to ban MIL's new rescued Rottweiler from the house?

[PaddlingMadly]

MIL and SIL came to stay with 5yr old Rottweier bitch from rescue centre, she'd been abandoned.

I have DD and DS both under 3, the dog growled at them a few times then properly snapped (but not an actual bite) after DD toddled too close on her way past. I whacked dog and got very cool treatment from MIL as a result. I now insist dog not welcome in our house.

MIL thinks dog's just "a bit grumpy" and I overreacted. Bearing in mind I am a long term dog owner, have an MSc in Animal Behaviour, will forgive dogs most things, (but not this) can anyone reassure me I'm not just another neurotic mum?! How on earth can I get MIL to understand?

The post further above lol!

'Hmm, rottweilers, MILs and hitting animals all in your first post!'

Really, it wasn't snarling. I may not be Einstein but I'm definitely not stupid. If it was snarling I'd have been out of there pdq.

Not snarling, but "properly snapped" then.

YANBU at all!

Keep it out of your house and be VERY mindful about having your DC around your MIL's or any other house it's likely to be visiting. Make it crystal clear to your MIL and all other relatives how you feel about this dog and that you do NOT expect it to be around your DC under any circumstances (in your house or not).

IMO you cannot take the risk.

No, I agree Ghouls, was not suggesting that hitting a large tempremental rottweiler a logical thing to do; rather instinctive. I was commenting on what I perceived as "poor dog being hit" perspectives(implied rather than actually made)

Can you guess that I can't stand dogs? And have noidea why OP's MIL thought it appropriate to bring round said animal to her house?

very odd behaviour from a bitch to growl at small children - certainly a concern. if there aren't often children at MIL's house perhaps not such an innappropriate home.

YANBU - sounds like this dog wants kids as far away from it as possible, why not give doggy her wish and everyone is happier?

YANBU.
I am a dog lover and I know how careful you have to be to mix dogs and children (I have two staff crosses and a three year old) but whacking the dog won't help, although it is an understanding reaction I guess.

You just don't know what the dog has put up with in previous home. Not dog's fault. No way should be exposed to small children though - YANBU. We don't want to be reading about you in the paper.

As someone who has owned a rottweiler, I would say, first of all, YANBU. Statistics say that smaller dogs bite more frequently, however, rottweiler jaws are extraordinarily strong, and they will (bluntly put) kill small children with ease. And you will not be able to pry their jaws off of them.

HOWEVER.

You 'whacking' the dog was not smart, either. If the animal were aggressive, that would not hep the situation. at all. If that dog is growling, you pick up your children immediately, and remove them from the room, period.

That is assuming there IS a next time. There would not be, for me. I would not allow an untrained dog of 'rescued' heritage around small children. You have NO idea what their background is with children. They could have been tortured daily by children in their previous home. They could have been physically abused by their previous owners (very possible, if its being re-homed), which would also affect their temperament.

I would extend this feeling towards all dogs who growl and act this way around my child. Dogs, not just rottweilers, kill. This isn't something to play with, and this isn't a time to coddle the MIL.

off my soapbox now!

Edgar - thanks, knowing my MIL the way you said it will get best result all round. Question answered, thanks all. I'm off to beat up some poor defenceless animals now .

Well I can't stand cats but I don't think it's ok to hit them so I'm still lost.

that dog would not be in the same house as my children ever again. i would not trust a rescue dog of that sort of breed, what do they know about its previous owners ?

I am amazed they rehome a dog like that to someone with small kids in the close family TBH

Anyone who thinks it is OK for a dog to growl or snap at a small child is not a responsible owner for rehoming one with IMO

Just re-read the OP.

She came to stay with this dog? So, you agreed to her bringing this dog to stay in your home in the first place?

NO!!!! That's a whole new thread

the more I read this thread, the more it does not seem quite right

She arrived at our house after a 5 hour drive with it. I thought it was staying back at her place. Obviously not. Thanks for your interest though!

Horrid and utterly ugly beasts they are and it should be illegal to have them unleashed anywhere near children. On second thought, anywhere. Hate them and the rest of the ugly chav dogs.

harrrrrrrrrr...........

