https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:12:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109837 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 10:16:42 +0000 bunnylove08 1109837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lindseykaye: I totally agree with your post being a pitbull owner. I would hate for someone to discriminate against my sweet casey and take her to a kill shelter. (She was found by a rescue at a high kill shelter just about to be put down). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109808 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 10:10:56 +0000 bunnylove08 1109808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be scared of any strange dog walking on the street alone. </p> <p>I have a super friendly pit bull she is scary looking because they cut her ears (we rescued her). When pits are raised to be social animals they're usually really friendly but I understand you could be scared because the breed has a bad wrap. I'm glad it was a friendly dog and not a vicious one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109766 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:59:51 +0000 pinkcupcake 1109766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a total dog lover - grown up with dogs my whole life, with breeds ranging from Yorkie to Golden Retriever to Rottweiler - and I was never afraid of approaching any strange dog. But now, with LO, any dog that's not leashed, whether s/he is big or small, scares me. An overly friendly big dog (like my Golden) can hurt her by jumping on her, and a smaller dog might snap out of fear if my LO tried to grab her or something. Regardless of the breed, I think I'd be very wary if I was out alone with LO and saw an unleashed dog. </p> <p>As for pitbulls... I think it's really sad that they have such a bad rep :( My parents just got a pitbull mix from the shelter earlier this year, and I have to admit - I was a little freaked out at first when they did. So ashamed by my reaction, though, because she is the SWEETEST, GENTLEST dog in the world. So much sweeter than their little chihuahua mix, who just yaps and barks at everything :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109667 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:32:13 +0000 lindseykaye 1109667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: I don't know how I would have reacted in that same situation - I do know that I would have also been afraid. You called, so you did a good thing and you should feel good about taking action at all! Just know that I didn't intend to make you feel any worse than you said you already did.<br /> Hugs to you mama, you have had a lot going on and unexpected stuff like this can make all of us react differently than we might think we would depending on the rest of what is happening in our lives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109660 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:29:05 +0000 sandy 1109660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lindseykaye: yes, we were walking without a stroller (my LO is 22 months). And I feel soooo awful that my strongest reaction was fear...it's not how I would have done things pre-baby...it was a nice dog but I was so overcome by my fear for some reason. I feel just awful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109519 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:39:19 +0000 Mrs. Polish 1109519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have more pit bulls than I like to count. Dh is very involved with training, conditioning, showing, and spreading the word about the good the breed is. That being said, I'm uncomfortable around dogs that aren't ours, pit bull or not. </p> <p>I'm always saddened by the tragic accidents you hear about on the news, but ultimately feel it is the owner's fault rather than the dog. I think the main problem is that people feel their dogs are family members and not the animals that they actually are. Pit bulls are naturally animal aggressive, but mixing breeds and mistreatment can add all kinds of issues</p> <p>I can understand where you fear comes from, and I'm glad things turned out the way they did. I can't sing the praises of the entire breed though just because I know so many good dogs. I will say though that I think there are more good pit bulls than bad. Similar to the one bad egg everyone has on their family. They don't make the whole family bad, right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109484 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:30:27 +0000 regberadaisy 1109484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lindseykaye: I also have a pit bull mix so I think we both feel the same feelings regarding the, understandable, discrimination against pit bulls in general. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109459 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:21:43 +0000 lindseykaye 1109459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Yes, me too! But I do understand that people can become really nervous around larger dogs who have been the subjects of years of misinformation and discrimination. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109446 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:18:26 +0000 Cole 1109446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We came across a feral dog last night on a walk and it is nerve wracking! We called the non emergency line for our police dept and happily they were already out looking for it and had contacted the local rescue. I totally get your fear, even a well trained friendly dog may have a weird quirk. I am glad your rescue seems like they can help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109436 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:15:27 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1109436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: aw how scary! I would have been so uneasy around an unsupervised dog! I was attacked by a dog when I was 4 or 5, and I've never quite gotten over that fear!</p> <p>An unleashed dog ran after Chloe and I two or three weeks ago &amp; my gut instinct was to run... Suuuuch a bad idea! You did the right thing by calmly walking away and telling the dog to go home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109432 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:14:08 +0000 MsLipGloss 1109432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lindseykaye: I am 100% more comfortable with a Pit than a Chihuahua or a Shih Tzu! