How to approach neighbor about his kids walking big dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had no particular feeling one way or another about pit bulls until I was at a Delaware beach last Thanksgiving and saw a pit bull on a leash approach a small dog (with permission from the owner) and in a flash, grab its neck in its jaws and shake it til it was mortally wounded, which took less than five seconds. The police were called while the small dog died, bleeding and peeing on its hysterical owner.

I talked to the owner of the pitbull, who was also traumatized, and said she had owned the dog for years and it had never done anything like that. She still didn't know why he would have done it. She was very upset over what had happened, but also by the knowledge that the police were surely going to now take the dog she loved and put it to sleep.

So I had no particular feeling about pit bulls before this incident, but after watching the little dog's owner cry hysterically as her bloody dog died in her arms for no good reason due to a dog that (so says the owner) had never acted violently before, I feel differently now. I would talk to the owner.

That is horrifying. I'm sorry that you had to witness that - how awful. I can't imagine having one of my precious pups mauled by an out of control dog.

How on earth did both of those owners not see that the dog was approaching to attack? That's the thing that I don't get. Was the dog at all angry/aggressive approaching the little dog? I'm assuming that the little dog's owner was also allowing her dog to approach the pit?

The thing is, to my admittedly untrained eye, the pit bull did not really look out of control. Except for that split second when he lunged. But before then he was on the leash walking with his owner. He walked in the direction of the small dog, sort of straining on the leash but allowing himself to be held back by the owner. The owner of the pit bull asked if it was okay to come over and the owner of the small dog said yes. She had a better look at his front and the dog's demeanor than I did but she was too hysterical afterwards to describe how he was acting. All I can say is he looked in control enough to be granted permission to say hi to her dog. So there was just then that one lunge and subsequent shaking, and the whole thing was over.

It was pretty awful all around, honestly. I had my 7 year old with me and while we didn't expose them to the bloody and emotional aftermath, we had to have a talk with them about the whole thing. Honestly my husband and I walked around for several hours after that in mild shock. It was just so shockingly brutal from a situation that seemed like it was run of the mill normal. Experiences like that really teach you how tenuous and fleeting life is.

So I totally believe these other accounts here about pit bulls who seem normal and loving until one day they suddenly attack, because that's what I basically saw. I guess I don't really understand the owners who are saying their pit bulls are normal and loving and would never do something like that, because that is the violent pit bull MO. How do you know YOUR dog isn't one that would attack on a sneeze, because s/he was startled? I don't see how you can. YOU are choosing to accept the risk. But you should not be choosing for others like OP to also accept the risk. Pit bulls are just risky dogs. That risk is on you.

[Anonymous]

It's in breeding-just like herding, pointing, flock guarding. Pit bulls were bred to have reactivity [react to stimuli other dogs ignore] and quick/instantaneous arousal points.

The leash reactivity I read about now and quick change from nothing to a bite/maul. There also isn't the intermediate steps where a dog threats and another is submissive hence no attack. So you might not have had an opportunity to see a change in the killer pit's demeanor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had no particular feeling one way or another about pit bulls until I was at a Delaware beach last Thanksgiving and saw a pit bull on a leash approach a small dog (with permission from the owner) and in a flash, grab its neck in its jaws and shake it til it was mortally wounded, which took less than five seconds. The police were called while the small dog died, bleeding and peeing on its hysterical owner.

I talked to the owner of the pitbull, who was also traumatized, and said she had owned the dog for years and it had never done anything like that. She still didn't know why he would have done it. She was very upset over what had happened, but also by the knowledge that the police were surely going to now take the dog she loved and put it to sleep.

So I had no particular feeling about pit bulls before this incident, but after watching the little dog's owner cry hysterically as her bloody dog died in her arms for no good reason due to a dog that (so says the owner) had never acted violently before, I feel differently now. I would talk to the owner.

