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.

We have the most wonderful Staffordshire Bulk Terrier. She's basically a bean bag full of love that we've had from weeks old and is super chilled but no, she won't be left with DD when she arrives. Because we aren't idiots.

*bull though she is bulky.

Thank you for doing the right thing. Dogs are lovely, dogs and children together can be fantastic. Someone who allows their toddler to sit and pull a dogs ear is stunned! I bet if yo posted the pics here we would see all kinds of warning signs from the dog. Ignorant DS is asking for something to happen to your DN.

I used to own a Pittie/Shepard mix. Gorgeous, super friendly dog and he was fantastic with almost everyone. He became very protective of me and I had to be careful when walking him. When our kids were born our two dogs, a Rottweiler/Bernese Mountain dog as well had their own sectioned off area of the house. When we wanted we let them out and controlled interaction. It worked well. Their was definitely no riding of the dogs, no allowing of pulling tails or ears. Just teaching of how to gently let and respectfully treat animals.