Anonymous wrote:We live in a northern VA suburb with at least a dozen children on our block, most of which are elementary or pre-K. We've always gotten along great with all our neighbors. One of our neighbors however just adopted an adult pitbull, that's 5 years old and weighs upwards of 80 lbs. These neighbors are great people with two teenagers, but I don't think they have a lot of (if any) previous experience with dogs. They are very kind hearted, and my intuition tells me they probably went to the Fairfax County animal shelter and were persuaded to adopt this dog not understanding what they truly got themselves into.

The neighbors were letting their teenage daughter walk the pitbull the other day -- she doesn't weigh much more than the dog and was by no means in control of it. I was outside and our kids were playing in the front yard with the neighbors' kids. The teenage girl brought the dog into our yard because the kids wanted to see the new dog. I let the dog approach me as well, and when it got close, it emitted a deep growl at me, and walked around me. My elementary age kid who is on the small side at one point started running, and I could see that got the dog's attention -- I calmly asked my son to stop moving quickly as I did not want to risk triggering this dog's prey instinct.

I really can't understand how our intelligent and kind hearted neighbors decided to bring a dog like this into a family neighborhood -- this animal has the capability to maim or kill our children, and who knows how it was raised or what kinds of psychological issues it has. I can see other neighbors also nervous about it as well. What kind of advice should I give my children to try and keep them safe from this dog? Would you risk your relationship with the neighbors by talking to them about their choice of pets?

Anonymous wrote:Op should take the situation seriously but dogs are particularly nervous when they are first adopted into a new home. We have a 90 lb German shepherd and he did grown a few times after we adopted him.after he grew accustomed to living with us it stopped. He’s been with us 5 years now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes OP, you have my sympathies on this.

After hearing so many stories on the news about pit bulls killing their owners I am now terrified of this particular breed.

Perhaps an unfair assumption but one that nonetheless exists in my head.

Common, however incorrect. A lot of dogs who aren't pit bulls get the label (an 80lb dog isn't a pit bull, and neither is the obvious boxer in the other thread). It's hype, and it's commonly used in clickbait articles to agitate and promote fear.

I'm not saying you should get one (don't), but you should read something that isn't anti-pit propaganda so you're not needlessly terrified. You can also read up on dog behavior and proper leash etiquette, which will be the most useful tools to help you avoid your potentially-crappy hypothetical neighbor's poorly-controlled dog of any breed. A disturbing amount of people these days own dogs they don't properly train and control, and that's a liability (whether or not the dogs in question are truly "pit bulls").

A lot of pitbull owners lie about the breed then admonish people not to believe their own eyes

A lot of idiots know exactly nothing about dogs beyond the clickbait they read and couldn't properly identify a "pit bull" if their life savings depended on it, so yeah, no. Your eyes aren't the greatest way to judge a dog, and the brain they're (allegedly) connected to isn't that great either. And no, pit owners don't. Most people who own pit bulls simply own pit bulls. It's like how there's not a queer agenda, there are just gay people, living their lives and advocating for basic liberties and equal rights.

Nice try.

Completely wrong, but an A for effort.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes OP, you have my sympathies on this.

After hearing so many stories on the news about pit bulls killing their owners I am now terrified of this particular breed.

Perhaps an unfair assumption but one that nonetheless exists in my head.

Common, however incorrect. A lot of dogs who aren't pit bulls get the label (an 80lb dog isn't a pit bull, and neither is the obvious boxer in the other thread). It's hype, and it's commonly used in clickbait articles to agitate and promote fear.

I'm not saying you should get one (don't), but you should read something that isn't anti-pit propaganda so you're not needlessly terrified. You can also read up on dog behavior and proper leash etiquette, which will be the most useful tools to help you avoid your potentially-crappy hypothetical neighbor's poorly-controlled dog of any breed. A disturbing amount of people these days own dogs they don't properly train and control, and that's a liability (whether or not the dogs in question are truly "pit bulls").

A lot of pitbull owners lie about the breed then admonish people not to believe their own eyes

A lot of idiots know exactly nothing about dogs beyond the clickbait they read and couldn't properly identify a "pit bull" if their life savings depended on it, so yeah, no. Your eyes aren't the greatest way to judge a dog, and the brain they're (allegedly) connected to isn't that great either. And no, pit owners don't. Most people who own pit bulls simply own pit bulls. It's like how there's not a queer agenda, there are just gay people, living their lives and advocating for basic liberties and equal rights.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an animal lover and loved all doggies until my 3 year old was attacked by a pit mix which was not properly controlled on a walk (owner wasn't holding the leash properly). I have never thought this could happen to us and still can't believe it did now, even though 4 years passed. My child was "lucky" to walk away with a mauled upper arm only and a scar for life. Now, I am crossing the road any time I see a dog. F*ck irresponsible dog owners.

Being an animal lover doesn't mean trusting all animals fyi. I always cross the street even with a Chihuahua coming. Hardcore animal lover here and long time dog enthusiast

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes OP, you have my sympathies on this.

After hearing so many stories on the news about pit bulls killing their owners I am now terrified of this particular breed.

Perhaps an unfair assumption but one that nonetheless exists in my head.

Common, however incorrect. A lot of dogs who aren't pit bulls get the label (an 80lb dog isn't a pit bull, and neither is the obvious boxer in the other thread). It's hype, and it's commonly used in clickbait articles to agitate and promote fear.

I'm not saying you should get one (don't), but you should read something that isn't anti-pit propaganda so you're not needlessly terrified. You can also read up on dog behavior and proper leash etiquette, which will be the most useful tools to help you avoid your potentially-crappy hypothetical neighbor's poorly-controlled dog of any breed. A disturbing amount of people these days own dogs they don't properly train and control, and that's a liability (whether or not the dogs in question are truly "pit bulls").

A lot of pitbull owners lie about the breed then admonish people not to believe their own eyes

Anonymous wrote:I am an animal lover and loved all doggies until my 3 year old was attacked by a pit mix which was not properly controlled on a walk (owner wasn't holding the leash properly). I have never thought this could happen to us and still can't believe it did now, even though 4 years passed. My child was "lucky" to walk away with a mauled upper arm only and a scar for life. Now, I am crossing the road any time I see a dog. F*ck irresponsible dog owners.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes OP, you have my sympathies on this.

After hearing so many stories on the news about pit bulls killing their owners I am now terrified of this particular breed.

Perhaps an unfair assumption but one that nonetheless exists in my head.

Common, however incorrect. A lot of dogs who aren't pit bulls get the label (an 80lb dog isn't a pit bull, and neither is the obvious boxer in the other thread). It's hype, and it's commonly used in clickbait articles to agitate and promote fear.

I'm not saying you should get one (don't), but you should read something that isn't anti-pit propaganda so you're not needlessly terrified. You can also read up on dog behavior and proper leash etiquette, which will be the most useful tools to help you avoid your potentially-crappy hypothetical neighbor's poorly-controlled dog of any breed. A disturbing amount of people these days own dogs they don't properly train and control, and that's a liability (whether or not the dogs in question are truly "pit bulls").

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would honestly move. Sounds like renters. Only going downhill from there.

Whaat??!

You mean only “renters” are dumb enough to adopt a pit bull???!

Anonymous wrote:Yikes OP, you have my sympathies on this.

After hearing so many stories on the news about pit bulls killing their owners I am now terrified of this particular breed.

Perhaps an unfair assumption but one that nonetheless exists in my head.

Anonymous wrote:I would honestly move. Sounds like renters. Only going downhill from there.