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In reply to the discussion: Pitbulls Used to Be Considered the Perfect "Nanny Dogs" for Children -- [View all]markpkessinger
(8,942 posts)My sister and her husband for many years had a full-bred Rottweiler. He was a wonderful dog and a great pet who never, throughout his life, made an aggressive move towards anyone, even though, at 140 lbs., he was a bruiser. He died a few years ago and the family still misses him.
Fast forward a couple of years. About a year ago, my niece, daughter of the same sister, and my niece's husband, as a result in a change in financial circumstances, temporarily moved back into my sister and brother-in-law's home, along with their toddler daughter and their big chocolate Labrador, about the same size as the Rotty my sister used to have (and have since had a second child). This Lab has never been abused in any way -- our family LOVES dogs. Yet, when certain people -- people he has no reason to dislike -- visit my sister's house, he becomes very aggressive. One of these people he reacts to is my brother -- another dog lover and owner. Whenever my brother has visited, the dog's fur is raised, he bares his teeth and growls. If my brother sits down, the dog will eventually calm down, but if my brother so much as makes a move, the dog gets aggressive again. This had been going on for months until, about a month ago, the dog actually BIT my brother. The dog has had no experience with my brother, or with my niece and her husband, that would account for this. Curiously, when i visit, the dog has no problem with me. I'm sorry, but the dog has a screw loose. My niece and her husband bought him as a puppy, and he has ALWAYS shown aggression towards my brother, as well as a few others.
My brother now refuses to visit their house (understandably), and my sister is scared to death that the dog is going to hurt someone. His aggression seems to be increasing. Yet every time she says something to her daughter and son-in-law, they think their dog is being "picked on."
Just as there ARE bad people out there, there ARE also bad dogs!