english7
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/27/09
Posts: 3001
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"Children being taught how to treat their animals is HUGE." I agree, and so does my daughter. She's done a great job teaching her son how to treat animals. Why does everyone think she has not?
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finz
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/17/08
Posts: 6462
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[quote]"Children being taught how to treat their animals is HUGE." I agree, and so does my daughter. She's done a great job teaching her son how to treat animals. Why does everyone think she has not? [/quote]
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Because you've said A LOT about how BAD that dog was, but not much about the repeated intensive training that your dd has done with that dog.
I believe it's possible some animals (like people) are just born bad. I think far more are made bad by abuse. Many of those can be helped by training from a [censored] but loving master educated in how to manage the dog.
You haven't talked about your dd's expertise in working with the jrt, or the expert opinions she sought out......so 'it's easy to assume that that did not happen.
If the expert training did not happen after the dog bit the child, that shows poor judgement on your dd's part. When other bite attacks happened, if there was no follow up with dog training professionals, that shows extremely poor judgement on the part of the dog owner.
If expert training did happen and a professional decided that this dog was not salvagable or needed to live in a restricted environment, it would be great if you could mention that, so that we are all able to discuss this with the same facts on the history.
IF that has happened and your dd continued to allow the demon dog access to a young child, that shows extremely poor judgement.
With all of the possible scenarios I can think of, it seems like poor judgement on the part of the dog owner (your dd) is a part of the problem.
It sounds like you blamed the jrt for everything and not your dd.
Why would you think she will use good judgement this time around ?
From what you have said about her, it sounds like adopting a rescue is important to her. If she is looking into a pb because that's mostly what she sees in the shelters (and it's what I saw too when I was looking) and not actually because she picked out that breed, you could encourage her to check out petfinder dot com. She could see a wide variety of rescue animals.
There are many mild mannered dogs out there that don't act aggressively because they have a great temperment and their needs are being met. Sometimes that's the luck of the draw, but you can increase your odds with certain breeds. Many breeds CAN be great family dogs, but they need a [censored] hand to guide them along the way. If your dd doesn't have that [censored] hand then she owes it to her child to at least show some caution with choosing a breed that doesn't REQUIRE it.
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english7
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/27/09
Posts: 3001
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Thank you, finz. You are so on target with a lot of what you said. I'll reply tomorrow. I appreciate it that you took the time to decipher this. It looks like my daughter is going to adopt the pit.
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MinnesotaMom
member
Reged: 01/05/11
Posts: 170
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I had a pitbull as a child and it was a wonderful dog that never bit anyone. She was however difficult to play with because she was high energy and so powerful. I had more than 1 black eye and bleeding in the mouth when playing with her.
With that said, I probably don't recommend one for small children.
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english7
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/27/09
Posts: 3001
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"Because you've said A LOT about how BAD that dog was, but not much about the repeated intensive training that your dd has done with that dog."
She got the dog in 2007 or 2008, when she bought her first house. For the first couple of weeks, the dog was fairly calm. They guessed he was about 4 years old but it had to be house trained, get used to his crate, and taught to walk on a leash. She took him to what she calls "puppy school" and she read a lot about training. Everything folks in here are saying about what to do, such as teaching the dog who the pack leader is, is what she's says over and over.
She wanted a dog who would be a companion. This dog has never been much of a companion. Other than wanting to sleep on her bed, his personality consists of an incessant desire to chase anything and everything and chew up things. He's a Jack Russell mix with a more powerful, muscular body than a pure Jack Russell. She has a 6-foot security fence in her backyard for him chase things. He's killed 2 squirrels and a couple of birds--and we can't figure out how he got them. I don't believe any amount of expert intensive training could change his personality. Her vet hasn't been able to help, either. The best she could do was provide a routine of backyard, walks, meals, some time in the living room, and caging at night and while she is at work. She's done an excellent job with a difficult dog and despite my pleas to get rid of him, she's been determined he will not be put down. She's tried over the years to find another more suitable home for him, but nobody wants him.