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109425 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:10:42 +0000 lindseykaye 1109425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I 100% understand where you are coming from. Any loose dog would make me nervous especially if I was out with LO (and it sounded like the two of you were walking around, no stroller). I'm now more afraid/cautious of situations where I wouldn't have been now that I have LO, too. </p> <p>But, as an owner of a super sweet, friendly, couch-potato pit bull mix this makes me sad. Sad that if our girl had somehow gotten out and were lost, people would still judge her based on her looks and not her personality, which you said was obviously friendly if a little bit too excited. It's <b>great</b> that you called it in, but if you saw this dog had tags and you said you had a fenced yard where it could have been kept safe until the owners could retrieve her.... I just don't know why you didn't take those steps. LO could have been put somewhere safe inside with a monitor for the few minutes it would take to get the number from the dogs tags and lead it to a safe place (your yard).<br /> Honesly, I REALLY, really am not trying to make you feel bad. Really. You did more than most people would have done. It is just eye opening for me as the owner of a much-discriminated against mixed breed and makes me sad thinking that if our girl got out, most people wouldn't stop to help her, or would let her continue to wander with the potential for harm even if she has her tags, even if they have a safe place for her to be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109358 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:30:40 +0000 mediagirl 1109358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, the next time I see the dog, I would call animal control. I believe anyone who is foolish enough to let their dog run loose should have to pay a fine to get them back. If they got out somehow, it is still the owner's responsibility. </p> <p>One of our dogs ran away once. We would have paid the fees necessary to get her back from animal control or wherever just to have her back safely again. It was our fault she got away, not anyone else's, we were just lucky a good samaritan picked her up and called the number on her tag. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109357 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:29:00 +0000 mediagirl 1109357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any unfamiliar dog makes me uncomfortable if it is alone, off leash. Heck, even if the owner is around and it is off leash, I feel uncomfortable if I have my lo with me. I was bit once by a poodle who door darted and ran into the street where I was. Loose dogs and babies DO NOT mix. I'm sorry you experienced that and that you're uncomfortable going outside with your lo now!!</p> <p>@sandy: I am a HUGE animal lover but for your safety and sense of security, I would suggest carrying a canister of pepper spray with you; you can get it at Dick's Sporting Goods. If any unfamiliar dog (or person!) comes near you or makes you feel uncomfortable, you can use that. It will dissuade the animal from continuing to follow you but will not do long-term harm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109356 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:28:33 +0000 MsLipGloss 1109356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not inherently afraid of dogs, leashed or unleashed, unless they display aggressive and/or territorial tendencies. However, when I am with my LO, I don't trust any animal completely, including my own (I watch them like a hawk!). When it comes to dogs, however, I distrust the small dogs so much more than larger dogs! My experience has been that the smaller breeds are more aggressive, territorial, and quick to snap/bite than many larger breeds. </p> <p>I am glad you called it in . . . I would be concerned for the animal's safety as well . . . not only for the risk of being hit by a car, but also because it was a pit and because they have received such bad press, I would be afraid of someone being cruel to the dog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109353 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:22:24 +0000 Dandelion 1109353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'd be nervous, no matter what breed it is. Yu just don't know with dogs. I'm glad that one was friendly, but if they're unfamiliar, you just don't know. And, I'm a dog person, so even I would say I'd be nervous! Plus, having your LO with you makes you much more guarded. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109352 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:21:59 +0000 chopsuey 1109352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get nervous even when I see a large dog on a leash! We saw a leashed dog jump on a man and knock him down once. Animals are just so unpredictable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109349 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:19:49 +0000 Mae 1109349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That would freak me out too! I get nervous when I'm walking my dog (on a leash!) and people have their dogs unleashed. Most dogs are friendly but it only takes one to cause serious injury. </p> <p>I would maybe carry some pepper spray when you walk? It might give you a little confidence that if you actually DID get attacked you could stop the dog in a non-lethal way. Obviously that is a worse can scenario though :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109345 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:14:04 +0000 regberadaisy 1109345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had something similar happen over the summer. I was walking LO in her stroller and I saw a dog down the block wandering without a leash. I stopped and hesitated on whether I should do anything because I just don't plain trust a loose dog. I don't care if it's a shih Tzu or a pit bull. Ultimately I decided to head towards the dog and try to call it over to see if it had a collar with a #. The dog wouldn't come towards me and ended up heading towards someone's backyard. No one was home in that backyard but the neighbor was mowing her lawn. I caught her attention to see if she knew who the dog belonged to. Turns out it was her dog! Somehow the dog had managed to open the screen door and got out!</p> <p>I would hope if my dog -a pit bull mix- had somehow got out someone else would do the same for us.</p> <p>ETA: I just want to mention I'm not sure what I would do if LO wasn't in the stroller and exposed to a dog jumping on her even from being friendly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109336 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:02:52 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1109336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Call the humane society. We have several dogs that are left off their leash in the cul de sac. Right now I am lax about them running on our property- in our backyard and in the garage even. But a rambunctious dog- friendly breed or not- walking loose is just not safe. I would hate for my baby to get pounced on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109317 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 06:36:09 +0000 pui 1109317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be honest, if I saw a dog all by itself wandering the streets of my neighborhood, I would be much more wary of a pit bull or a rottweiler than I would of a golden retriever or shih tzu.