid was dragged across the street and tried to stop an attack, you and your dog will have to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I understand your desire. My dog is dog-reactive and can and will fight with other dogs while we're out on walks. We avoid other dogs, which usually works fine. There's a new dog on our street, that I have seen dragging around his adult owner -- if his kids (or he) were walking that dog while I was out walking my dog, I would hightail it home as fast as possible, whether or not they felt insulted by it.

I don't think there's anything you can say that the neighbor will receive well. It is up to them to experience the consequences of a strong poorly-behaved dog and children. Just keep yourself and your dog safe and away from them.

Do you walk the dog muzzled?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I understand your desire. My dog is dog-reactive and can and will fight with other dogs while we're out on walks. We avoid other dogs, which usually works fine. There's a new dog on our street, that I have seen dragging around his adult owner -- if his kids (or he) were walking that dog while I was out walking my dog, I would hightail it home as fast as possible, whether or not they felt insulted by it.

I don't think there's anything you can say that the neighbor will receive well. It is up to them to experience the consequences of a strong poorly-behaved dog and children. Just keep yourself and your dog safe and away from them.

Do you walk the dog muzzled?

Np. When I said she can fight with other dogs, what I meant was she is extremely aggressive about warning other dogs away, including big snarls, jumping on top of other dogs and putting her mouth all over them. She hasn't ever bitten. (The only time any dog has been injuured in a confrontation was when another dog ignored her warnings and hurt her.) She's absolutely fine with people, adults and children, just really doesn't like other dogs. We've had her for almost two years and she's getting much better, but if a loose dog comes up to her, she is welcome to tell them off in dog language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, OP here and I am really surprised at these answers. I see that their dog wants to approach my dog and can drag an adult in my direction. The only reason this hasn't happened yet is that I haven't been out at the exact same time his kids were holding the leash. I'm supposed to wait for someone to get hurt before I bring this up?

My dog is a jerk, but my dog is under the control of an adult: there is zero chance of my dog pulling me over or getting free. However, we could not outrun my neighbor's dog, if my neighbor's kid dropped the leash or was pulled off his feet.

I'm the poster who asked if the pitbull had been aggressive towards humans. Apparently you don't have an answer to that question. Any dog behaviorist will tell you that just because a dog pulls on a leash and is drawn to other dogs, it doesn't mean it will want to attack that dog, or bite a human being.

So now let's get to *your* dog. If you think your dog will attack an incoming pitbull, then by all means, please warn the neighbor. It's your duty.
Say that *your* dog is the reactive one, and needs to be kept separate from the pitbull, and that you are concerned his kids might not be able to prevent an interaction. The ball will then be in his court, and he will have no grounds to be offended.

Nope. It is your job to keep your dog from running up to strange people and animals. I don't want your burly dog running up to my toddler or me or my dog. I don't care how "friendly" your dog is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd probably approach the neighbor and talk to him about your dog - not his. Tell him the reason that you cross the street is because your dog is not dog friendly and you're trying to avoid confrontation. I think if your neighbor understands that he might be more open to your concern about his kids walking his dog.

Also, if your dog is that poorly behaved around dogs that he will be aggressive - he needs to be walked with a muzzle. That's irresponsible on your part.

I don't think that the Op should have to explain to anyone that she and her dog do not want to meet THAT dog or any other strange dog. It is up to that neighbor to keep his dog under control. And it is fine to say "I do NOT want to meet that dog."

It is not up to Op or the Op's dog to put up with this menacing, uncontrolled animal. Sorry. That isn't just dangerous for Op and her toddler but also dangerous for those children walking that dog. If they simply drop the leash and the dog comes at Op's dog, Op could drop her dog's leash and there is no telling who they'll run up to. Not safe.

OP said HER dog is the reactive one. Not the other dog. It doesn't sound like anyone is being "menacing" here.

Obviously the dog pulling on the leash and dragging the owner and children around is "reacting" to see other dogs too. And clearly the size of the dog is menacing and intimidating to other people.

[Anonymous]

I will also add that my own 3 dogs also notice other dogs - that is normal canine behavior. I never, NEVER, let them run up to other people or dogs. But all 3 of my dogs have had dogs run up to them. There has never been a dog fight but it has always - 100% of the time - been a startling and stressful thing to have strange dogs run up and sometimes even follow us.

[Anonymous]

He owns a pit bull, Op he does not care what you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd probably approach the neighbor and talk to him about your dog - not his. Tell him the reason that you cross the street is because your dog is not dog friendly and you're trying to avoid confrontation. I think if your neighbor understands that he might be more open to your concern about his kids walking his dog.

Also, if your dog is that poorly behaved around dogs that he will be aggressive - he needs to be walked with a muzzle. That's irresponsible on your part.

I don't think that the Op should have to explain to anyone that she and her dog do not want to meet THAT dog or any other strange dog. It is up to that neighbor to keep his dog under control. And it is fine to say "I do NOT want to meet that dog."

It is not up to Op or the Op's dog to put up with this menacing, uncontrolled animal. Sorry. That isn't just dangerous for Op and her toddler but also dangerous for those children walking that dog. If they simply drop the leash and the dog comes at Op's dog, Op could drop her dog's leash and there is no telling who they'll run up to. Not safe.

The problem is that OP has a dog who is aggressive to other dogs, and she is placing the burden on the neighbor and others to keep their dogs away from her dog. It's OP's dog that is the problem. Until she deals with her dog's problem, she shouldn't be talking to the neighbor about his dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd probably approach the neighbor and talk to him about your dog - not his. Tell him the reason that you cross the street is because your dog is not dog friendly and you're trying to avoid confrontation. I think if your neighbor understands that he might be more open to your concern about his kids walking his dog.

Also, if your dog is that poorly behaved around dogs that he will be aggressive - he needs to be walked with a muzzle. That's irresponsible on your part.

I don't think that the Op should have to explain to anyone that she and her dog do not want to meet THAT dog or any other strange dog. It is up to that neighbor to keep his dog under control. And it is fine to say "I do NOT want to meet that dog."

It is not up to Op or the Op's dog to put up with this menacing, uncontrolled animal. Sorry. That isn't just dangerous for Op and her toddler but also dangerous for those children walking that dog. If they simply drop the leash and the dog comes at Op's dog, Op could drop her dog's leash and there is no telling who they'll run up to. Not safe.

OP said HER dog is the reactive one. Not the other dog. It doesn't sound like anyone is being "menacing" here.

Obviously the dog pulling on the leash and dragging the owner and children around is "reacting" to see other dogs too. And clearly the size of the dog is menacing and intimidating to other people.

"Dog reactive" is a polite way to say that your dog is aggressive to other dogs. It doesn't mean a dog that has poor leash manners. It's unpleasant to have a large dog with bad manners come up to you. It isn't menacing in the same way that an aggressive dog is. OP's dog is aggressive. The problem is her dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again - look at it this way. If your dog bites the neighbor's kid because the kid was dragged across the street and tried to stop an attack, you and your dog will have to pay for it.

Because OP is negligent for not muzzling her dog.