Crazy dog

[Yummymummy2020]

So firstly I know in my head I’m not being totally unreasonable but I do feel guilty as I’m being constantly guilt tripped over this. Two under two and am a dog lover myself. I don’t allow my kids to be around our parents dog. Without being too outing, it’s a friendly breed normally and this is a nice dog but it’s large and crazy. It is only two so still in the puppy phase but not at all trained and I don’t feel it’s walked enough(just speculation on what I have been told) so it’s very wild. It still nips in a playful way and jumps up non stop, so needless to say I don’t have the toddlers around it in case it bites them even in a playful way or simply knocks them flying. I don’t want them growing up with a fear of dogs from an incident like this. I do however always call dogs lovely on walks ect and am positive about them in front of them so not trying to make them dislike them at all, I’m just wary in case the kids get hurt. This was fine during Covid as we just did garden visits and the dog was inside. Said parent keeps trying to guilt me into mixing them and I know that as their mother I can just say no and I get the final say but I suppose since I’m made out to be overly precious about them I’m wondering if it is just me? Husband does feel the same as he was bitten albeit not maliciously a few times but I feel that could do a lot of damage to a young child. I suppose I’m just asking for better wording on saying that I’m concerned about biting and knocking over as what I have said has fallen on deaf ears and also caused great offence(that was pretty much all I said).

I'm not sure that the magic words exist. You can't make them change their behaviour.

If they continue to be twats about their untrained dog then it's not your fault if they choose to take offence at the lack of introduction to your DC?

You can't risk your children being bitten.

Ye god's no!

As the owner of a 2 1/2 year old bull terrier I am still waiting for his arousal levels to calm down enough to trust him a bit!

This morning, for example, we met a friend and her 3 kids, 1 is a toddler. We were both careful to talk calmly to the kids, to make sure they didn't over excitebthe dog and that he didn't get free access to toes, fingers, noses etc.

Being that careful he still managed to bump the toddler's bum and half send her flying down the garden; take advantage of the 8 year olds decision to crouch down, he managed a nose lick before his harness caught him, and even then he went back in for a toe nibble.

He wasn't been aggressive, he wasn't getting very over simulated, he was just responding a little enthusiastically. And that was with 2 adults closely managing him and the kids, all of whom wanted the contact and enjoyed it.

I can't imagine trying to persuade anyone that he should have unfettered access to anyone. He'd marmalise them! That's perfectly normal for dogs of that age, no matter how well trained.

Good luck finding a way of saying "no way" without causing ructions.

You’re absolutely not wrong OP. The owner doesn’t get to guilt you when they can’t be bothered to care for and train their dog properly. It’s entirely on them to fix this situation. If they want your DC to visit they know what needs to happen.

Tell them you’ll be back to visit once the dog is properly trained. Or locked away.

You’re doing the right thing. They’re not training or controlling their dog properly, so the only thing you can do is stay away.

He shouldnt be nipping or jumping up at that age,thats very young pup behaviour,as in 10_12 weeks.They should have trained it out at the beginning,its harder now as its ingrained.Definitely dont let your children mix,and tell them why.The choice is theres.