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Should we keep our beloved pet who may not be good with children?

I've always been taken aback by people who think that just because they are having a baby, that they automatically have to give up their dog.  However, I recently found out I am pregnant and then started to see warning signs that my dog may have aggressive tendencies towards young children in our home.  She is a 5 year old, pit/ridgeback mix, and I'm sure the word "pit" will get all kinds of people stirred up with breed specific criticisms.  Before you even start though, you must be aware that any dog can be inclined towards the same behavioral issues that people accuse all pits of having.  The issue with a pit is that their steel trap of a jaw prevents them from ever being able to make a mistake.  My parents have a terrier who bites people all the time, but no one is putting him down because unlike a pit his bites do very little harm.  We have worked with our dog a great deal in order socialize her and train her well. She is loving and sweet and really likes adults and older children.  We've always known that she has a tendency towards aggression with other dogs in terms of guarding resources.  If a dog advances towards a stick or toy in the park that she has claimed she reacts very aggressively.  For this reason we do not have any other pets, and keep her on leash when around other dogs so as to not allow for a fight.  Days before I found out that I was pregnant, a friend with a toddler came to stay over in our home.  My dog had always interacted well with children outside of the home, so I didn't see any reason why there would be an issue.  Unfortunately my dog scared the child and all of us terribly when the child bent down to pick up one of my dog's toys.  She lunged and growled in the same frightening way that she does with other dogs before a fight.  We immediately enlisted the help of a trainer who, after several sessions working with our dog, advised us that, because of our dog's resource guarding tendencies, preventing a bite to our child would take constant maintenance and discipline to provide a safe environment.  As first time parents, we don't know what to expect, but we know that it will be tough and hectic at times, and my husband nor I trust ourselves enough to think that we'll never slip up or get complacent, and then we could have a horrible tragedy on our hands.  I've posted some ads to advertise my dog for a new home, but I can't find peace with this decision.  I'm working with the rescue group that I adopted her from to help me weed out people with the wrong intentions, as many people take free dogs for fight bait and animal testing.  My trainer has said that she will vouch for my dog with anyone interested as far as her limitations and good points. Nonetheless, even though I have much family and friend support, and am pursuing a new home for my dog through the proper channels, I just can't stop second guessing this decision.  Also, there is no guarantee that anyone will want my dog, knowing the issues that plague her. 

So here's my question:  Would you risk your child's safety to try to keep a pet with a potentially dangerous resource guarding aggression issue?  And if so, how would you handle the situation, keeping in mind that we live in an apartment in New York and do not have a yard?  Thank you for your thoughtful answers.

Our Dog


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107 helpful answers

Would you risk your child's safety to try to keep a pet with a potentially dangerous resource guarding aggression issue? 

No.

Posted 2009-11-06T21:44:54Z
 
2127 helpful answers

Turn off the television and teach your children how to think.

_______________________________________________

*I do not read or write anything in the "Comments" section.*

 

Oh honey, I'm so sorry.

I don't advocate giving up a pet but it sounds as though you may have no other choice.

You don't dare risk that ONE TIME when you were distracted. Although it would not be the dog's fault, or the child's; it would be a tragedy, nonetheless.

I think you should keep looking for a loving home for your dog. With any luck, you'll find a place that will be perfect for her.

I live in California and many of the rescue groups out here advertise dogs to homes, specifying that it must be an "only" dog or must have a home with older children, only. Hopefully, they have something similar in your location.

Good luck with everything.

Posted 2009-11-06T21:49:39Z
 

 

Helping pets one animal at a time

petinsurance-101.com

Here is a great article from the website Wiki -Dogs,with the Dog Whisperers Cesar Millan responding to the following questions,

I hope it helps with your decision.( My answer would be no, I would find a loving home for the dog, if I did all of the extra training and felt the dog would still be aggreesive).

What does a couple need to do in advance of bringing home a baby to prepare the dog?

CM: Of course, when something as monumental as a pregnancy occurs, your dog is automatically going to know that “something is up.” We humans tend to forget that our animals know what is going on with us internally and emotionally, every single minute. However, the dog is not going to understand the details of the upcoming event – she cannot rationalize. What she can do is pick up your emotions – anxiety, excitement, worry, etc. Your dog will be a mirror for your emotions, so the first thing to do is to get your own relationship with your dog under control.

Those first nine months are the time you have to smooth out any little kinks in your leadership issues with your dog, breaking her of habits that might not bother you, but will be another story altogether with a little one in the house. Your bond and leadership position with your dog is the basic, crucial issue, and if you take your calm-assertive leadership seriously, nine months should be plenty of time for anything but a seriously unstable dog to get clear on the rules, boundaries, and limitations. It is also a good time to work with a professional.

 Is it a good idea to bring home a burp cloth or something bearing the baby’s scent from the hospital so that the dog can smell the baby before the introduction?

