How do you politely ask friends to crate their dogs when your kids are there?!?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry. I do trust my dog. I've had her sleep on the porch to watch the kids sleeping there. No one would come on the porch.

She sleeps with the baby. So does my cat. No big deal.

The only time she offered a threat was to my parents who wanted to take the baby away from her.

Having animals sleep with your baby is a terrible idea. And if your dog is showing aggression when others try to hold the baby, that is an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

178 lbs? Your shepherd sounds like a fatty.

I know! And he could use to drop a few pounds. But he isn't really overweight.... just an unusually huge Shepherd. Our vet said she had never seen a larger German Shepherd. And I've been around Shepherds all my life and never seen one so big. His head is enormous! We have no idea why. His mother was about 85 pounds. His father was 90. Pretty average for the breed. He's not just heavy, he's big all over.

Sadly, it means he may not live as long. But his temperament is about the best I've ever seen in a Shepherd.

I would love to meet your Shepherd! We have a Shiloh Shepherd, and he looks like a wolf from a fable, and he is only about 140 pounds.

OP, our dog is the most gentle, well-trained giant, but we gladly put him in his Clifford-sized crate when children come over, if the children are afraid. That's just being a gracious hostess. We also shoo our cats out of the room if people don't like cats.

We once dog-sat a relative's pit bull mix when our Shepherd was a puppy. Both dogs were peaceably snoozing by the fireplace when the pit bull suddenly bolted up with a snarl and clamped down on our puppy's face. It took all my strength to pull the pit off of our dog, and by the time I did, there was blood everywhere and my kids were wailing in the background. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it. What if I had not been in the room? What if one of my kids had tried to defend our puppy?

I saw the entire thing start to finish, and there was absolutely no provocation. I don't know if the pit bull was having a bad dream, or got spooked, or what, but it attacked a half-asleep puppy like it needed to kill it. It took a trip to the emergency vet and several hundred dollars' worth of stitches to put our puppy back together. And the relative was non-plussed, said her dog had never done such a thing before.

Err on the side of caution. If you are a gracious guest, you cannot go wrong. If they cannot be a gracious host, then meet at a neutral site from now on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. 4 kids, 2 grandkids. And they all behave.

Really? When your kids were 12 months old, they were model-flipping-citizens who knew better than to grab a dog's haunches? You're an idiot. And seriously, if you're a grandmother, shouldn't you be on another website?

Yes, they did. If they startled the dog, she got up and moved away, dumping them on the floor. Just like they learned no by 9 months or so, they learned this.

And if all the other cRazies such as yourself can be here, then I don't think anyone is excluded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. 4 kids, 2 grandkids. And they all behave.

Really? When your kids were 12 months old, they were model-flipping-citizens who knew better than to grab a dog's haunches? You're an idiot. And seriously, if you're a grandmother, shouldn't you be on another website?

If she is a grandmother isn't she, by definition, also a mother? And isn't there a whole forum on this site for people TTC, most of whom are, by definition, not mothers? What exactly are you implying?

[Anonymous]

I would love to meet your Shepherd! We have a Shiloh Shepherd, and he looks like a wolf from a fable, and he is only about 140 pounds.

We have a good friend who has a Shiloh. Absolutely gorgeous! And so sweet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I would love to meet your Shepherd! We have a Shiloh Shepherd, and he looks like a wolf from a fable, and he is only about 140 pounds.

We have a good friend who has a Shiloh. Absolutely gorgeous! And so sweet!

We think so! I wish more families knew about the breed. Just the most lovely (large) dogs! I am a cat person, but our Shiloh has won me over. Loving, gentle, sweet.

From a distance, though, he looks intimidating. That was the plan all along. I love answering the door holding onto him. People jump back

[Anonymous]

Why should the dog have to be put in a crate? It's the dog's home and it seems pretty unfair to expect that your friends will crate their dog whenever you go to visit with your child. Why not just invite your friends over to your home instead? Dogs can be crate trained in a humane way and they can handle it well when nobody is home. However, if dogs know that there is someone at home, then it's probably pretty stressful for them to hear the voices but no be allowed out of the crate. I'm not trying to be a jerk. Really, I'm not. I'm just having a hard time understanding why the dog owner should have to crate her dog when you and your child come to visit.

