How to approach neighbor about his kids walking big dog?

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Do you have any evidence that this dog has acted aggressively against humans?

My friend adopted a huge, poorly trained dog that literally drags her into the street on walks. The dog goes berserk around other animals, but has never acted aggressively towards humans - we go to their house all the time.

[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?

You need to train your dog better and MYOB.

Seriously, if you have a dog that is a jerk, you really don't have any room to talk to someone else about their dog.

[Anonymous]

Hi,Op

I think you know deep down this is not going to work. Already your relationship is not strong so he is not going to think your against his dog because it is a pitbull. Personally, while I think you are good person for caring I don't think it is going to do any good. It's his dog and his kids. Unless you see some serious danger ( lots of dogs pull for example) he is going to tell you to mind your own business. Or you could try to convince someone close to him that you are worried about his kids' safety..the wife? best friend in the neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

OOPs I mean *is* going to think you are against his dog.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't suggest you knock on the neighbors door and confront them with your concerns but hey, next time you're out and about and you see your neighbor walking the pit bull roll the dice and say something. Worst case scenario the neighbor gets irritated that you seem critical of certain breeds or irritated that you seem critical of their parenting but in either scenario you'll have expressed your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Would your dog fight the other dog or is your dog just reactive?

Does this dog pull when you don't have your dog with you? Or does the neighbor's dog only pull when it sees other dogs?

FWIW, I think the neighbor is wrong to send kids around the block with a large reactive dog like that. Your dog is in control but obviously you don't want a dog fight. I would not walk your dog with your toddler. Not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, this is a perfect recipe for that kid to end up bit. Even dog savvy adults often don't know how to break up a dog fight and a kid is likely to just reach in and try and pull the dog away, pretty much guaranteeing they get bit in the process. However, if he's already complaining when you avoid his dog, he isn't going to listen to anything you say. Just avoid avoid avoid.

My own dog is somewhat leash reactive but his reactivity is he just barks and barks and barks. If he actually gets close to the dog, he just greets like normal and does his play bow. However, I don't want him barking on his walks so I always avoid other dogs on leash unless it's a dog my dog knows well (since he doesn't bark then). I would be hella pissed if someone yelled at me for avoiding them while walking their dog. Not everyone's dog wants to play and not everyone wants to do the 5 minute stand around and watch them sniff each others butts routine on every single walk, even if their dog DOES want to play/greet.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.....

[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.

No, it is the people around them and likely other dogs who will be the ones to experience the consequences, unfortunately. Why wait?

[Anonymous]

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.

[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?

So there are 2 badly behaved dogs looking to mix it up on the block. Ignore the you're wrong about pit bull stuff. Tell the guy his kid cannot handle the dog and you're worried something might happen. Tell him about harnesses and using a martingale collar. I've seen people that were not dog aware walk the pit on a buckle collar-over the head and off it went.

I would not want to encounter your dog either. Both need a muzzle on the open street.

[Anonymous]

Pit bull people call it breed discrimination as I believe did Obama. Insurance companies call it actuarial statistics.

That fellow Obama also said the UK goes to the back of the queue and now says we have a special relationship. Simple-Us and UK and pitbull stats.