</p> <p>I would probably have brought my theoretical LO home and if she was old enough to be unsupervised for a few minutes I would have approached the dog to test it's temperament and try and check the tags. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109232 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 00:23:21 +0000 MamaJ 1109232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have two of the sweetest pit bulls ever. They love my LO to pieces. My dogs have gotten out a time or two, due to my spacey DH leaving the gate open. I would hope that if someone found them would notice they are friendly and call us. When our dogs have gotten out the first thing I think is that they are going to end up at animal control and mistreated because of their breed. Luckily when they have gotten out, they were right across the street. </p> <p>That being said, I was never afraid of unfamiliar dogs, however after having LO I would be nervous no matter the type of dog. You don't know their temperament and I wouldn't risk my LO getting hurt! </p> <p>Hopefully the dog made it back home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109198 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 23:01:40 +0000 sandy 1109198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: the dog had a collar and tags and if it wasn't a pit bull and I didn't have LO with me I would have put the dog in my gated backyard and looked at the tags to report it. I did call animal control when I got home and I emphasized that the dog was super friendly and had tags. I would hate it if a dog was hit by a car while running loose </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109192 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 22:54:45 +0000 yoursilverlining 1109192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unfamiliar dogs sometimes make me nervous at first as well, and I've grown up my entire life with dogs and help rescue and transport dogs for rescues and fosters now. </p> <p>Since the dog was friendly, *please* call your sighting into your local humane society, and post something about it on craigslist or another local site. In some areas, picked up strays only last days in a shelter before being put down, and pitties - regardless of temperament - are always #1 on the put to sleep list. Sounds like this dog has a family that loves him and that he loves, and he needs to find home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109190 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 22:54:32 +0000 Mrs. Schoolbus 1109190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awwww! I get nervous around big dogs especially when they are unsupervised too. I was jogging in my neighborhood once and there was a big, scary looking dog and I got freaked out and went to a neighbor's house and asked them to drive me home! </p> <p>I agree with you about how being a parent changes you. You want to do everything you can to keep your child from harm and protect them. Watching the news can be depressing since there's so much in the news that is bad. But I have to remind myself that I can't live in fear-- otherwise I won't be able to enjoy anything and will always be looking over my shoulder. I hope you will still go on walks around your neighborhood and not let today's experience ruin it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109186 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 22:47:58 +0000 HLK208 1109186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ah, I get nervous around dogs too. I was attacked when I was 7 by a German Shepard (usually such sweet dogs but it belonged to my grand parents and had serious problems). </p> <p>DH loves pit bulls but I really am uncomfortable with them especially with having small children. Maybe it came from another neighborhood or escaped it's yard? It's such a bummer when people don't keep track of their pets. I avoided running near our old house because some neighbors had a very aggressive and protective dog that they never kept on a leash/in a fenced yard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-running-loose-pit-bull#post-1109174 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 22:37:39 +0000 sandy 1109174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I've had a rough week. My LO had really bad croup (we went to the ER this weekend bc her chest was retracting from difficultly breathing - she got the breathing treatment and steroid shot). It's day 4 and she's finally on the mend. </p> <p>I don't want her to get any other kids sick so we are staying home pretty much all day. The sun was out today so I decided to walk around the neighborhood a little (to the mailbox and back) so she could get some fresh air and get a change of scenery. This was around noon when the mailman comes so no other kids are out and about. </p> <p>As we are walking I see an unfamiliar dog walking around down the street with no one nearby. There are tons of dogs in our neighborhood but nobody ever has their dog running loose on the street unsupervised. My LO loves dogs but my heart sank when I saw it was a pit bull. I know these dogs unfairly have a bad reputation and many of them can be such sweet dogs (my friend has a pit bull rescue) but I can't but help feel nervous and scared when I see one unsupervised. </p> <p>I scooped up my LO and turned around and started waking home. The dog saw us and started following us home. I can't help but start shaking but trying to stay calm and firmly telling the dog to "go home." The dog is jumping on me and LO and actually super friendly but I can't help but feel scared with it just being me and LO. The dog is literally jumping on me the whole walk home and I'm trying to figure out how to get in my house without this dog. Fortunately my neighbor drove by and distracted the dog from her car so I could get inside. </p> <p>Nothing happened and the dog was actually friendly but I was so scared for some reason. I think being a parent and having a child completely changes you. I find myself scared of things now that didn't really bother me before parenthood. Honestly, I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown from a friendly dog. If it wasn't a pit bull I think I wouldn't have been as frightened</p> <p>ETA: and now I'm feeling nervous about going for a walk with LO by myself. I hate feeling like this. I love walking around my neighborhood </p>