By the way, I'm not saying the whacking was incorrect in the 'oh poor doggie' sense. I said it because I didn't feel it was the correct immediate reaction for the situation. If a rottweiler snapped at my child I would physically get between the dog and the child, and remove the child from the room as I stated above. You don't know the history of the dog, and you don't know if he's aggressive enough to escalate after a 'whack' on his nose.

To others who are sorry for the dog, well, this is hardly the same as disliking cats then deciding to hit them because of that dislike. It's an animal, it hasn't been trained, and it's making a bite for your child. It's not going to read the strongly-worded letter you sit down and write to it later on in the day. The OP said she has training in animal behaviour, so I would give her the benefit of the doubt, personally.

as an owner of two rescue dogs, YANBU. you dont know the dogs past or why it was abandoned. No dog should ever be left alone with children but if a dog is growling at your DC (either fear or aggression) i would definitely approach with caution.

This post has reminded me of why I hate dogs so much. I really don't understand why people have any kind round children at all.

Before I'm flamed, I was brought up with a lovely old dog, a (rescue) saluki. He was EXTREMELY prtoective of me as a baby and a child. I, ghastly child that I was, remember pinching him, agred prob around 3-4 years old. he put up with it for a bit, then stopped when he growled and snapped (pretty understandably) at me. But he could have bitten me. And the reason I don't like dogs is because if a lovely animal like our old saluki could behave in that manner towards a member of his "pack", then I do not believe they are suitable animals to live in the same house as children.

Not justifying pinching him byt the way. That was just horrid and unkind.

I agree with Ghoulsareloud.

Hitting a dog that is growling at children is the worst thing you can do. Obviously your qualification is in animal behaviour and not canine.... Dog isn't comfortable around children, dog gets hit around children, so dog starts to think 'well, children really are awful,. I get hit when they are around.

It's not rocket science. Dog growls at child. That is the dogs way of saying, 'I am not happy in this situation'. At that point it would have been sensible to remove that situation, by shutting the dog in another room if needed, or keeping the dog on a lead and keeping child away. However, instead you chose to still allow your child near to the dog, it carried on growling, no-one listened or paid attention to the fact the dog wasn't happy, so the dog did the only thing it could and progressed to the next level, snapping. It was a warning, if the dog had meant harm, it would have done harm. It is not the fault of the dog, but the fault of the adults around it that allowed it to progress as it did.

I don't think you are being especially unreasonable by asking MIl not to bring the dog to the house, but it is compeltely unreasonable, and ridiculous to hit it. The fact the dog didn't retaliate shows the dog is actually pretty good natured.

IMO, the best cours eo faction would be to socialise the dog with your children in a positive and safe way, so starting with the dog behind a stairgate, children standing nearby (not too near, so the dog is comfortable) and an adult giving the dog treats. Gradually allow the children nearer, and eventually witht he children giving the dog treats through the stairgate. I would suggest contacting a good behaviourist via the APDT website in order for advice on this though.

Of course, theo ther solution is to keep the dog away from children, but your MIL still needs to address the problem. A dog that is scared or anxious around children (which is what this dog sounds like) is dangerous, not least, because situations like this happen, where adults ignore the warning signs.

Hitting the dog may not be the correct reaction but it is very understandable, as is the op's decision to never place her children or the dog in that situation again. Your mil needs to stop living in la la land!

Cakewench - I think you are spot on. I would never allow a rescued rottweiler near small children for all the reasons that you say.

Maybe the OP could suggest to the MIL that they consult an animal behaviourist about the dog as it may be a risk to adult humans as well as children. Not blaming the do but as others have said if the new owner does not know the dog's history or the reason it was in rescue, I think a risk is involved all ways round. Does the owner anticipate letting the dog loose in the park where small children are playing. Children make unpreditable noises and movements and sometimes this unsettles dogs and again this could present a risk.

cheers. I definitely made bad choice of words - how about "abruptly moved dog aside in alarmed heat of moment in order to reach trapped child"? Not advisable ever, but sometimes instinct takes over.

MIL has kept dogs for 50 yrs, working collies mostly, so not remotely inexeperienced but can't deny, what on EARTH were dog rescue thinking? That bit def doesn't add up. Worried.