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?

YANBU, you're being very sensible. Rotweilers difficult to train and manage at best of times - this one has been messed around and abandoned, so will be properly screwed up and unreliable. Absolutely not trustworthy with kids. Your MIL must be mad to have taken her on and doubly bonkers to mix her up with her grandchildren.
My pal had a Rotty a few years back - and yes, he was gorgeous and totally adorable. I trusted him with the kids, as he had been trained from a puppy to be protective of them. But then one day Dh came to the house and this dog, which weighed 10 stone plus, went totally beserk. Had been trained to consider unknown males as a threat. I'm not kidding, he would have killed dh if he had got hold of him. Never underestimate them.

Yanbu. I posted here last Jan. I was returning to work and PIL had offerred to help us out with childcare. The week after I returned to work they re homed a rottweiller which had been the victim of serious abuse.

My inlaws are both quite slight, in their late 60's and encourage and reward the dog for being protective and aggressive as they consider him to be protection. He is rewarded constantly with food and is obese and they can't walk him as he is too strong for either of them. They find it hilarious that the dog goes mad if you even embrace either of them,

They totally entitled to have a dog but they still fail to understand why I will not allow them to care for my 17 month old son.

Midori I used to work in rescue and that was certainly what we were told, that the Dogs Trust policy is not as clear-cut as it sounds. They are also extremely selective about the dogs they take in the first place, and the 'dregs' are left for independent rescues to try to save.

Personally, I take a sort of moderate, pragmatic approach. Having seen dogs in no-kill rescues which aren't enjoying any quality of life, and which have no reasonable hope of a home, I think that - sadly - there is a place for euthanasia.

The problem is not how to deal with the surplus dogs, but how to stop the surplus arising in the first place. Breeding should be better controlled, owners educated (bring back the dog licence and introduce a compulsory 'dog test' for potential owners) and microchipping should be compulsory to cut straying. As far as I can see, that's how the problem needs to be tackled but of course there isn't the money for it. Much cheaper to bung all the excess dogs in council pounds and put them to sleep after 7 days

I know Vallahala believes very strongly in no-kill and that her rescue does things properly. I respect and admire people who do that.

OP - where in the country did she get this dog? It wasn't Wales was it?

i have to say i think a dog with such bad behavioural issues it can't be homed is probably better off being put down than left in a pound - unless a working role can be found for it.

Personally i would favour banning all commercial breeding (though not sure of workability - there are so many unlicensed establishmens as it is even with the law as it stands...) as the dogs used for this are not given lives they can enjoy, not to mention there bein enough dogs in rescue needing homes.

Can't be bothered to get into the should you have whacked/not whacked debate - but no, YA absolutely NBU. I would not let me children visit the PILs without you either from now on. The combination of a rescue dog with an unknown history (but we must, in this case, assume a slightly unstable/disfunctional background) coupled with a big powerful breed, originally designed to be fearsome and tough, and a somewhat dodgy reputation, due to a genre of owners who seems to neanderthal, meat-headed and irresponsible. It's a no-brainer.

Sorry that should be 'who seem to be neanderthal' NOT 'who seems to neanderthal'.

Pretty Neanderthal myself, this morning, obviously!

We rescued a black lab cross who had been in kennels for 2 years. We managed for 4 years but the stress was unbelievable. She was besotted with me and would snap at anyone or thing that came near me. The only time I could let her into the main house was in the evening when the children were in bed, the rest of the time she would be behind a baby gate in the utility room or in her own part of the garden, fenced off. I had to walk her really early in the morning as she would go for other dogs if they ran near me.
I think this obsession with the 'main carer' is fairly common amongst rescue dogs.

I must add that we rehomed her with my friend's mum who adored her... the feeling was mutual and her last 4 years were incredibly happy. When my friend's mum died from cancer, Holly followed 2 weeks later and her ashes are on Jean's grave

YANBU. Everyone on Mumsnet is very tolerant, I wouldn't allow anybody to bring any animal into my house and I am amazed that your mil feels she has the right to do so.

I think most dogs who end up in rescue have not been properly socialised as puppies, and they sepnd they lives being terrified of other dogs and humans unknown to them. Their aggression is often fear based, rather than aggression for aggression's sake.It's so so important to socialise a puppy. You sound like a lovely patient understanding owner. Lucky dog!

Having owned two dogs for a few years now, and my kids are older, I would consider re-homing a rescue, but I'd still be very careful. When we were looking for our first dog although lots of people urged me to look at rescues I wouldn't take the chance. I wanted to be as sure as I could of my dog's temperament and the only way I could do that was by being in control of its environment from the moment it left a loving responsible breeder.

