MIL and new dog!

[Nicollexx]

right here's my problem,
i currently live with my OH and his mum (short term) i love her to bits so its not a nasty MIL problem (yet aha)

anyway, she's recently bought a dog which were all going to collect at some point this week and the dog is an English Bull Terrier she's reassured me its child friendly and is 2 years old but i think i'm going to have a heart attack with the worry this stupid dog is bringing me and its not even here yet!
i'm due in 3 weeks time and with all the dogs attacking babies stories i'm terrified of leaving my baby alone there with her and this dog incase anything happens! its making me say no to her even being able to babysit.

my family are also very concerned about the fact she's bought this dog now and why couldn't she have waited for us to move out? i understand she will get lonley but the safety of my child is terrifying me. She has another grand-daughter who's 2 in October and i will be seeing how the dog is with her and how my MIL is with the dog because there will be no way in hell i'll be leaving my child anywhere near that dog!

is this OTT or am i being reasonable?

 

[DivaSatanica]

I don't think its over the top, and I'm a dog trainer. No child should ever be left alone with a dog, especially the more powerful breeds. Is your MIL going to be babysitting? If its just you and OH, you can control that the baby is never left alone with the dog.......

I'd be a bit leery about a 2 yr old, newly homed dog around a newborn. JMO

 

[Wriggley]

Hi Hun - we brought our pup 9 days before we found out i was pregnant. at first it really worried me but i hate it when dogs get passed from home to home.

At the end of the day a child should NEVER be left alone with any dog - regardless of how well you think you know your dog and you need to make sure your MIL understands this.

A baby/toddler could easily harm a dog and when a dog gets hurt ... its its natural instint to protect itselfs (regardless of its temprement) and thats when you can get problems.

I think you have a right to explain to your MIL that because of the dog - you will not feel comfortable with her baby sitting for quite a while and when she does she is not under no circumstances live your bubba alone with the dog.

also if the dogs 2 years old - its already got its own temprement and you wont know what the dog is like until its been living there for a good year. because it dont matter what anyone tells you - you do not know this dogs background and if what you have been told is true.

also will the dog arrive before your baby? if so then you need to sort out a introduction because the dog will see the house is "his" and the baby as the "new member" - can sometimes cause jealously if the situation has not been addressed correctly

hope that helps

 

[katzone]

My BIL and his girlfriend have recently got a Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy, they had said they would love to look after baby and babysit for us etc etc and I would gladly have let them but now they have this puppy NO WAY. I don't even like going to visit them now as the puppy is snappy and tried to bite my boob last time I sat on their sofa!
Visits to their house with LO is going to be a rare occurance and certainly no babysitting.

 

[Nicollexx]

I don't think its over the top, and I'm a dog trainer. No child should ever be left alone with a dog, especially the more powerful breeds. Is your MIL going to be babysitting? If its just you and OH, you can control that the baby is never left alone with the dog.......

I'd be a bit leery about a 2 yr old, newly homed dog around a newborn. JMO

Thanks i didn't think i sounded mad lol
& thats what i'm saying as long as i'm there my baby would never be left alone with the dog EVER but when i'm not there will be the hard part for me she's told me she wouldn't have the dog downstairs when baby or 2 year old would be there which i believe she will do as they are her grandchildren but it still terrifies me!

& yes the 2 year old for me would be more of a problem then my newborn because i can hold my baby but my niece is wacky and always running around

 

[SophiasMummy]

engish bull terriers are quite powerful dogs and can be very boistrous aswell as stubborn ie not listening when told etc. they are nice dogs but it is generally adivised that they shouldnt be around young children. i would want to be careful esp as you dont know the dogs history and if it has ever experienced being around babies before. so just keep an eye on the dog at all times and never leave it alone with baby and tell you MIL that the baby is never to be left in a room with dog

 

[Nicollexx]

Thanks ladies

i'm extremely concerned, my MIL has had 2 of these dogs before and she raised her children (my OH) around these dogs and nothing ever came about it but it still worries me being a first time mum im obviously going to be protective of my child

and yes wriggley the dog will be there before my baby comes, which makes me even more nervous because of the territorial problems!

 

[sglascoe]

I already have 2 dogs, a sausage dog and a springer we have had them both a very long time and i would not leave my baby alone with them, they are still animals at the end of the day and very unpredictable, i would not leave MIL with baby as you are not gauranteed she want nip to the toilet and leave baby alone with dog..

Seen as tho you are close, i would just tell her how you feel, i am sure she will understand how scared you are of your baby getting hurt, after all she is a mother herself...

xxx

 

[Nicollexx]

engish bull terriers are quite powerful dogs and can be very boistrous aswell as stubborn ie not listening when told etc. they are nice dogs but it is generally adivised that they shouldnt be around young children. i would want to be careful esp as you dont know the dogs history and if it has ever experienced being around babies before. so just keep an eye on the dog at all times and never leave it alone with baby and tell you MIL that the baby is never to be left in a room with dog

my thoughts exactly!
my grandad (he's very protective of me) read up about them dogs and has in no uncertain terms told me its ridiculous that my MIL has even considered this and he will not enter the house if that dog is there, he's a very stubborn man but with a heart of gold!

if it was a little dog then my worries wouldn't be as high but its not its one of the most boisterous dogs you can have!

 

[Wriggley]

Thanks ladies

i'm extremely concerned, my MIL has had 2 of these dogs before and she raised her children (my OH) around these dogs and nothing ever came about it but it still worries me being a first time mum im obviously going to be protective of my child

and yes wriggley the dog will be there before my baby comes, which makes me even more nervous because of the territorial problems!

On the day you bring your baby home - do you think it would be possible for the dog to be away for the day ? Advice i have been given is to get babies scent around the house whilst pup is not there and for him to come home sniff the new scent around the house before meeting bubs as that way when they are introduced bubs smell will be familiar

 

[Nicollexx]

I've already had a word with her and she couldn't be more nice about it (she really is lovely) she told me she would never have the dog downstairs why the children were there (theres a stair gate as well which makes me more at ease) but as a few of you have said theres no guarantee she won't nip off to the toilet and forget which is the bit im worrying about! xx

 

[Nicollexx]

Thanks ladies

i'm extremely concerned, my MIL has had 2 of these dogs before and she raised her children (my OH) around these dogs and nothing ever came about it but it still worries me being a first time mum im obviously going to be protective of my child

and yes wriggley the dog will be there before my baby comes, which makes me even more nervous because of the territorial problems!

On the day you bring your baby home - do you think it would be possible for the dog to be away for the day ? Advice i have been given is to get babies scent around the house whilst pup is not there and for him to come home sniff the new scent around the house before meeting bubs as that way when they are introduced bubs smell will be familiar

I hadn't even though about this!
i will suggest it to my MIL and see what she says i know she will be more than happy to help and next door will more than likely have the dog at this time, thankyou x