That is horrifying. I'm sorry that you had to witness that - how awful. I can't imagine having one of my precious pups mauled by an out of control dog.

How on earth did both of those owners not see that the dog was approaching to attack? That's the thing that I don't get. Was the dog at all angry/aggressive approaching the little dog? I'm assuming that the little dog's owner was also allowing her dog to approach the pit?

Last month a pit (beloved pet) suddenly attacked and killed a newborn while the family (mom, dad and baby) were relaxing in bed. Thebpit was supposedly relaxing too.

Mom sneezed and the "gentle family pet" went from calm to killing the baby in seconds.

That sounds like "cocker rage" which is a neurological problem that causes an animal to go berserk from a calm or sleepy state, often from some sudden stimulus. It sometimes occurs in other breeds as well. I don't know the incident you're referring to, but I wonder if the dog was a mix or purebred (Am Staffy, etc.).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rage_syndrome

It's not a defect in a pit-it's what it was bred to do.

[Anonymous]

breeding works. Dogs have more chromosomes, large litters, and short lifespans. You can change a dog for many generations. My lab is a great swimmer, shakes off the water and instinctively retrieves. My shepherd wants to herd me.

Pit bulls were bred to kill quickly. Why anyone would own one is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:breeding works. Dogs have more chromosomes, large litters, and short lifespans. You can change a dog for many generations. My lab is a great swimmer, shakes off the water and instinctively retrieves. My shepherd wants to herd me.

Pit bulls were bred to kill quickly. Why anyone would own one is beyond me.

Last week a family's pit got loose and came in the house and killed their infant.

The same day two American bulldog pit mixes killed an adult lady.

There should be mandatory euthanasia when pits or pit mixes end up in shelters.

Anyone in possession of an un neutered or un spayed pit ot pit mix should have their dog taken from them and be fined heavily.

[Anonymous]

I don't have any issues at all with Pit Bull type pups. I think they are adorable and can be great family dogs. I do have an issue with anyone (child or otherwise) walking a dog they can't control. I have an extremely well socialized, well trained German Shepherd. I don't let my 14 year old son walk him alone because the dog is more obedient to my commands and he is much stronger than my son. I can't Imagine a scenario where he would attack a person unless he felt someone in our family was being threatened. But he is a dog. His idea of a "threat" could be someone running towards me. He would obey my command to heel. I'm not 100% sure he would obey my son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any issues at all with Pit Bull type pups. I think they are adorable and can be great family dogs. I do have an issue with anyone (child or otherwise) walking a dog they can't control. I have an extremely well socialized, well trained German Shepherd. I don't let my 14 year old son walk him alone because the dog is more obedient to my commands and he is much stronger than my son. I can't Imagine a scenario where he would attack a person unless he felt someone in our family was being threatened. But he is a dog. His idea of a "threat" could be someone running towards me. He would obey my command to heel. I'm not 100% sure he would obey my son.

1. your son is pretty weak. a 14 yo male should be able to easily control a 110 lb animal.

2. "adorable" doesn't mean they can't easily rip your throat out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any issues at all with Pit Bull type pups. I think they are adorable and can be great family dogs. I do have an issue with anyone (child or otherwise) walking a dog they can't control. I have an extremely well socialized, well trained German Shepherd. I don't let my 14 year old son walk him alone because the dog is more obedient to my commands and he is much stronger than my son. I can't Imagine a scenario where he would attack a person unless he felt someone in our family was being threatened. But he is a dog. His idea of a "threat" could be someone running towards me. He would obey my command to heel. I'm not 100% sure he would obey my son.

1. your son is pretty weak. a 14 yo male should be able to easily control a 110 lb animal.

2. "adorable" doesn't mean they can't easily rip your throat out.