[Anonymous]

No, warning my parents, whom the dog did not know, to stay away from the baby is not a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You "their house, their rules" people are absolutely nuts. And terrible hosts. Would you serve a meat at dinner if you were hosting a vegetarian couple? It's about basic courtesy and being gracious. It is not a big deal to put the dog in another room. If a guest was not comfortable around my dog, I would ABSOLUTELY want them to say something - I have friends over so that they'll have a good time, not so they'll have to live in fear of offending me if they need something for their comfort.

Geez, do you all snap if your guest asks for a glass of water, also? Try to be slightly more gracious to other humans, particularly when what's being asked of you simply isn't any incovenience. Most dogs are happy to have a treat outside for a bit.

My guests know what they are in for when they choose to come to my house and they ALWAYS have a great time. My hospitality is remarkable especially in this town full of uppity-little-I'm better-than-yous. Now, I would never have the likes of you over - you appear to have no tact. Also, your vegetarian/meat logic does not apply to this situation at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about teach your kids how to behave around dogs. Don't poke at them. Don't get in their face. Stay away from the food bowl.

There aren't many dogs out there that will go from loving animals to raging attackers without provocation.

Okay, thanks. I'll make sure my NEWBORN who was quietly sleeping in his car seat (being held by my DH) does all those things...b/c that really is the reason why my MIL's dog jumped up and tried tackling my husband to get to the baby. Of COURSE it was the child's fault.

Some dogs just haven't been properly trained. They jump up on everything. Maybe not maliciously, but big dogs can do a lot of harm to little kids without being malicious.

It is crazy to constantly blame kids. Granted, I don't necessarily blame the dogs, but their crazy owners who have decided not to properly train them to not jump on people, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. 4 kids, 2 grandkids. And they all behave.

Really? When your kids were 12 months old, they were model-flipping-citizens who knew better than to grab a dog's haunches? You're an idiot. And seriously, if you're a grandmother, shouldn't you be on another website?

Yes, they did. If they startled the dog, she got up and moved away, dumping them on the floor. Just like they learned no by 9 months or so, they learned this.

And if all the other cRazies such as yourself can be here, then I don't think anyone is excluded.

Sorry, but this is BS and we all know it. 9 month olds may recognize what "no" means, but they certainly don't consistently not do whatever the "no" is directed to for a LONG LONG time.

[Anonymous]

When I was little we were at my Aunt's house and they had put their dog in their bedroom while we visited. I went to the bathroom and heard the dog in the room. I went into the room and tried to give the dog a hug and it bit me in the face. I still have the scar. The dog was sweet and never showed any signs of aggression prior to this. Dogs sometimes think that children are lower members of the pack and will "put them in their place" so to speak to establish the heirarchy. It's aggressive but not because they are mean animals but because of their pack instincts.

[Anonymous]

At 9 months, if you consistently enforce limits, children can and will learn to behave. However, you have to get off of your butt and work at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry. I do trust my dog. I've had her sleep on the porch to watch the kids sleeping there. No one would come on the porch.

She sleeps with the baby. So does my cat. No big deal.

The only time she offered a threat was to my parents who wanted to take the baby away from her.

Having animals sleep with your baby is a terrible idea. And if your dog is showing aggression when others try to hold the baby, that is an issue.

No kidding. Your dog should not be possessive over the baby. You have a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was little we were at my Aunt's house and they had put their dog in their bedroom while we visited. I went to the bathroom and heard the dog in the room. I went into the room and tried to give the dog a hug and it bit me in the face. I still have the scar. The dog was sweet and never showed any signs of aggression prior to this. Dogs sometimes think that children are lower members of the pack and will "put them in their place" so to speak to establish the heirarchy. It's aggressive but not because they are mean animals but because of their pack instincts.

A voice of reason. Many pet owners treat dogs as equals in the household, which is not normal pack behavior. Dogs act on instinct, and some will constantly push boundaries, as they would in a pack if they were testing the hierarchy. Responsible pet owners set boundaries, discipline, and reinforce training. Thinking that your pet would never cause harm is irresponsible.