CM: The exercise with the burp cloth, blanket, or diaper before the baby’s arrival is a more specific one. I encourage people to do this exercise, but in a very controlled way, where you as the pack leader set clear boundaries. Bring the item in, but challenge the dog to sniff from a distance, while you are holding the item. You make the item YOURS, and then give the dog permission to sniff. What you are saying to the dog is, “This new item belongs to me, and you will need to follow my rules when around it.” It starts the process of creating respect for the item.

Do you let the dog in the nursery to sniff around, or should that room be and remain off limits?


CM: By all means, start with the nursery off limits. First, condition your dog that there is now an invisible line that she must not cross into the nursery – without your permission. Before the baby arrives, give the dog short periods where, under your supervision, you invite her in to sniff certain things. Then you send her out. Do this a few times and she will get the message that this room is not hers to own – it belongs to a pack leader and she must always be respectful around the room or inside it.

 When bringing the baby home for the first time, how do you introduce the baby and the dog?

CM: First, take the dog for a long, high-energy walk. The baby should be inside the house. Before entering the house, wait at the doorstep and make certain your dog is calm-submissive before you invite her in. Baby can be with mother, in another room, or across the room. Your dog will instantly know there is a new scent in the house – if you have already introduced the scent, it will be somewhat familiar. The mother or father who holds the baby must be in a total calm-assertive state – indicating to the dog that the baby-in-arms is a part of that calm-assertive energy – a part of the pack leader. You then allow the dog to sniff baby, but at a respectful distance. Do not bring the dog close on the first meeting. Gradually, on subsequent occasions, allow the dog to get closer, and so on, and so on. You are teaching the dog respect, and saying to the dog, “This is also your pack leader.”

 Do you treat the dog like you might an older sibling? For example, give the dog special toys and attention to let it know it is still important?


CM: A dog is a dog and a baby is a baby. The baby is a pack leader, and the dog must realize this from the beginning. Just as important as teaching the dog to respect the baby is teaching the baby to respect the dog. You must always supervise once the child gets to the exploratory stage, teaching him that the dog is not to be harassed, or have her tail pulled, etc. These lessons on mutual respect cannot begin early enough…too many children have inadvertently provoked an otherwise peaceful dog, simply because they were unsupervised or their parents had not given them the right rules and information.

As far as toys or special attention, toys do not matter to your dog as much as your calm-assertive leadership. Your dog needs to know that the routine is still in place – meaning you still get up to walk her, then feed her; that playtime happens on time, that nothing in her life changes dramatically. If she feels secure about her place in the pack, she will happily relax and submit to the new member of the family.

 With all training, so much depends on the dog’s personality. Are there different kinds of personalities that need to be dealt with in other ways? Are there specific dog breeds that are great around babies? (And conversely, NOT so great, i.e. pit bulls?)

CM: I think of a dog's personality as her “energy,” and I believe it is not so much a matter of breed as energy that counts when choosing a dog that can be around babies. Babies have been bitten by rottweilers and pit bulls, but they’ve also been mauled by Labradors and Chows and mixed-breed dogs. One baby in Rhode Island was recently killed by a cute little Pomeranian. The key, again, is making sure your dog is calm-submissive to you on a predictable basis before you bring the baby home. You must be honest with yourself – can you control your dog at all times, in all situations? Even if you have a teacup Chihuahua and that Chihuahua is a fear-biter, if you haven’t managed that issue, you should not bring your baby around the dog.

In other words, you as the parent really can’t blame the dog or her breed on her behavior around the baby. It all starts with the bond between you the pack leader and your dog. It’s easy to let certain “annoying” behaviors go when it’s just you and your spouse, but when a helpless baby comes along, you must be honest with yourself. If after working with a professional or practicing on your own you are still not able to be 100% pack leader with your dog, then you must seriously think about using those nine months for finding your dog another home. Your child’s safety comes first, and if something bad happens, it will not be the dog’s “fault.” Dogs do not reason or premeditate.

Posted 2009-11-10T14:48:00Z
petinsurance101 was invited by Yedda to answer this question.

 

Why do not people think of this before they get a animal. Would you give up your child even if it killed a police officer, no this is how i see being a responsible person of witch many spoiled americans are not. You are responsible not to look for a quick fix after the newness wears off and when pets care becomes a responsibility of a proublm this is called being a responsibility person. Their are many solutions if you are unable to resolve them yourself do not kill the dog and i can help you find some for this is such a beautiful innocent dog and god spelled backwards, i have years of experience with helping the most abused on earth.

Posted 2009-11-13T11:40:43Z
Fergiesun was invited by Yedda to answer this question.

 

Yeah, so your dog simply scare the child. Scaring the child's just reality

Posted 2009-11-19T11:50:40Z

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