Have you ever watched "Cops"? Do you see how difficult it is for fully grown adult handlers to hold back a GSD? Not a risk I'm willing to take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any issues at all with Pit Bull type pups. I think they are adorable and can be great family dogs. I do have an issue with anyone (child or otherwise) walking a dog they can't control. I have an extremely well socialized, well trained German Shepherd. I don't let my 14 year old son walk him alone because the dog is more obedient to my commands and he is much stronger than my son. I can't Imagine a scenario where he would attack a person unless he felt someone in our family was being threatened. But he is a dog. His idea of a "threat" could be someone running towards me. He would obey my command to heel. I'm not 100% sure he would obey my son.

1. your son is pretty weak. a 14 yo male should be able to easily control a 110 lb animal.

2. "adorable" doesn't mean they can't easily rip your throat out.

You're an idiot. Plenty of 14 yr old boys don't even weigh that. You clearly have no idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any issues at all with Pit Bull type pups. I think they are adorable and can be great family dogs. I do have an issue with anyone (child or otherwise) walking a dog they can't control. I have an extremely well socialized, well trained German Shepherd. I don't let my 14 year old son walk him alone because the dog is more obedient to my commands and he is much stronger than my son. I can't Imagine a scenario where he would attack a person unless he felt someone in our family was being threatened. But he is a dog. His idea of a "threat" could be someone running towards me. He would obey my command to heel. I'm not 100% sure he would obey my son.

1. your son is pretty weak. a 14 yo male should be able to easily control a 110 lb animal.

2. "adorable" doesn't mean they can't easily rip your throat out.

You're an idiot. Plenty of 14 yr old boys don't even weigh that. You clearly have no idea.

I think my 14 year old weighs right at 110. My GSD weighs 145.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any issues at all with Pit Bull type pups. I think they are adorable and can be great family dogs. I do have an issue with anyone (child or otherwise) walking a dog they can't control. I have an extremely well socialized, well trained German Shepherd. I don't let my 14 year old son walk him alone because the dog is more obedient to my commands and he is much stronger than my son. I can't Imagine a scenario where he would attack a person unless he felt someone in our family was being threatened. But he is a dog. His idea of a "threat" could be someone running towards me. He would obey my command to heel. I'm not 100% sure he would obey my son.

1. your son is pretty weak. a 14 yo male should be able to easily control a 110 lb animal.

2. "adorable" doesn't mean they can't easily rip your throat out.

You're an idiot. Plenty of 14 yr old boys don't even weigh that. You clearly have no idea.

I think my 14 year old weighs right at 110. My GSD weighs 145.

your GSD is way too heavy. Not at all breed standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any issues at all with Pit Bull type pups. I think they are adorable and can be great family dogs. I do have an issue with anyone (child or otherwise) walking a dog they can't control. I have an extremely well socialized, well trained German Shepherd. I don't let my 14 year old son walk him alone because the dog is more obedient to my commands and he is much stronger than my son. I can't Imagine a scenario where he would attack a person unless he felt someone in our family was being threatened. But he is a dog. His idea of a "threat" could be someone running towards me. He would obey my command to heel. I'm not 100% sure he would obey my son.

1. your son is pretty weak. a 14 yo male should be able to easily control a 110 lb animal.

2. "adorable" doesn't mean they can't easily rip your throat out.

You're an idiot. Plenty of 14 yr old boys don't even weigh that. You clearly have no idea.

I think my 14 year old weighs right at 110. My GSD weighs 145.

My 13 year old son is probably 5'10" and weighs around 150 (and growing). He is stronger, faster and probably smarter than I am. The dog (who is well socialized and a complete baby) listens to him. Yeah, my son can walk the dog.

[Anonymous]

^ Oh, and my dog weighs under 80 (maybe under 70) pounds. A 145 pound dog is HUGE!!

[Anonymous]

A well trained large dog should be able to be walked easily by a 14 year old male. If not the dog isn't well trained. Is the teen any less strong than a woman weighing 95-110 pounds? At 112-115 pounds I pushed a stroller and walked a 90 pound young dog.