dangerous breeds

[kathey.walker2]

Hello,

I desperately need advice. We are ready to welcome home our rescue from GA to PA. I have been reading up about training, we bought all supplies, etc. My ex decides to weigh in and claim that the pit boxer mix we are adopting is just too dangerous to have around kids. My kids are 7 and 4. He claims that with so many other breeds to choose from, he would not choose a notoriously dangerous breed for our children.

Help!

Thanks in advance.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi Kathey.walker2,

There is always an element of risk in introducing a new unknown dog in a household with (or without) children regardless of breed.

 

A starting point may be to communicate with the rescue/shelter and mention your concerns. Talk to the pet adoption counselor if available. It's a part of the shelter's/ rescue's responsibility to match their dogs with potential adopters. They should conduct preliminary evaluations to determine how the dogs in their care react in certain situations. However, these preliminary behavior assessments aren't known to be very accurate. On top of this, rescues may not fully know the dog’s past and there are always chances of a dog having had issues that could raise concerns towards their disposition towards children.

 

A better option may be consulting with a dog behavior professional who can personally assess this dog (or any dog you are planning to adopt) and determine whether it may be a good match and helping you out in the first introductions. There are many factors to consider when adopting a dog and determining its suitability in a home with children, and this includes the dog's history, age, size (a larger dog can obviously cause more injuries than a smaller one), general disposition etc. Has the dog been in a foster home? If so, how did he/she do with the fosterers? Were there any children? There are many things to inquire about.

 

It's the duty of the pet adoption counselor to screen potential adopters, observing in person the interactions between dogs and potential adopters and matching owners and dogs up. This may all be difficult though considering that it sounds like this dog is coming from out of state? If that's the case, it's important to tread with caution. Is the shelter a reputable one? How do they screen their dogs and match up potential adopters? Some shelters have been known to get in trouble for re-homing dangerous dogs with unsuspecting families. So there are many things to consider and unfortunately, there's no easy answer.

Edited April 27, 2019 by Adrienne Farricelli

[JMFS]

I just saw this, and being an adopter of two shelter dogs, and having an opinionated ex, I'm going to weigh in.

 

Gertie Looks like a "pit" because of her ears, but really she's mostly Golden Retriever and then Boxer / American Staffordshire Terrier. I had my own concerns initially, but holy Toledo was I proven wrong! She is loving with a sweet temperament.

 

Have a look at the AKC breed descriptions. They have a short, but informative, write up of the "pit" breed, which dates back to the 1300s. They crossed bulldogs, known for their imperviousness to pain and incredible jaw strength, with terriers, known for their feisty never quit disposition. In the 1800s pit fighting was outlawed and it went underground. While some continued to breed "pit bulls" to fight, most bred Out the aggressive traits to make these dogs companion animals instead. That's darn near 200 years of breeding out the aggression. "Pit bulls" were actually bulldogs that would be used against a bull that was chained in a pit. Then bets were placed on the outcome of the fight. We've come a Very long way from those days and the original bulldog has changed drastically. "Pit" is now usually used to refer to a class of dogs, rather than a breed, but if you were to say anything was a "pit bull" it would be the bulldog of yore. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/staffordshire-bull-terrier/

 

A Lot of shelters will slap "pit" onto a dog without actually knowing its family tree. Same as they label other dogs who are Clearly Not Labrador Retrievers as "lab mix," or darn near every little dog is a Chihuahua or Terrier mix. They try to give an idea, but in reality they can't say. The Humane Society had Gertie listed as "pit" and she's 50% Golden Retriever 25% Boxer. Only 25% of her is Am Staff and that isn't even a "true" "pit." You'll notice a healthy dose of "" in my response because I've learned quite a bit since adopting this girl and the "" is to indicate misinformation, or misconceptions.

 

Having said all that; if the ex doesn't live with you then he has zero say in the matter. He can certainly have an opinion, but that's where it ends. They're exes for a reason, right? :D If the dog checks out per Adrienne's advice, Especially the reputable shelter part, and you feel comfortable with the dog's temperament then do what you feel is right. Don't go getting all stubborn and think "I'll show him" - I've been there, done that, have a couple t-shirts - because that clouds judgment and he Is right about considering the safety of your children. However, I will also submit that children should Never be left alone with a dog anyway. Not even sweet loving Gertie. Children grab, tug, pull, pinch, and generally know Exactly how to push even the sweetest dog's buttons, and if an adult isn't there to set them straight, well, that's when we get the news stories that likely have your ex in a tizzy. Dang near every one of those stories includes a statement about "stepped out of the room for a minute." Some dogs don't realize they're being too rough and can hurt a child even when just playing and a minute is all it takes for things to go South. It's perfectly okay to pass on this dog, guilt-free, if you're not 100% comfortable. The ex Is right - there are thousands of dogs of all breeds needing homes. I know the feeling of wanting to get that pooch into your home so you can start lavishing it with love, buuuut, it's worth the wait if you're not solid in your decision. We're talking a 10 - 15+ year investment here and that's worth taking extra time for consideration.

