Will my Pit Bull be Good Around Babies?

Sophie Tanner: Will my Pit Bull be good around babies?
I am expecting twin boys, they're my first kids, and I have a Pit Bull in my house. I know twins would be a lot of work but my husband and I have decided to keep the dog because he's our family.
I got him from a shelter and so far he's very gentle and shows no aggression. However, a lot of people say that dogs can be jealous when a baby comes.
How do I know how Jethro will react? How could I prevent him from being jealous?

Photo Credit: russteaches/Flickr CC

Answers and Views:
Answer by ladystang
Depends on how much you have trained, socialized and exercise your dog.
Depends on how you let him be around babies.
The kids will also have to be trained on how to treat the dog.

Answer by Mayo♥
I have 2 pit bulls and when my best friend had her baby I knew it would be around them a lot and I was worried about how they would act. They had never been around a baby before.

I read tips online that said play a recording of a baby crying every once in a while so the dogs will already be used to hearing a baby cry in the house before you have yours. And get a baby doll and carry it around and treat it like a baby and see how the dogs react to that.

I did those 2 things for a month before her baby was due, and now my dogs are best friends with her baby, they cuddle with him and know to be gentle because they had to be gentle to the baby doll, and when he cries they don't freak out because it's not a new sound.

Answer by Christina Hausner
I know that pit bulls can sometimes show that they aren't aggressive or otherwise. Well, I think that you shouldn't take the chance of your pit bull letting out anger because they really are unpredictable. Also if they are from the pound and don't have any background info. I think the best thing would be to put your more important things first which is making sure that your babies are fully protected and make sure that nothing could possibly harm them.

Just in case you should take any chances. I've always loved dogs and I know a lot about their behavior. In the dog's view there are 2 babies crawling around that are invading the dog's territory, and they're getting all the attention instead of the dog.

Another idea is block off an area with a baby gate and keep the dog in a certain room, OR keep the dog outside while the babies are up and when they go to bed spend some time with the dogs, Sorry those are the only suggestions I have.
I hope everything goes well with your new children!

Answer by Paul Lee
Dog are wild animals. Watch animal planet. No matter what I tell you, you'll make your own decision. Animals will resort back to their natural instincts given the right opportunity. Who do you love the most? Yourself, or your dog? I did not say the babies, because you are the one to blame if something happens to the kids. Think about it.

Answer by WhoSaysICantHaveBoth
All dogs have a level of unpredictability when it comes down to their nature and instinct. I'd say just gradually bring in stuff for your babies, and buy a fake baby to interact with to see how the dog will adjust.

Don't keep a dog that will rip a fake baby to shreds. Take a stroller with the fake babies in it on a walk along with your dog as well, assuming you're the one who walks him. Spend a lot of time doing things with the fake baby and the dog in your presence….

I recommend one of those fake babies that are lifelike and cry in the middle of the night (the ones that need things that a real baby would need to stop crying, like burping, diaper change, feeding, playtime, etc.). Good luck!

Answer by That girl, Jules
I can't stand the stigma that comes with owning a pit bull. Your dog will be a good dog as long as you are good to the dog. A dog is a dog is a dog. My neighbor has two pit bulls and they are the sweetest dogs you'll ever meet. I also know an old woman that owns a chihuahua and that's the meanest dog you'd ever meet - you can't come within a five-foot radius of the woman without the dog trying to tear your foot off!

Be good to your dog, pay attention to your dog and there should be no problem. Your dog will probably end up being your kids' best friend. Just don't neglect the dog because of the kids. This would be a big mistake and if you did and he became jealous, you'd have no one to blame but yourself.

By the way, my shepherd/lab mix came from a shelter and she's the greatest dog on earth. Our husky came from a breeder and he's about as bright as a box of rocks. I love them both the same but the husky is a short bus special.
Good luck to you.

• Will a Pit Bull be Good With my Small Dogs?
• How to deal with Possessive Pit Bull (Toy Aggression)?
• How do I Train my Pit Bull Puppy to be Friendly?

Answer by Bulldog318 (In reply to That girl, Jules)
Unfortunately, Jules, statistics are not on your side of the fence. There are more attacks, mutilations, and deaths caused by pit bulls and other aggressive type dogs than any other breeds combined. As for the chihuahua tearing your foot off, I would gladly take my chances barehanded with a chihuahua than with a dog who is 15 times the weight and far more capable of tearing your jugular out. Who knows what it would do to a small child or infant. The risk is just not worth the pain and suffering and God forbid, potential tragedy, should an incident occur. Love dogs, but I would choose human life over an animal.

Answer by Hugo Stigletz
This is a good question. I think dogs' temperate is influenced by the people that raised him. People think pit bulls are vicious because jerks like Vick the dick fight them.

I think in your situation I would keep him blocked off in another room, but let him watch. I would do that with any kind of dog that is going to be around newborns. Slowly introduce him to your kids and see what happens. But you never know, any adult dog you adopt from a shelter could be unpredictable because you can't be 100% sure of what is in its past.

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