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How do you politely ask friends to crate their dogs when your kids are there?!?!?
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Anonymous
| My husband and I are close friends with a couple who are not yet married, and have no kids. They got a pit bull mix earlier this year, and although he seems like a very sweet dog, I do NOT trust him around my kids. Not only are the breed known for attacking, they got the dog when he was 18 months old, so who knows why the prior owners got rid of him in the first place, and he's already attacked another dog. I'm at a loss for what to do.. when we visited last weekend, they could tell my distress as I was trying like heck to keep the dog away from my kids. But they didn't offer to crate him or lock him in another room, they just let him roam around the house and yard. I really don't know how to handle this without offending them, given they do not have kids and will likely take this personally and say how sweet their dog is, he'll never harm them, etc. Has anyone had success in handling this situation in the past? At this point, I'm just planning on never going to their house again with my kids... which isn't really the best resolution. arghhhh thanks in advance ! |
Anonymous
I actually think that this IS the best solution. |
Anonymous
| If they are really your friends they won't be offended. My friend has a pit bull and I've told her flat out that I'm scared, justified or not, of her dog. She gladly puts him in another room while we are there. Just say that you are nervous to bring the baby around the dog and ask if they could keep the dog in another room OR recommend they visit you instead. I doubt they will take it personally. Just be honest. Avoiding them would be more hurtful than the truth. |
Anonymous
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First of all more labs bite kids each year than pits, secondly, the more attention you bring to it, even if it is lab etc the dog gets more excited and gets more excited becuase it thinks you are playing.
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Anonymous
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So, you want to go to a friends house and ask them to put their dog in a crate? The dog that lives there has to go to doggie jail because "you don't trust the dog"
You probably should just agree to meet out until your kids are older. |
Anonymous
Bogus statistic as more people with kids own labs. |
Anonymous
Well if they have a crate they are probably the kind of people who don't mind leaving their dog in a crate. |
Anonymous
| I'm bringing my dog to a friends house. How do I ask them to lock their kids in the room while I'm over there? Thanks! |
Anonymous
| If they're your good friends, I don't see why they would mind if you asked them to crate their dog while your kids are there. Before we had our DS, we always put our dog (very friendly lab/border collie mix) in our master bedroom when kids were over since I wasn't sure how he would react. Post-DS, we still put him in the bedroom even though I'm 99.9% sure he's OK with kids, you still never know. |
Anonymous
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I have dogs and I try to remember to ask guests if they are okay with dogs before they come in. I will put them in another room if my guests are uncomfortable and wouldn't take offense if someone asked me to put them away. Regardless of the breed, some people are afraid of dogs. So just ask!
If you are nervous about delivery I would play it up to my own insecurities, trying not to imply anything against the dog or breed. "Would you mind putting Chewy in his crate while we are here? I'm a nervous-nelly type of mom and the dog makes me nervous." With a smile of course. 
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Anonymous
Oh please, don't compare locking kids in a room to crating a dog. 
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Anonymous
1. Pit bulls are not attack dogs. Some people train them to attack, but on their own they do not do so any more than any other breed. 2. Not all dogs are crate-trained. 3. Don't go to their house if you don't want the dog around the kids. |
Anonymous
| Don't avoid going there. Don't reference the breed or anything with them, just ask nicely. "Can we put Spot in his crate/another room while the kids are out and about? I'd feel more comfortable." |
Anonymous
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OP I agree, and it doesn't matter what type of dog it is, it happens. Unfortunately, I know 2 people this happened to, one was the victim and another instance my neighbors dog attacked their friend-he knew the dog well too.
It is horrible to think about and we have been in your shoes, since obviously I was nervous about it after knowing people this has happened to We just had to ask our friends and not really worry about their feelings since we had to be more concerned for our kids. Their dogs were very big and active, and my son wasn't great with dogs since he was too young to really know how to stay out of their face since he was exactly as tall as their faces...it isn't easy but put it on yourself and just explain that you are nervous about your child being around dogs (don't bring up breed since it may not even be a factor) |
Anonymous
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This is crazy. How often pit bulls attack is not really the issue, OP. The point is, you are uncomfortable bringing your kids around their dog. Trust your instincts. I don't know how reliable this "fact" is but I recall reading that one of the top reasons kids wind up in emergency rooms are from dog bites (and typically it is someone else's dog). If you are not comfortable asking them then I agree, you should not bring your children there.
About a year ago my MIL got a dog. I love dogs, but this dog jumps and my kids are little. This dog is new and unpredictable, IMO, as there is no established track record with small children. Because I do love dogs and someday (after our really old cat leaves this earth) we want to get a dog and I don't want my kids to develop of phobia of them now. Again, follow your instincts. |