My dsis is leaving 11mo unattended with a Rottweiler

[HeffalumpsDaughter]

Dsis and I have a fairly fraught relationship but have actually got on really well for the last few years since she’s become a parent. I absolutely adore my niece and nephew and it’s been really lovely to finally have what feels like a ‘real’ relationship with my sister at last.

Today she put a post on FB of her with her 11mo sat on a sofa with an enormous Rottweiler beside her. There were several photos of the baby with the dog licking her face and one with baby sitting astride the dog and holding onto its ears. Accompanied by a post by dsis saying along the lines of ‘these dogs get a bad name but it’s down to bad training and bad owners, not bad dogs. My friend rescued this Rottweiler 4 months ago and has not had to raise her voice to her once in this time. She’s the best behaved dog I’ve ever met. I’ve only had to meet her 3 times and I have no problem leaving dd to play with her while I had a cuppa in the kitchen. No such thing as bad dogs, only bad owners!’

Before I add anything else I will confess I don’t know anything about dogs. I have never had one, never spent a significant amount of time with a dog or taken a dog for a walk on my own. So I admit I could be getting this completely wrong (and I really hope I am). But just looking at the photos makes me feel sick with worry. Surely it doesn’t matter how well trained a dog is, if an 11mo pokes it in the eyes while a grown up isn’t within grabbing distance, it could bite? And if a Rottweiler bit a baby it could be horrific?

Personally I think dsis is being incredibly reckless, but as I say I may just be reacting like this as I don’t know a thing about dogs. If it is reckless though I just don’t know how to speak to her about it. Any form of criticism will result in a massive fallout. She’s pretty much cut off the rest of my family, despite them doing nothing wrong (from my POV obviously). I feel like I’ve only really just got my dsis back and I don’t want to lose her again because I’m worrying about a dog that I’ll never meet.

There are several comments on her fb after the pictures saying how cute they are and about how Staffies/Rottweilers always get bad press. Nothing that mentions safety at all.

Wwyd? I’ve been telling myself all day that I’m worrying about nothing but then I look at the photos and feel physically sick with worry.

I have lots of very very gentle beautifully behaved working labradors -I breed them. My dogs -you look at them and say 'X bed' and then go immediately to their bed and lie in it -and would continue to lie on it until told otherwise. My DC as young children would say 'Down' and all the dogs lie complete flat on the floor wherever they are.

My dogs are massive fur babies -never ever growling, showing teeth etc -in fact the children brush their teeth.

I have NEVER left ANY of my DC alone with any of them -ever.
It's an animal. A child blows in their face -a paw up to push away could be a nasty scar on the face.

Initially I'd make pointed comments and ask others to do the same. This is a rescue dog -full marks to the mum that doesn't think a dog can maul a baby -and post link to a story of similar. Regrets are easy later.

I'd take screen shots if you don't get her to see sense -maybe someone else can -parent? etc?. There's stupid and then there is stupid.

Report her. If something happens to your DN you'll never forgive yourself.

She's right. There is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners. Such as the kind of owner who leave a dog unsupervised with a toddler or allow a toddler to sit on a dog, which at best will cause the dog stress and minor discomfort.

Could you take her to a dog training class to listen to the trainers opinion on the matter?

Yeah the being together on the sofa thing with someone else supervising wouldn't bother me that much but the leaving them to play while she's in another room or allowing the baby to climb all over the dog like a toy is not safe for either dog or baby. Four months isn't really long enough to know your dog's temperament and triggers – I've had my dog for five years and even though she is the most gentle girl in the world, I wouldn't leave her along with my baby –not necessarily because I think she'll suddenly go for her, but because accidents can happen, play can be rough and someone can get hurt, and the risk of that is exacerbated when there's a big size difference too.

This woman's dog very well might not ever deliberately hurt a child, but I've had plenty of accidental bruises and scratches from my cocker spaniel and I am far larger than she is!

I’ve grown up with dogs and we did have a dog when my youngest sibling was a baby. They probably were left on occasion in the same room alone (although v rarely as lots of older children/teens around). The difference is the dog had been out since a puppy and was 8years old. He had put up with all kinds of child antics and never so much as growled. He was also a gun dog who are bred not to bite but to hold things softly in their mouths.

Even though I love dogs I wouldn’t leave my baby for a second with a Rottweiler, even in the same room. That goes 100 fold for a dog I don’t know at all well and is a rescue dog.

Personally I think what she did was phenomenally stupid.

Also there is no reason/excuse to leave a dog alone with a baby in the first place. Just take your dog with you when you leave the room (or if you have a dog like mine, you'll be followed anyway in anticipation of food) – it takes a second to call your dog and ensure they come with you.

Social worker here. SS will not be interested in this. They have actual abused and children being harmed to deal with. They simply don't have time for stuff like this.

Please report her - take a screen shot and report her anonymously if necessary, but please do it. Imagine how you'd feel if your DN was (God forbid) mauled or even killed and you did nothing.

I do think the breed is relevant but I wouldn’t leave a baby with any dog. The risk is just exacerbated by the breed.
It’s also the reason we don’t own a dog yet as a family. I’m waiting until mine are a little older.