I know there is an argument that all dogs can be aggressive given poor handling, but when was the last time anyone was savaged to death or seriously injured by any other than a handful of notorious breeds? For that reason I would never ever touch with a ten foot bargepole ANY breed which was originally bred to fight or attack/protect. And I don't understand the mentality of anyone who would. It's not like there aren't hundreds of other perfectly lovely, relatively risk-free breeds to choose from, is it?

Erm, I don't trust dogs with orange eyebrows so imnsho yanbu. Although I do know that they can make lovely pets - it's a personal thing not saying it's for everyone.

HasOtherRulesSheLivesByNotJustThatOneTiggaxx

TiggyR - you'd be amazed:

here

Rottweilers are dangerous dogs, no yanbu at all.

Oh dear, that's horrific. But then puppies are just like toddlers - they need to learn the concepts of right and wrong, and what is or isn't appropriate behaviour/lebvels of force. And frankly it wouldn't take much to kill a baby that small. What on earth were the adults thinking of? Leaving a baby that young alone in a swing in extreme stupidity anyway, never mind with two dogs in the room! I can't help feeling a bit sorry for the puppy in that instance.

But as a general rule there are a handful of types of dogs implicated in these attacks again and again. When you hear about them on the news there is always that depressing sense of inevitability while we await confirmation of the breed, and lest's face it, we could all take a wild stab of two or three breeds or 'types' and be right in 90% of cases.

Sorry - so many typos in there. Got cloth fingers this morning cos I'm so cold!

I know - but I do think certain breeds attract certain owners who do not socialise the dogs properly, or treat them with a kind but firm hand. It's not necessarily a breed trait as such.

Let's face it, hardened youths on the streets of Nottingham wouldn't want to be seen with a Lab, would they?

No, exactly Bella. But that dangerous combination of a pig-ignorant macho feckless owner who wants an intimidating weapon/fashion accessory for a pet, coupled with dogs who have been bred irresponsibly from a gene pool specifically honed for fight/baiting and protecting is a match made in hell.

Yup.

Captunderpants ... please could you have a look at this thread below re your user name

here

Many thanks

CaptainUnderpants

I think you done the right thing, if a dog is showing signs of aggressive behaviour when a child is only walking past them, then common sense prevails that the dog be handled correctly and also controllable when in the company of humans.

If your mother in law thinks your bin a over paranoid anxious mother, then Id take the numerous evidence that is clearly for all to see, on animal behaviour and characteristics that aggressive dogs portray!

if she then doesn't see or even use her brain logically, because she is emotionally attached to the dog, then your stance on the matter should be made finial with a capital full stop!

As a mother speaking to a mother, our priority is to make sure our children's welfare is our 1st and main priority, over anybody's feelings on the situation, or circumstances surrounding the matter. In no way, shape or form, will this dog ever be near my children.

Rotweillers were categorically NOT bred as fighting dogs, nor for protection. They were bred as cow herders. They are not an intrinsically aggressive dog - you can turn any dog into an aggressive dog with the right training. The police in this country don't use rotweillers because they don't have enough of a protective instinct (i have that from the horses mouth as i used an ex police dog trainer to help me with my problem rescue rottie). Rotweillers actually have a very even temprement and rarely bark and carry on like a german shepherd would. I used to be a veterinary nurse and my heart never sank when called to help the vet with a rotweiller - but if there was a poodle or border collie, i knew id have to be quick or risk my fingers! I have been attacked by a labrador and bitten in the face by a goldern retriever. People ARE bitten by "non-dangerous" dogs all of the time, it just doesn't tend to make the news as often.

Responsible breeders will breed placid temprements into their dogs and thankfully there are plenty of responsible rottie breeders and owners.

Sadly though, you are right when you say that there are alot of irresponsible owners and breeders out there who think that its ok just to stick two dogs together because they are big. My first rotweiller weighed ten stone and was an impressive animal - i lost count of the times i had some idiot chav approach me to breed from him just because he was a big dog. I just used to say, no mate he is too nice for you! He was an absolute star and we put alot into his training. Our second rottie was a rescue with ishoos and he taught me soo much about dogs and people.

Not all rottie owners are meat heads.

However they are not a novice owners dog they are not scared of ANYTHING, and need FIRM but kind handling. My dogs were my best friends and i miss them terribly. It saddens me to think that people would look at them and me and think idiot and killer

I agree, rotties are lovely dogs. ANY dog has the potential to be dangerous if it is not brought up ans sociaisd correctly or it's owners are useless.

I have never seen one reported dog attack where it didn't appear some human being was at fault. Dogs are generally nice natured, and it is only because of that there aren't more dog attacks.

Your house your rules.

My DH has banned my mum's harmless shitzufrom our house 'cos he doesn't like it and it runs round the house panting.