How to approach neighbor about his kids walking big dog?

[Anonymous]

OP, it seems like you are doing your best to keep your reactive dog away from others (good!).

I would suggest that you contact the neighbors and focus first on your dog: you steer your dog away from ALL other dogs because your dog is reactive, and so they should not be offended.

But if you have directly observed their dog dragging their child(ren) into harm's way (not just pulling), you can say that you are concerned that their dog's size might be a bit much for their child(ren) and that you are concerned about the safety of the dog and the child(ren).

If you are that worried about your dog, you should consider muzzle + mace/etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pits who kill children are usually well loved pets who "wouldn't hurta flea."

The breed is flawed.

Pits should be required to be spayed and neutered and fines for breeding pits or pit mixes should be extraordinarily high.

And shelters should either be required to put pits down or pits should be at the top of the list of all dog breeds when they select dogs to put down.

That's usually the way it does work unfortunately. A bitey, yappy, unsocialized Bichon will be put up for adoption. A calm, gentle, well trained pit looking dog will be put down.

Show me a link to a new item where a yappy Bichon has killed someone.

Look all dogs are lovable. All dogs snap at some point -- step on their toes, pull their tail without realizing it had been caught int he door earlier in the day, etc. Some are capable of killing other dogs and people when they snap. We should not have them as pets. Simple.

Plenty of other dogs to love in the world besides pit bulls.

I would much prefer the calm/gentle/well trained dog over the yappy/barky/bitey/unsocialized/unhousebroken dog any day of the week.

One is a loving and trustworthy companion, the other would be as pleasant as biting on tin foil while simultaneously scratching your nails down a chalkboard. Putting down good dogs is shameful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it seems like you are doing your best to keep your reactive dog away from others (good!).

I would suggest that you contact the neighbors and focus first on your dog: you steer your dog away from ALL other dogs because your dog is reactive, and so they should not be offended.

But if you have directly observed their dog dragging their child(ren) into harm's way (not just pulling), you can say that you are concerned that their dog's size might be a bit much for their child(ren) and that you are concerned about the safety of the dog and the child(ren).

If you are that worried about your dog, you should consider muzzle + mace/etc.

I would not say you are concerned because your own dog is reactive; they will likely just say in that case, it's you who has a problem, not their dog. Their dog is an issue, whether it's your dog or another dog or a neighborhood cat or a squirrel -- that dog can pull the kid into traffic or into a dog fight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My same-block neighbor recently adopted a young adult pit bull who is always straining at the leash. This dog can pull an adult man down the street and often appears to be out of control. The dog also does some barking and lunging at my dog (my dog is dog-reactive and can provoke other dogs, so I'm not blaming the pit bull ... but the pit bull reacts too).

My issue is that my neighbor lets his kids, approximately age 10, walk the dog alone. There is no way they can control the dog if the dog decides to run off / charge. I am concerned that either my dog or my toddler could get hurt if we encounter each other outside.

Neighbor is very sensitive about breed-related slights -- for example, I walked my dog into the street to avoid his dog (which I do when encountering any dog, because my dog is a jerk) and he immediately went to the "You're wrong about pit bulls" lecture while trying to force an approach. Other than dog walking, we wave hello but are not close. I don't know his children's names.

So, I want to talk to him about not letting his kids walk the dog alone, but I want to do it in a way that he won't immediately tune out as breed discrimination. Any tips?

Clearly you said something to prompt his response. I highly highly doubt he randomly said this for no reason. This alone makes me think we are missing half of the story.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's much you can do since the dog hasn't done anything. It would be a different story if he had. A dog lunging at another dog is hardly a reason to have a problem with this. That's what dogs do.

[Anonymous]

Approach neighbor in a "how can WE approach this problem."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My same-block neighbor recently adopted a young adult pit bull who is always straining at the leash. This dog can pull an adult man down the street and often appears to be out of control. The dog also does some barking and lunging at my dog (my dog is dog-reactive and can provoke other dogs, so I'm not blaming the pit bull ... but the pit bull reacts too).

My issue is that my neighbor lets his kids, approximately age 10, walk the dog alone. There is no way they can control the dog if the dog decides to run off / charge. I am concerned that either my dog or my toddler could get hurt if we encounter each other outside.

Neighbor is very sensitive about breed-related slights -- for example, I walked my dog into the street to avoid his dog (which I do when encountering any dog, because my dog is a jerk) and he immediately went to the "You're wrong about pit bulls" lecture while trying to force an approach. Other than dog walking, we wave hello but are not close. I don't know his children's names.

So, I want to talk to him about not letting his kids walk the dog alone, but I want to do it in a way that he won't immediately tune out as breed discrimination. Any tips?

Clearly you said something to prompt his response. I highly highly doubt he randomly said this for no reason. This alone makes me think we are missing half of the story.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's much you can do since the dog hasn't done anything. It would be a different story if he had. A dog lunging at another dog is hardly a reason to have a problem with this. That's what dogs do.

