I am sick of seeing pictures like this all over social media AIBU?

Lathyrus

Blondiescot

Kate1949

Yes sago it can happen. We had a friend years ago who had a Labrador she had had for years. It was placid. She then had a little girl. Our friend was putting washing out one day when she heard a terrific scream. The dog had severely bitten the child's face. She was scarred for life.

But you don't know what led up to that - the child could have done something to provoke the dog.

Well, that’s the point isn’t it? It’s a lethal mix.

Since neither can be held entirely responsible for their actions, it’s up to the adults to be sensible.

Exactly, hence why I've always said you should never leave a baby or young child alone with any dog. If anything does happen, it's the dog which ends up paying the ultimate price for it, when in fact, it should be the supposedly 'responsible' adult who should be held to account.

Blondiscot
I had never seen the dog who bit me. I was just standing talking.

Kate1949
2 labs killed my friends goat. It was a pet that she walked on a lead. The labs were off their leads and just attacked.

One of my cats whacked ( and it really was a whack) around the face once. I couldn’t believe it.

I saw that picture and had exactly the same thoughts as the OP.

How can parents be so stupid?

I feel quite sick looking at that picture. What on earth are they thinking ?

Blondiescot

Kate1949

Yes sago it can happen. We had a friend years ago who had a Labrador she had had for years. It was placid. She then had a little girl. Our friend was putting washing out one day when she heard a terrific scream. The dog had severely bitten the child's face. She was scarred for life.

But you don't know what led up to that - the child could have done something to provoke the dog.

Well, that’s the point isn’t it? It’s a lethal mix.

Since neither can be held entirely responsible for their actions, it’s up to the adults to be sensible.

Why do people do this? It's annoyed me for years, how people are so careless with their dogs. And dogs with babies in particular.
Please don't think I hate dogs, I don't, most of them are wonderful. But I was badly bitten as a child so naturally feel wary of them.

Blondiescot

Kate1949

Yes sago it can happen. We had a friend years ago who had a Labrador she had had for years. It was placid. She then had a little girl. Our friend was putting washing out one day when she heard a terrific scream. The dog had severely bitten the child's face. She was scarred for life.

But you don't know what led up to that - the child could have done something to provoke the dog.

But you don't know what led up to that - the child could have done something to provoke the dog.

Precisely the point - only probably not in the way you mean it.

It's a tragedy waiting to happen isn't it. We have two adorable dogs, a toy poodle and a cockapoo and wouldn't dream of letting either of them get that close to a baby.

It makes you wonder if they have brains doesn't it Luckygirl.

Kate1949

Yes sago it can happen. We had a friend years ago who had a Labrador she had had for years. It was placid. She then had a little girl. Our friend was putting washing out one day when she heard a terrific scream. The dog had severely bitten the child's face. She was scarred for life.

But you don't know what led up to that - the child could have done something to provoke the dog.

My DD2’s old dog wouldn’t hurt a fly (deliberately) but he’s a bit deaf and doesn’t see too well. As a result, until DGS2 is old enough to ‘leave the doggy alone’ I have him with me during the week, then he goes home at weekends when both DD2 and her DH are around.
My DDs grew up around dogs and there was never a problem, but there’s always a first time…..

Cats as well. I have been looking after my neighbours large cat and though he has been friendly all week yesterday he stood up and whacked me across the face for no reason!

I saw a 1.5 minute video clip of a toddler sitting astride a Rottweiler holding it's ears and bouncing up and down all the time on him/her. I was horrified.

I am often stunned by the stupidity of some people. It takes one second for a dog to react.

I walk a lot and merely by walking past them on 2 occasions [one a lurcher type, one a large bulldog] ...a dog has lunged at me, one biting me on the leg breaking the fabric of my jeans. Thankfully both were on leashes. I was doing absolutely nothing to justify either reaction, not too close, not making any noise etc. One owner was horrified, one couldn't have cared less.

We have an ancient terrier who has never bitten anything in his life, but he would no more be allowed near a child under 10 without supervision than I could fly through the air.

Apart from biting what about the bacteria from the dogs mouth etc ?

Horrible isn't it. Where can their brains be?

Yes sago it can happen. We had a friend years ago who had a Labrador she had had for years. It was placid. She then had a little girl. Our friend was putting washing out one day when she heard a terrific scream. The dog had severely bitten the child's face. She was scarred for life.

Our third child was an unexpected but happy surprise, his siblings were 7 & 11, we had a family pet a “gentleman” of a Labrador.
I explained to both the children that babies took precedence over animals and that if there were to be any jealous behaviour the dog would be re homed.
Thankfully he was lovely with the baby and would lay outside beneath his pram.

My daughter was in the same position with a dog and their first child, the dog showed jealous tendencies and after a consultation with a canine psychiatrist he was re homed.

I noticed on the top edge of the photo it says pitbulltribe.com. Presumably a website for like minded irresponsible people.

I've seen them. They are shocking.

OMGoodness how awful I ve not seen many like this Where do you see them? not seen any on my Fb newsfeed but then I don’t do Twitter or Tik tok etc so maybe that’s why

That’s bloody ridiculous and they should be taken to task for it Even a tiny dog can be unpredictable as for your step granddaughter mrsken what is wrong with people

I don’t like to see dogs around babies or small children unless they are very very well under control and as a recent thread was telling grandmothers they shouldn’t kiss babies that surely pales into insignificance against big dogs slobbering all over them

My step granddaughter has a one year old and another baby.on the way. Their dog has bitten the one year old twice, but although they keep saying the dog will have to go, it hasn’t yet

Slightly different, but still treating dogs as toys, are those pictures of dogs ‘dressed up’ in human, often children’s, clothing.

I agree entirely. They are dogs and even good dogs are unpredictable. Which is why after any child is bitten there is the predicable refrain ‘my dog has never done anything like this before’.

Yes I agree. You can’t guarantee what a dog might do, either in familiar surroundings or with strangers. Our 2nd dog was wonderful with our children as babies and as toddlers -though we never left her alone with them. However, when they started crawling, she would growl and bark at them. The children were unmoved, but it took a lot of petting and soothing to persuade our dog to accept they were no competition.

A big Nono with me as well
In June my DG was bitten on the face by a friend’s dog.
She was traumatised and unfortunately has been left with a deep disfiguring scar.
It has caused her so much distress.
She knew this dog very well.
To have a large dog around babies is irresponsible and very dangerous.

Not just pictures like that one, but ones where you see the child sitting on the dog or 'playing' with its ears or tail - an accident waiting to happen, and when it does, who pays the price - yes, the poor dog.
Don't get me wrong, I think it does children the world of good to grow up with a dog in the house, and dogs need to be introduced to the baby and get to know them, but it has to be done properly, and I would never leave a baby or young child along with any dog.
Dogs are not accessories or toys, and not only do they need to be taught how to behave around children, but children also need to be taught to behave around all animals.