https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:30:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-952345 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:46:10 +0000 blackbird 952345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am super skeptical of everyone else's dog. People get so offended when you suggest you separate their dog from kids, but it only takes one tiny little thing to set off an animal. It IS an animal, after all, and it's around a child it IS NOT familiar with. Plus, you're talking about a function with lots of people...just too much potential for something to bother the animal and for it to act unfavorably. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-952308 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:36:07 +0000 Corduroy 952308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: thanks for the link. I know a family with twin girls that ended up in a similar situation. Despite the parents' training of the dog and the girls their family dog bit one of the girls on the face and had to be put down. My mind flashed to that pretty quickly when the dog started growling at LO.</p> <p>Thanks for all the comments. For so many of my friends their dogs "are their babies" and would never hurt a flea. I see now that I really need to keep LO away from even the sweetest dogs. I'm sure some of my friends will be offended by it and we might need to meet with some friends outside their homes but better safe than sorry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951872 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:34:14 +0000 Happygal 951872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Wheres_C: THANK YOU for sharing that link. I cringe at so many photos of dog-kid photos. Even if a dog is tolerating being ridden like a horse/having its ears chewed on, etc., it doesn't mean it likes it. </p> <p>I agree that the dogs were probably freaked by the carrier and other tips people gave you here. I'm sorry the night ended on a scary note! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951860 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:30:02 +0000 pui 951860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The dog may have been scared of the carrier. My dog often randomly barks at things he is unfamiliar with. I don't think you did anything wrong and the dog probably wasn't about to attack your LO or anything. In the future I would make sure that the carrier with your LO in it is not in a place the dog can get to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951803 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:12:44 +0000 regberadaisy 951803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think @wheres_c: hit the nail on the head.</p> <p>We have a pup that is super sweet natured but I always keep in mind she IS a animal. You never know what can set her off. And sometimes she thinks she's a lap dog but she's a 65lb pit bull mix!</p> <p>Many dog owners will tell you their dog "will never hurt a fly" but even as a pet owner that thinks the same I would never let my child alone with someone else's dogs. And that includes my ILs dogs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951801 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:12:18 +0000 Foodnerd81 951801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StrawberryBee: My parents' old dog hated young men, especially if they were wearing hats, and especially when they were at the entrance to the house. If they sat down she would immediately submit, rolling over on her back for belly rubs, but you'd think she was about to tear someone's arm off when they first came in (she never bit anyone, just barked a LOT). </p> <p>@Corduroy: That sounds very scary but I don't think you did anything wrong at all. I really don't know anything you could have done differently but it's good to remember to never leave a dog unattended with a baby (not that you did-- obviously you didn't, but good reminder to people with dogs bringing home babies soon, like me!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951797 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:10:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 951797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Im sorry, it sounds like you did it all right. I would be careful about leaving baby in a carrier on the floor. It could have even just looked odd to the dog which is why he reacted that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951789 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:07:16 +0000 mediagirl 951789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry! It sounds like you didn't do anything wrong before they got aggressive. Showing fear isn't a good thing with any animal but I think it's hard not to react that way when you're around strange animals and you are in protective mama bear mode. I'm glad the owners came and helped you out. I'm VERY surprised the owners weren't paying attention to their dogs and kept them away from you with he baby in the carrier, though!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951783 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:03:11 +0000 purrpletulips 951783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry you went through this. It sounds like they may have been trying to protect your LO. The carrier was something new and unfamiliar. Then you tried to leave which probably increased their protectiveness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951668 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 07:25:56 +0000 Mrsjets 951668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sucks, so scary! The entrance to the home can be a place of dominance/protection to a dog. I've had to work on this with one of my 2 very well behaved Great Danes. I don't think you did anything wrong - hope your nerves are ok! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951409 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 00:12:59 +0000 StrawberryBee 951409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like they may have been reacting to the carrier (unknown item = fear response) but impossible to tell without being there. Could have also been the fact that their owner wasn't in the room. Unfortunately you never know what a dogs history is. I knew one dog who reacted with fear aggression to men, but only when they were wearing hats (her owner has been working on this for years trying to overcome it). My one dog doesn't like big, dark colored dogs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-951171 Sun, 21 Jul 2013 21:50:09 +0000 wheres_c 951171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you did anything wrong either. Here is some good info: <a href="http://speakingforspot.com/blog/2013/07/14/why-some-pet-photos-make-me-nervous/" rel="nofollow">http://speakingforspot.com/blog/2013/07/14/why-some-pet-photos-make-me-nervous/</a></p> <p>Some rules I follow: </p> <p>Assume any dog has the capability to be aggressive. Even dogs you've known for years.</p> <p>Never leave a baby in a carrier, or on the floor anywhere that has dogs. This includes say, the park where an irresponsible owner may allow dogs off leash.</p> <p>Make it clear that you're in control. Don't appear fearful yourself.</p> <p>If a dog displays any aggressive tendencies, growling, lunging, etc....don't make any sudden movements. Pick up LO or the carrier, and try to avoid eye contact or being threatening.</p> <p>Put space between you and the animal, and if the owner is nearby, call for help in a regular voice.</p> <p>I have a good friend with a Doberman. Really sweet dog, known it for years....I still ask her to put him behind the gate in the living room, or outside if I bring LO over.</p> <p>This is a complete over generalization, but often it's the smaller dogs you need to worry about being more aggressive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-950999 Sun, 21 Jul 2013 21:02:32 +0000 Sammyfab 950999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry you had to go through that! I don't think you did anything wrong at all and I don't think there is much you can do to prepare for every future encounter with a dog.</p> <p>It's a really tough question to answer because, like you said, animals are unpredictable. Every animal also has a very different personality. Personally, I think it's the owner's responsibility to supervise their pet around children because they know them best.</p> <p>My LO (who is almost 17 months) loooooves dogs. If we approach a dog, I always ask the owner if it's ok if we say hi. They will either say yes and my son will pet the dog or they tell me that their dog is not that friendly and we part ways. The same goes for our dog (who is overly friendly and jumps on everyone, except he's only 35 lbs.). I always ask if it's ok if he says hi to other dogs or kids. I know how he will react and I know how to control him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-dogs#post-950963 Sun, 21 Jul 2013 20:46:08 +0000 Corduroy 950963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I took LO to our friends' BBQ yesterday and a scary incident happened. They have two really sweet, well trained labs. One is even has hit youtube videos demonstrating his training. At the start of the BBQ the dogs were in the house and we were hanging out with everyone in the backyard. Over the course of a few hours the party migrated inside, dogs migrated outside and we slowly introduced LO to the dogs. LO's only 5 months so I was holding her the whole time. </p> <p>When we were getting ready to leave I fed LO in the guest room and then put her in her carseat in there. I carried the seat into the entry way and waited for DH. As I was waiting for DH one of the dogs walked up to LO in the seat, growled and then barked pretty aggressively. I grabbed the carrier and tried to go out the door but that excited the other dog. I stopped in my tracks since they really didn't want me near the door. At that point I was pretty scared and I think it literally scared the poop out of LO. It must have looked scary because a woman ran to get one of the owners to calm down the dogs. When she came the dogs ran back to the party. My friend looked as stunned as I did by the behavior of the dogs.</p> <p>Nothing happened but now I feel guilty that I put LO in that situation and totally ignorant about what I need to do in the future. I know not to let LO approach dogs and not to let her be alone with dogs. I also know they are animals and can be unpredictable. Dog lovers, please help me out. What do I need to know to keep LO safe? </p>