I've had Rottweilers and they've all been amazing dogs. They are naturally protective and amiable (their standard describes them and being calm and good humoured)
However the potential for damage is immense, if nothing else simply due to their size.
It is incredibly reckless to leave any child unattended with a dog, regardless of its breed. As for allowing the child to sit on its back and grab its ears, I am speechless TBH

Not a good idea and I would be worried too.

However let's hope that's all bravado and FB nonsense and she doesn't actually leave her alone with the dog.

We have the sweetest gentlest rescue dog ever and my DS woke him up with a start when he went to kiss him goodnight and he snapped at him. The dog got a fright and I got a lesson in dog v children!

Never leave them alone now just in case.

Children should NEVER be allowed to ride on a dog, pull it's ears or in any way use it as a toy. Encouraging this is highly dangerous as even the best tempered dog can get to the pony where all its communications to say it's unhappy have not been understood so it bites as last resort.

If the dog yawns, lips it's licks shows the whites of its eyes or draws back it's lips it's yelling at the humans to get away.

I speak as someone who has had different breeds of dogs and children / grandchildren around. I would certainly not leave a toddler alone with any of them as they cannot read the signs.

I think it's neglect.
From the NSPCC website

Defining a child's needs

Christine Cooper's parenting checklist gives a description of a child's basic needs. Published in 1985, it is still used by many practitioners today. There are 7 definitions:

Basic physical care
Warmth, shelter, adequate food and rest, grooming (hygiene) and protection from danger.

Leaving an 11month old baby alone with any dog, let alone one which has been rehomed, is exposing them to danger. Dogs are animals, not fur babies. I'd report.

Me, DD and her partner have always had dogs. Current Angel is a rescue Staffie as was last (much mourned) one. I'm reluctant to ever take our (very gentle) new girl to my sisters house, despite her asking that we do. She has two small grandchildren and although we have never seen the slightest sign of aggression in our dog, we are only too well aware of the likely outcome if something happened when the two children and a dog were in close proximity. Despite the fact that There would likely be at least four (and more likely seven) adults present at all times, it only takes seconds for a child to inadvertently hurt a dog and for the dog to react.

The consequences for the child and the dog are unthinkable.

If DS 's grandchildren come to our home that's fine. The children meet the dog in our controlled environment. Our dog is comfortable because she is in her home environment. DS spends a little time talking to the children about "kind hands" etc.

I would never, ever leave a child (or an adult for that matter) with a dog i wasn't absolutely sure they could control. It's just fucking irresponsible, though I don't know what you can do about it.

I love Rottweilers and do believe they get a bad press but I’d never leave a baby or young child alone with any dog. Especially one that had only been in a home for 4 months and even more so one that wasn’t used to children. It’s unfair on the dog and potentially deadly for the child.
I would have to say something to my sister even if it risked an argument

This is such an emotive subject but to everyone saying report it. To who?

As pp who is a social worker there is no way they'd get involved.

I've just nc for this.

I'm off work having been attacked in the street by a dog. Unprovoked. Last month.

I've broken my arm. Police have done nothing.

There aren't the resources for pre emptive talks/visits by social workers.

You can never truly relax with kids and dogs. Fortunately my dog usually moves away if my toddler approaches him. But he does pull at my inlaws very amenable dog and I'm always telling him to stop.

My friends family dog killed her 13 month daughter! It was not a dangerous breed and the dog was pregnant and Attacked the baby whilst mum was in the room as the baby walked past. The dog was been protective. . Never leave!!!

There has been many times that people like ur ur sis says 'ohh she's such a gentle dog blah blah blah'.......I dnt know why she attacked!..... who the hell would rescue any dog with a toddler never mind a Rottweiler! There may be something that will make this dogs turn. There's no way that the dog behaviour experts can test dogs for every situation that they could possibly be in. I am a crazy dog person but would never leave any dogs with a child.

Why do people take this risk? How can you be confident is some else's actions never mind a dog. There no way of knowing for 100% that it wnt attack and it's like a silly wee thing that u can put a plaster on or some ice on!

Stupid people like this irritate the shit out of me. 'Oh my dog is so placid'. Such crap.

Show her this video
m.youtube.com/watch?v=yaxCYgqh2ao

Every dog is ‘good’ Until it learns that it’s stress-signals are being ignored. Then it escalates it’s behaviour. And every interaction is an opportunity for dogs to learn that children are stressful. Over time they’ll want to stop that stress and if the owner won’t protect them, they have to use canine-corrections.

Can you see the whites of the dog’s eyes or a furrowed brow in any photos?

Your sister is an arrogant, stupid woman. I hope her baby isn’t the one to pay for her ignorance.

My parents have the soppiest, friendliest crossbreed. He adores me and my husband and has totally accepted the baby. Baby is in danger due to sneaky face licking more than anything but I still bring the dog to the bathroom with me for example rather than leaving him alone with access to the baby.

That said, can you be sure that any of what your sister says about leaving the baby with the dog is actually in any way true?