Her son was born in 2009. We were all worried about how the dog would react. She allowed supervised interaction slowly, and the dog behaved well enough. I mean, she allowed the dog to be in the same space as the baby for short periods of time while she either held the baby or watched. I guess it was only a matter of time before he bit. He was too quick for her to prevent it. After that happened, she called on several experts for help and tried to find another home for him. The shelter told her if she returned him, he would be euthanized.
As my grandson grew and began to toddle around, the dog began to see him as his master, too. They would play catch and retrieve, the child would give him treats, etc. All the training and guidance she made use of seemed to be working, but she still had to watch the dog carefully. I still did not trust him. He was too wild. The little boy bonded with the dog, but I can't say the dog was capable of bonding with anyone.
"IF that has happened and your dd continued to allow the demon dog access to a young child, that shows extremely poor judgement."
I agree. While the dog was okay with the child most of the time, that is not enough!
"Why would you think she will use good judgement this time around ?"
I don't! That is why I frantically posted when she told me about the new dog she was looking at. To be honest, I don't think the pitbull is nearly as unruly as the Jack Russell, but the stigma associated with them has me scared.
"If she is looking into a pb because that's mostly what she sees in the shelters (and it's what I saw too when I was looking) and not actually because she picked out that breed, you could encourage her to check out petfinder dot com. She could see a wide variety of rescue animals."
She found about a dozen dogs using petfinder and craigslist and other sources. She isn't looking for a pitbull, just a dog that would make a good companion for her and her little guy. She's turning down any dog that is too large or feisty or active. As it turns out, the pit has been the most respectful and calm with my grandson. My trying to dissuade her has only caused problems between us.
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SRS
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/05/10
Posts: 2161
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We have a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. Very, very good breed to have with children if you raise them (kids and the dog) correctly. She was a free to good home dog.
Too bad your dd doesn't appear to research breeds before she adopts a dog.
Those poor dogs. When you adopt a dog, you should plan on having it the rest of its life. Not until you get sick of it.
Jack Russells are not dogs to have around little kids. The do not tolerate any type of abuse (even accidental). They are very high energy. A former roomate of mine had one and there is no way I'd have one with kids around. They have a lot of energy and I felt sorry for it when she crated it in the morning - knowing it would be in the crate for 10 hours.
A pit bull is dumb around kids - if she did any research she'd know that. Especially one that you have no idea on how it was raised. Did she know that her homeowner's policy may increase or even drop her if they know she has a pit?
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SRS
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/05/10
Posts: 2161
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She should call her vet to see if she/he has any leads on dogs that are good with kids. Explain what she requires and they may make recommendations.
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ssmom79
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 7784
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Some of the nicest dogs are just mutts.
My SD has a mutt named Holly. She is some kinda mix of a few breeds and she is the greatest dog. Loves everyone. Never runs off. Always wagging.
She sounds like she's making good preparations for a future fur family member. I'm sure in the end they will find a perfect addition. Remind her that sometimes the right dog takes time.
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Runswithscissors
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 05/29/04
Posts: 13381
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You have to consider not only aggressiveness but what type of punch they can pull.... While a bite from a JR can HURT and be painful.... one bite would not kill a person.... vs. something like a Pitt.... take for example... a bite from a Lab is NOT as hard/sharp as a bite from a pitt because instinctively Labs are bird dogs and have a more gentlier mouth... In different breeds of hound dogs you have different degrees of bites.
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Runswithscissors
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 05/29/04
Posts: 13381
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English,
I wish you all luck with the Pitt Bull... If I was dead set on getting one.. I would get a puppy..... like we JUST this week got a new dog... (still have our Boston)... and we got a German Shepherd.... I would of NEVER gotten one when the kids were little... but considering my 13 year old is now 6.1 and 165 lb.. I think we are good! BUT I still got a puppy... it was a rescue, but still a puppy (thats keeping me UP ALL NIGHT LONG)
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