For refusing to move in with his previously aggressive dog...

There is only one positive potential outcome here (which should have been done long ago), and it involves the professional ministrations of a vet.

I would not go within a hundred yards of a pitbull.

I'm a huge dog lover. However, I wouldn't be happy moving in with my dog, under these circumstances. Then I see you are considering bringing a baby into the mix too.

Absolutely no way, this is an unpredictable dog from your description of him and his antics past and recent.
Do everyone a favour and don't move in.

Yeah to blunt if he doesn’t actually believe there’s a risk he is never going to safeguard you or your dog is he? He might say “yeah I’ll keep the doors shut/ get a gate” but if the dogs gets out I bet it “won’t be the end of the world”….. until it is for you.

Larger dogs in our family are daily accosted by yappy little dogs in our village but guess what…. Our dogs haven’t mauled any. And wouldn’t. Because it doesn’t matter what that dog was doing does it, because only aggressive dogs would react aggressively to such an extent that it ends a life. So yeah, you’ve hit the nail on the head and it will inevitably be your dogs fault for antagonising his, or your fault for not letting them get to know each other, or your fault for making a stressful environment. But in any case you always lose don’t you? Either give away your dog, or live on the edge waiting for the worse, or burying them. I mean, choose your poison…. Or just don’t move in with him!

Absolutely no way. I am paranoid about mine being attacked. A chi is so little, I’d shit myself leaving them together.

Op lovely, his risk assessment is wayyy off what it needs to be to be a good dad and make a happy family. If the choice is to move in or break up, then that's the stark choice you should make. Do not move in with him, you will never trust his dog (quite rightly too), he doesn't listen to you, and it shouldn't be this hard at this stage. x

This is true, I mean it’s not a small error in judgement. There’s quite the sliding scale.

My husband might get me a wispa gold from the shop as an error in judgement…. but in fairness to him he’s never allowed another animal to tear a smaller one to shreds and then proclaim that animal as safe…. On reflection I should count myself lucky with my sickly chocolate.

If you are in the UK pitbulls are a banned breed.

But wherever you are, never ever move in with him as long as he has such a dangerous breed.
No dog "accidentally" attacks and kills another creature.

You, your baby, and your dog will never be safe no matter what he suggests. He's a bloody moron frankly.

No way would I move in with him. I’m fact his poor judgement over this would make me doubt his suitability as a parent. What else would he have shit judgement about?

the point is that his behavior now makes him an unsuitable partner now and forever. You can’t move in today because of this particular dog. Eventually this dog will pass away, but the boyfriend will still be a bad dog owner. If you get a dog together in the future, you can’t trust him to properly train and supervise. When you are out and about around other dogs, you can’t trust him to have good instincts. This isn’t a short-term problem because he is showing no signs of learning from his mistakes.

This dog is being set up to fail - your partner is in denial about what he needs to do to keep it under control and manage it. It's clear that it doesn't like crowds, is agressive around food and other dogs. He should be keeping it away from all those things at a minimum, not suggesting that the dog will 'get used to' another dog in the house.

I don’t trust his judgement which I think is why I haven’t moved in.

So, don't move in with him, and don't have children with him.

Ignore those red flags at your peril and raise your bar.

He's a shit dog owner. After this one goes/gets PTS, he'll just get another one and repeat the same shit ownership so that one goes the same way.

He's not a safe or decent person to have children with.

No, no, no, no and no.

Don't give up your dog and don't move in, why was he even allowed to keep the dog after it has killed another one previously? The stress of keeping them apart would be too much, dogs are opportunists & his has got form, so if you make a mistake like forgetting to shut a door or gate properly, believe me his dog will know and that could mean a terrible end for your dog that you won't get over or forgive yourself for. This may sound over dramatic, but the reality would be horrific.

Ignoring the child issue, still absolutely not. Your partner doesn't truly recognise the risk the dog poses and therefore he'll never manage it properly or take the risk to you or your dog seriously. In any event, it's not fair on either of the dogs to go from having access to the whole house to being shut away a lot.

Powerful dogs can chew through doors to get to what they want. I echo what everyone else says - your life will be a misery if you move in with him, your own dog could become an anxious wreck or worse killed, and bringing babies into this situation would be completely reckless and a recipe for disaster. Your partners dog would be able to smell your dog in the house even if you kept them separated.

I've just looked after my mum's dog for 3 months, and she isn't aggressive except around food and toys. It was really hard keeping the dogs apart at feeding time. It was really hard on MY dog, as she was scared of my mum's - and these are 2 dogs that CAN be together most of the time (just not when being fed / if there are toys out). My dog hated it.

If nothing else this is cruel on your dog.

But it's also a recipe for disaster: introducing another dog into the home of one known to be dog-aggressive. There is no way your partner's dog will tolerate it. There will be times when the pitbull escapes or you forget to shut a door, or whatever.

And then - bam. Your dog will get hurt. Possibly killed. If you intervene, you will get hurt. Possibly killed.

Your partner is an irresponsible dick. I wouldn't even want to be in a relationship with him let alone move in with him.

(And I LOVE dogs!!!)

There's nothing you can do. This is the consequence of keeping a dangerous dog. You can't move in and knowingly risk your safety as well as that of your own dog, while he's not willing to relinquish his beloved pet.

Add to that the fact he's got his head up his arse about it. Oh it'll be fine tra la la.

Flat no.

The dog would be jealous of the attention being given to child. You'd be mad to move in.

(Future child issue aside which seems like a nightmare waiting to happen)

I wouldn’t because of his reaction. firstly by the sounds of it he’s not willing to categorise his dog as aggressive (it recently snapping and being territorial shows it’s got aggressive traits currently). I’m sorry it’s just a fact, the dog is aggressive. If he can’t work with facts I’d find that pretty impossible. Secondly he’s been offered a compromise where he could have contact and yet feels stronger that you should totally give up your dog to facilitate him. It seems silly that of the two of you it’s you that lose in this situation. If he can’t see that’s not right then no, I don’t think he’s the one.

What about your dog .What's the poor thing done to be only allowed in half house, less time around you , less attention and around a large dog at times that isn't dog friendly .Hope you rehome your one if you are mad enough to move in with this bloke .

Absolutely do not move in with him.
I love dogs, have one myself but a dog that has killed, is known to snap... and you are thinking of having kids? FUCK THAT.
Even easy going gentle dogs can get jealous when a baby comes along, and distressed by the noise etc, and a pitbull with a history is a SERIOUS risk. Absolutely laughable to say the dog will protect a baby. Adding an extra person, and an extra dog, and then a baby to his life is NOT going to make an already unreliable dog VERY likely to snap. Like the tragic news report where these allegedly child loving pit bulls turn.

Keeping dogs apart is not practical, is unsafe and will eventually lead to one of them getting hurt.. most likely yours.

DO NOT MOVE IN.

Break up and find someone with a brain and some level of judgement.

You know when you see on the news that a baby or toddler has been mauled to death in his/her own home?…..

I would not, under any circumstances, bring a child into this situation (nor would I have my child visit at Granny’s house (if the dog relocates there)).