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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Rottweiler and MIL

127 replies

Maisy313 · 14/09/2015 19:49

Supposed to be travelling from London to Wales to visit PIL's with 5 week old baby, but it's just been dropped into conversation that they are looking after a neighbours Rottweiler. I'm not prepared to go until the dog is back with its owners, which would mean going the following weekend instead. Mil is very upset, she is insistent that the dog is safe around children as it's spent time around the owners grandchild (4 yrs old I believe). My point is that a newborn baby to a dog might not seem like much more than a rabbit and I'm just not willing to take the chance. There is a bit of bad feeling as mil felt that if my mother was going to attend the birth then she had the right to be there too, neither were in the hospital as it happens, but I think she isn't feeling involved enough. Am I being ridiculous and precious?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 14/09/2015 19:52

Can the dog not be kept in a different room to the baby?

temporarilyjerry · 14/09/2015 19:52

Neither ridiculous or precious. Very sensible.

Sirzy · 14/09/2015 19:52

I wouldn't be happy unless a proper plan was put in place though. And if in doubt then delay.

temporarilyjerry · 14/09/2015 19:53

Baby's safety vs MIL's feelings. No contest.

FaceFullOfFilleronthe45 · 14/09/2015 19:53

Surely it's possible to put the dog somewhere entirely separate to your child?

Even if it's not, it must be possible to make sure that the dog is not allowed near your child, and certainly not without adults around?

I understand your worries but they are easily solvable from where I'm standing.

Inertia · 14/09/2015 19:54

You are entirely reasonable. Not worth the risk, not worth you being on edge the entire time when you're probably exhausted already. The dog is used to the other child, it isn't used to your baby.

If they are that desperate that hey can't wait another week, they'll make other plans for the dog.

Blackcloudsbrightsky · 14/09/2015 19:55

I love dogs but in this instance I'm with you.

chairmeoh · 14/09/2015 19:56

The dog probably is safe around children. In its own home. I'd be very wary of taking the baby to MIL's if she is so blasé that she wasn't even going to mention the dog being there!

Does your MIL have gates across doorways to restrict where the dog can go?

I'd be inclined to delay. What does your DP/DH think?

ollieplimsoles · 14/09/2015 19:56

Nope. I love dogs, especially Rottweilers and I would not be happy with this.

You don't know this dog, wouldn't risk it.

ShadowLine · 14/09/2015 19:57

I'd feel the same as you.

Whether it's unreasonable or not, I wouldn't be visiting PILs with the DC if they had a Rottweiler there on holiday.

Original poster
Maisy313 · 14/09/2015 19:59

I guess they could keep the dog in a separate room, although it seems a bit mean for the dog to be in a room on it's own for most of our visit. Obviously we wouldn't leave the baby unattended with the dog, but even so babies do get attacked by Rottweilers with adults being present, they can be very quick, and I don't really want to spend the weekend feeling on edge. I'm not a dog hater, but whenever I've read about babies being attacked by breeds that are known to be aggressive, I always just think why would you take the risk?

OP posts:
Original poster
Maisy313 · 14/09/2015 20:00

No gates sadly!

OP posts:
Booboostwo · 14/09/2015 20:01

I think you are being a bit OTT as this could be easily managed. The dog could be kept in another room and even on the lead when in the same room as the baby and never allowed unsupervised access. Dogs do not launch themselves without any warning at babies not least of all because babies are nothing like rabbits.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 14/09/2015 20:03

If you are going to be on edge all the time you are there, I think you should go the following week for everyone's sakes.

Booboostwo · 14/09/2015 20:03

Rottweilers are not a breed known to be aggressive. Your baby your choice but it would be safer for you baby if you learnt a bit about dogs. Dogs do not just jump on babies and attack them but display a large number of warning signs and are usually left with no option but to bite, that is why most dog bites are of toddlers and young children.

Original poster
Maisy313 · 14/09/2015 20:04

I'm not saying the baby looks like a rabbit, I might be biased but he looks like a pretty cute small baby, but they are pretty animal-like little creatures when they are tiny, I don't know the dog and the dog doesn't know many newborns as far as I'm aware!

OP posts:
Mulligrubs · 14/09/2015 20:04

YANBU. At all.

Chchchchangeabout · 14/09/2015 20:04

No way would I be staying with a young baby the same weekend as a random guest Rottweiler.

spatchcock · 14/09/2015 20:06

Er, no. I wouldn't go either. Yeah the dog could go into another room but it only takes one second of carelessness/someone forgetting to shut the door etc. I'm sure the dog is great with children but it's not actually MIL's dog and the environment is different etc.

If it was an ongoing situation I'd try and find a way around it, but since she's just looking after it for a short time I think you're perfectly reasonable to say you'll return when it's gone.

PunkrockerGirl · 14/09/2015 20:06

YANBU.

definiteissues · 14/09/2015 20:07

Yabu
Entirely managable issue.

spatchcock · 14/09/2015 20:08

I actually think the breed is a red herring. I would feel the same way about any unknown dog out of its environment + a tiny baby.

londonrach · 14/09/2015 20:08

Go another weekend. This isnt a dog you know and id say that or any breed. Yanbu.

Lurkedforever1 · 14/09/2015 20:08

Exactly what booboo said.

SunshineAndShadows · 14/09/2015 20:08

I don't know of any cases where a Rottweiler has attacked a baby whilst supervised by adults. Also why are you concerned about this particular breed? Rottweilers are not known to be a particular risk to small children, in fact most of them are very good family pets.

It sounds like a situation that can easily be managed