Member

Posts: 14
From:Irmo, SC
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-02-2004 05:54 AM         

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My husband and I had a New Years Eve party at our house. Their were several kids at the party running around the house which of course got Zoe (our pit/mix) excited. Zoe grabbed one of the kids by the arm with her mounth but DID NOT bite down on her. She was playing and her tail was wagging the whole time. She does it to my daughter all the time when they play. Well the little girls father got upset with me and said we need to get rid of her because she may really bite someone one day. The child was crying (but this child crys if the wind blows the wrong way) and the parents put ice on her hand. I took the ice off the see the "bite" and there was NOTHING there, not even a red mark. They left the party and seemed upset with me for trying to defend my dog.

Anyway, my question is this. Don't all dogs play bite with their mouths??? We rescued her from a shelter about 2 months ago and in this time she has NEVER shown any aggression towards other dogs or towards people. I just wanted to see what you all thought. I feel like just because Zoe has pit in her everyone is looking for her to do something bad. What do you guys think?

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Member

Posts: 392
From:lewisville, texas, united states
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 01-02-2004 07:15 AM         

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yeah, it sounds to me like the parents need to quit babying their kid. and you have to understand that more than likely the only thing that they know of the breed is what they have seen on the news. what people like this do not understand is that pits were not bred to be human aggresive, and the ones that did turn out human agressive were culled. what is zoe mixed with? how old is she? i think it's pretty common for dogs to play bite. i don't let my dog do it just for that reason though. i don't let her around little kids either, not because i'm afraid she will play bite, but because she is so strong that she might knock them down. then i'de have to deal with my "vicious pitbull" trying to "attack" somebody. what you as a pit owner need to realize is that there are extra precautions that we need to take to avoid uneducated peoples fears, and accusations. like not allowing her to play bite, just so you won't have to defend her. anyways thats just my thought on this situation. good luck to you and zoe.

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Posts: 4
From:
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-02-2004 07:28 AM         

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I think you were irresponsible. Those parents may come back and sue you making you put the dog down. With that many people over the dog should have been crated or put away.

That dog should never be grabbing at anyone in play or any other situation. I think you need to do some major sucking up to those people before their noses get any more bent out of joint. Seriously I'd be thinking lawyer by now.

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Member

Posts: 14
From:Irmo, SC
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-02-2004 07:35 AM         

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Benny - thanks for your post. Zoe is one year old and mixed with boxer. Thanks for the advice.

Lilac Hills- My dog didn't bite her. There was NO mark on her hand AT ALL. So they don't have a case to sue me or put my dog down. The only thing my dog did was scare her and if we put every dog down for doing that there would be none left. Thanks anyway.

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Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-02-2004 07:39 AM         

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don't freek out, the child was not injured, my dogs do the same thing, their heelers. My mothers Border collie does the same thing as well. They just play, Molly (the border) likes to lead you around the yard to her toys so you'll pick them up to play with her.

Frankly, I would just keep your pooch outside in the back yard or in another room when you have company next time.

I would explain to the people you're sorry, but she was just playing and for them to take the child to the doctor, so its documented that there was NO injuries. That way if they do try and take you to court, they will see there was no damage done.

Dogs play just like us, if the dog wanted to harm he would have. But he didn't. He was just playing. I would however watch him so he doesn't get too agressive in his playing. if so you need to stop him immediately.

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Posts: 4
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Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-02-2004 07:41 AM         

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If that child went to a doctor after leaving your house then it just became a legal bite case and was reported to the authorities. Doesn't matter if the dog even scratched her with a paw. Same thing. I am dead serious. Get a lawyer!

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Member

Posts: 150
From:Western Pennsylvania, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-02-2004 08:05 AM         

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There could be a lot of truth in what Lilac said. (You know how people can be when it comes to suing..) Hi Karen, honey.. lol

I believe you. I think the dog was just playing around. I believe the parents probably put the icepack on the child to prove something to the child. (For lack of a better way of saying it..) Like, "Oh poor baby, lemme see. Mommy will make it feel better..." I mean the kids a snot, right? Mommy and Daddy comes running everytime the kid gets a stubbed toe. (Oh god, don't you just hate that?) Benny was right on mark with his entire post. I really don't have much more to add, except I would like to again stress, please keep the dog in a crate or out of the vacinity of small children. My dogs have a tendency to like like goof balls too with children. I make sure all my dogs are kenneled when my grandkids are visiting and maybe have 1 dog loose when I have adult company. They don't need to be loose running around when you are entertaining guests, whether children or adults.

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REDCOAT KENNELS
Home of the chocolate/rednose!

[This message has been edited by chickee (edited 01-02-2004).]

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Member

Posts: 14
From:Irmo, SC
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-02-2004 08:16 AM         

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Samsintentions and Chickee - Your right - looking back I should have put her up during the party and this would have never happened. In the future I will do something with her. I thought she would be fine and she was, but she got to excited.

Thanks again,

Megan

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Posts: 2
From:Peabody, MA 01960
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-02-2004 05:50 PM         

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Megan:

What no one has mentioned yet is that you need to teach the dog NOT to mouth. The play should have been kept controlled. Never, ever play with a dog in this manner without a kong, rope or some other toy they can clench while playing. No dog in my home will play without a toy in their mouths; they will run and search until they can find one before play ensues because they know better.

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Member

Posts: 156
From:
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-02-2004 05:55 PM         

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Megan, I dont know what state you live in but In Va (just to clear this up to you dont worry) a dog BITE is reported to the authorities for rabies purposes only if someone is taken to the hospital. Then the health dept makes sure dog had immunizations. The only way you would get in trouble is if the people actually sued you. The authorities have nothing to do with it but to ensure dog is propery imunized. Know as you stated the child was not bitten. I just wanted to clear up this earlier post and it may be different in some states, but you should not have anything to worry about.
Happy New Year!

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