 

You can get the DNA test done once you adopt. Then you can gather information about the breeds that make your pup who she is. Plus, it's fun to see the results because then you can start seeing each breed's traits in the pup. E.g., Momo's hyperactivity and intelligence is from his Husky and Spitz ancestry, and his Never shutting off is probably from the Husky as they are bred for stamina (sled dogs were bred to run miles upon miles dragging weight). If you do go through with it, try the DNA test. It might be a good way to stop future arguments with the ex to be able to show him information on the different breeds that make up this adoptee. $60 is well worth that benefit!

 

Lastly, it's not so much that they're notoriously dangerous. It's more that parents, or adults in charge, are notoriously at fault for leaving children alone with dogs - always a potential for trouble. How many friends do you have who have scars from dogs? For me it's 6, and in each case it was because a family member left them alone with a dog and they got in the dog's face or pulled their tail or tried to take their toy / food. Momo punched my daughter in the eye trying to bite her when she got in his face and tried to take his rawhide. She was 12 and we didn't know Momo was an insufferable dink about food until that day. I was in the shower and thought, incorrectly, that a 12-yr old should be fine with a 30-lb dog who'd been with us for 3 years and used to sleep in her bed (until he peed on her computer one night, lol - it was game over after that).

[kathey.walker2]

Wow! Great advice, Jennifer! I have a certified trainer coming to do a temperament test a few days after she settles in. She is crate trained and will never be left alone with the kiddos. She will be my sidekick! I hate being alone when the boys are at dad's. She has lived with the same woman (so she is not in a shelter) since she was found on the side of the road when she was about 2 mos. old. Plays with all the kids in the neighborhood, is good with other dogs on walks and sits calmly with her owner's cat. We are a family of runners, so she will get plenty of exercise. My 7 year old just won 2nd place in his first 5K. Where can I get the DNA testing done? My brothers and dad both did ours, but my kit is sitting on a shelf while I procrastinate. Thanks again!

[JMFS]

Lol, like I said - I have an ex who was a thorn in my side when it came to our kiddo. Always right, Always knew best, and Always in my business. It sure felt good to drop those 230 pounds in one fell swoop. It's been 8 years since we've heard from him so it's funny now, but for the first 7 years it most certainly was Not. ;)

 

I hear you about that alone thing. If Gertie and Abbi weren't here I'd look like a crazy lady always talking to myself and I would be b-o-r-e-d. :D How old is she and why is she being adopted out? You don't have to answer, I'm just curious. Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back! I'm from the school of "it doesn't hurt to ask. People can always say no."

 

If y'all are running her often she's going to be in a great state of mind for physical well being, not to mention how wonderful that is for bonding. The fact that she's friendly with other dogs and even a cat is definitely heartening. That makes me think of a story. Gertie and I were at Petsmart a while back and this lady kept moving away from whatever aisle we entered. Finally we ended up in line with her and she dang near flipped her lid, saying that her dog might attack mine and she kept tugging the leash and moving her dog with her leg. Well, lady, if you know your dog has social deficiencies why in tarnation would you bring her to a pet-friendly store?! The fellow behind me had some choice words when she left and I was laughing and shaking my head. If the lady had relaxed even a little bit I think her dog would have as well. The poor pup was reacting to her owner's panic. So, since your girl sounds Much better off than the one from my story I'm thinking your trainer is going to give her high marks. Plus, when you get a professional's opinion you'll have that at the ready the next time the ex feels like inviting himself to your household decisions. :rolleyes:

 

I did the Wisdom Panel DNA test for Gertie through Banfield. Hers was a blood test that the Veterinarian drew and sent in. I Think it was $160, and it's more accurate with more breeds in the database than the swab version you can do yourself. They were taking her blood that day anyway so I figured, what's another drop? I have the Optimum Wellness Plan through them and they divided the test cost up among the payments to take the sting out of it. Momo's test was $70, I believe, and it was also through Wisdom Panel. That was 8½ years ago and I had to order the test online whereas they're much more readily available now. His was a swab that I did at home and mailed in.

[kathey.walker2]

China (who we are attempting to re-name Jericho (my 7 y.o. chose this name- too much Sunday school), was found walking down a road in GA when she was 2 mos old. She has lived with her kind person since. Her person recently had a stroke, followed by a fall that broke her shoulder. She does not want to part with China, but cannot provide the home she deserves.

[JMFS]

Either name is great! There is a question that was posted recently about changing a dog's name that Adrienne responded to so you're covered there.

 

It's sad to hear about the stroke. Several people I know have been dealing with the aftermath of strokes in the last 3 years with varying degrees of detriment so I understand her decision. Having "Chinicho" there probably helped her through the worst of it on a mental and emotional level. Dogs are great for healing those types of ailments. :)