Dogs In The Heat - I left a friends house as I didn't like her dogs behaviour!

Ellie I must confess that whilst I love dogs I am always very very cautious around Rottweilers, Dobermans and Staffies. Personally, I feel that your friend should have noticed your edginess and put the dog away. You never know how the dog might react and a 6 stone dog like that could have inflicted some serious damage to your son. He probably was only playing, but that can easily get out of hand. It's your friend's house and all that, but if you felt concerned, and she wasn't bothered, I too would have left.

Your friend should have put the dog away as soon as you indicated that you were uncomfortable with the dog around you and your child. I don't think you were being paranoid. You were being cautious and being a good mother because you did not know that dog and that dog did not know you. Dog are animals and any dog can act in an unpredictable manner if something scares/angers/upsets him. Your friend should have been more considerate of your feelings.

I think that I would have left also. Rottweiller dogs are very vicious and they cannot be trusted for nothing. I don't care if it was just a puppy or not. I would not take any chances either. I would have picked my child up also and left. You did the right thing. I do not think you were paranoid at all.

Nope....you weren't being paranoid....you were being careful. My son's dog is tempermental that way and they are talking about getting rid of her. She plays but ocassionally nips the little one when the play gets too rough. Animals can never be trusted one hundred percent so you were justified in leaving if you felt uncomfortable.

The trouble with puppies is they are nippers anyway, and rottweillers can tend to get a bit carried away. I had a rottweiller cross, and while she was the most kind natured dog you could imagine, when she was play fighting with anyone she would get carried away and nip really hard. Any dog is unpredictable in the heat, and around children, no matter how good natured or kind they may appear. When anyone with children used to come around to my house the first thing I would do is put the dog in my bedroom, I just did not trust her 100% not to get carried away. So if you had of come to my house, and it was my dog and you were not comfortable with my dog I would have put her away until you had gone. So no I do not think you were being paranoid, and I do not blame you for leaving either.

Well, if I were in your place then yes, i probably would have left. Why? Well, first of all, a dog is a dog and, though I like pets, but i realize they can be unpredictable. My cousin has a dog and, every time we go to their house, the dog bites us (small bite). Then my cousin says that, "don't worry, we have given him rabies shots, etc." Still, i don't think that's a good enough excuse to keep getting bitten. Secondly, the fact that it was just not you who you were worried about, it was also your son. It's normal to feel careful and cautious where one's children are concerned. So that was your maternal instinct talking too. Thirdly, your friend's behavior was also not right. i mean, if someone has a guest in their house, and their guest says they're not comfortable with something, it's the person's duty to try to correct that. Your friend should have said "Okay, let me take the dog inside" or something like that. So, in summary, you're not paranoid and I would felt exactly as you did, and probably would have left if I was uncomfortable but still my friend didn't move the dog away.

well, i think i will leave as well if i start to get uncomfortable with the dog... especially if it has to do with my child... if i feel that my child feels threatened by the dog and the owner doesn't want to put it away, then i will be the one who leave for the safety sake of my child... so i think you are doing the right thing... you don't want your child to get mauled by the dog which is happening a lot lately especially to toddlers... take care and have a nice day...

No, I don't think you were being paranoid at all. Your son wanted the dog to leave him alone and, regardless of whether the dog was dangerous or not, he was being annoying and his owner was not controlling him to take care of her guests' comfort. Dog owners have a responsibility to control their dogs so that they are not a nuisance to people. I think that your friend was being a little thoughtless (regardless of how nice she otherwise is) not to make sure that your son was not annoyed. Leaving because of that was not, of itself, an unfriendly act. You were simply taking care of you and your son's comfort. If your friend does take offence, that is her problem but I am sure that you can come to some agreement that the dog is shut up the next time you visit.

I think you were right to leave. Nipping isn't playful, it's intimidating and I would have been rather fearful myself...for myself! With your experience it would have been a bit strange for you to have stayed. Why didn't the woman tie the dog up for gosh sakes? That dog could have been suffering from heat stress or anything like that...maybe it hadn't had enough to drink. It's so much better not to take chances.

No, I would have left too! Most of the time, when I mention my kids being scared of the dog, the owner puts the dog outside or some other room so nobody will be scared or get hurt! Dogs can smell fear.

Dogs, no matter what kind can be unpredictible in the heat. I would have also told her that I was leaving if she could not get control over her "puppy." She needs to have her dog under control at all times and these behaviors, if not controled when a puppy, will just get worst in time. Even though you are justified in your fears, you have the right to be. Would your friend put up with the behavior if the dog was full grown, right? She should not put up with it in a puppy when there is company at the house. Dogs have to learn what is allowed and not allowed from them in ALL settings.

Hi Ellie-fortunatley my dogs have never done that in the heat or when my girl dog was on heat..I have also never heard of that happening before either but if it had happened and I was in your position yes I too would of left-hugs littleowl

A responsible pet owner trains their pet to behave appropriately. If the pet can't behave around guests, especially children, the animal should be confined to another area for the duration of the visit.

Yeah, I would leave...

Your son is more important than your friend or her dog. You were not being at all paranoid. Dogs are unpredictable and puupies don't always know their own strength...what it may have thought was playful could have turned very dangerous for your son. Your son getting upset and wanting the dog to leave him alone should have been a sign to your friend that it was time to remove the dog from the situation. Since it is her house and her puppy she did have every right to not be concerned but that means that the only responsible thing you could do was to leave. If she invites you over again...especially if you know it will be hot, let her know that you are not comfortable with her puppy 'playing' with your son and suggest an alternative.

rottweilers can be unpredictable so I do not blame you for leaving and no you were not paranoid. dogs c an misbehave in hot weather, and thats a known fact. We have had two pit bull attacks on people walking by their yard and one lady was savaged in the face and her little dog killed, and another lady was bitten all over and was in critical condition' in the hospital and this was all during a recent hot spell. dogs I imagine are like people,some people lose their tempers really easy during hot spells.. i believe in being prudent around dogs and I have had dogs as pets altho now I live in an apt where no pets are allowed. you did the smart thing.

I would teach any dog I do have the proper behavior. Whenever a dog is in heat, I will put him in a cool area and get him some cold water to have. I would always have the pet checked out and receive shots. I would definitely have him spayed and neutered. I used to have a great German shepherd before, named ROSCOE. He has been sick lately. He was exposed to fleas. We used to give him asprin along with food and water. So that a dog I would get would behave greatly. Of course the dog would have great senses.