I have a sweet fluffy little dog who can be very "annoying" around bigger dogs. I feel as though it puts the other dog in an unfair situation (kind of like a teenager who has to be "good" even when playing with a toddler who is being a brat), so I often make a point to cross the street when I see one coming. I have definitely had people call out to me "He's safe" or "He's trustworthy" or "You don't need to be scared". I usually reply "Oh, I trust your dog, my own is another story!" or something else light to show that I'm not acting out of breed prejudice.

[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.

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.

Also, the neighbor is going to be far more receptive to any suggestions about his dog if she approaches him about her dog vs. His dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My same-block neighbor recently adopted a young adult pit bull who is always straining at the leash. This dog can pull an adult man down the street and often appears to be out of control. The dog also does some barking and lunging at my dog (my dog is dog-reactive and can provoke other dogs, so I'm not blaming the pit bull ... but the pit bull reacts too).

My issue is that my neighbor lets his kids, approximately age 10, walk the dog alone. There is no way they can control the dog if the dog decides to run off / charge. I am concerned that either my dog or my toddler could get hurt if we encounter each other outside.

Neighbor is very sensitive about breed-related slights -- for example, I walked my dog into the street to avoid his dog (which I do when encountering any dog, because my dog is a jerk) and he immediately went to the "You're wrong about pit bulls" lecture while trying to force an approach. Other than dog walking, we wave hello but are not close. I don't know his children's names.

So, I want to talk to him about not letting his kids walk the dog alone, but I want to do it in a way that he won't immediately tune out as breed discrimination. Any tips?

Clearly you said something to prompt his response. I highly highly doubt he randomly said this for no reason. This alone makes me think we are missing half of the story.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's much you can do since the dog hasn't done anything. It would be a different story if he had. A dog lunging at another dog is hardly a reason to have a problem with this. That's what dogs do.

I have a sweet fluffy little dog who can be very "annoying" around bigger dogs. I feel as though it puts the other dog in an unfair situation (kind of like a teenager who has to be "good" even when playing with a toddler who is being a brat), so I often make a point to cross the street when I see one coming. I have definitely had people call out to me "He's safe" or "He's trustworthy" or "You don't need to be scared". I usually reply "Oh, I trust your dog, my own is another story!" or something else light to show that I'm not acting out of breed prejudice.

I do the same sort of thing and I never take offense to someone else doing it. I'm actually trying to teach my own dogs to ignore other dogs on our walks which means allowing them to "greet" other dogs is a no no. I'm teaching them to walk past them and keep their attention on me....not easy when random loose dogs run up to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pits who kill children are usually well loved pets who "wouldn't hurta flea."

The breed is flawed.

Pits should be required to be spayed and neutered and fines for breeding pits or pit mixes should be extraordinarily high.

And shelters should either be required to put pits down or pits should be at the top of the list of all dog breeds when they select dogs to put down.

That's usually the way it does work unfortunately. A bitey, yappy, unsocialized Bichon will be put up for adoption. A calm, gentle, well trained pit looking dog will be put down.

Bichons are small and consistent. I can fight it off. Pits are odd-fine then wham.

[Anonymous]

God why are dog owners such assholes? OP, you need to get your dog into obedience school and get his shit under control and your neighbor needs to do the same. You people with dogs that you can't handle are the WORST. you have a responsibility to have a well trained, docile animal. If you can't make that happen, get rid of the dog.

[Anonymous]

Let me ask you dog owners with dogs you can't control a question: do you even enjoy owning your dog? Because if I had one who provoked other dogs or yanked on the leash, I'd be way too stressed to enjoy that animal. Fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

No, it doesn't explain why you adopt dogs that kill children and the elderly several times a year. No, it doesn't.

NP here. We adopt them because we get a thrill out of them attacking children and other dogs. I live life on the edge - that's me, baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God why are dog owners such assholes? OP, you need to get your dog into obedience school and get his shit under control and your neighbor needs to do the same. You people with dogs that you can't handle are the WORST. you have a responsibility to have a well trained, docile animal. If you can't make that happen, get rid of the dog.

Did it ever dawn on you that some of the "reactive" dogs that you see are dogs that started off calm but wound up traumatized by a scary experience with an off leash dog?

People can be so darned clueless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Contrary to popular belief most of the pit bull owners that I know are extremely careful and responsible pet owners.

who own dogs that terrify most rational people. Do you enjoy that or something?

Oh yes, "most rational people" are "terrified" of my dog. So 51% of the people I meet are literally shaking with fear when we walk by. No, that's not a hysterical overstatement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pits who kill children are usually well loved pets who "wouldn't hurta flea."

The breed is flawed.

Pits should be required to be spayed and neutered and fines for breeding pits or pit mixes should be extraordinarily high.

And shelters should either be required to put pits down or pits should be at the top of the list of all dog breeds when they select dogs to put down.

That's usually the way it does work unfortunately. A bitey, yappy, unsocialized Bichon will be put up for adoption. A calm, gentle, well trained pit looking dog will be put down.

Bichons are small and consistent. I can fight it off. Pits are odd-fine then wham.

Semi trained Bichons are fluffy little goofs. Well trained and socialized Pits are amazing freakin' dogs - they LOVE people, they do well with other dogs and are scary smart.

Untrained, uncared for, unsocialized dogs (any breed) are problems in one form or another.