A mom writes in asking for advice about her family’s dog. She says her family’s French Bulldog has become aggressive towards her and her 7-year-old to the point where she no longer wants the dog in the house. This mom, who is currently 35 weeks pregnant and worried about the dog with the new baby, has tried to voice her concerns to her husband, but he doesn’t seem to see the issue as a serious threat. In fact, he has a strong bond with the dog and ultimately “spends more time with [the dog] than with us or our daughter.” What should this mom do about her dog and her family?
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A member of the community asks:
“My dog has become aggressive towards me and my daughter: Advice?”
“We got a puppy last year in November. A French Bulldog. Everything was fine until he started being aggressive towards our seven-year-old, then towards me. I’m currently 35 weeks pregnant and it’s more now, not sure if this is why, but he’s tried to bite me several times. To the point where I decided he was no longer allowed inside the house.
I told my husband this wasn’t working and I’m scared for the baby when he’s here and he might bite him. Hubby doesn’t want to get rid of him; we’ve gotten into multiple arguments because of the dog, not just towards us but we’ve had to replace tons of things he’s destroyed and clearly I’m the only one seeing that. Anyway, I sold his dog door so he wouldn’t stay inside. Hubby bought him one for the garage so he could have access to the backyard, he has a pen on the garage so he’s only on that space.
Anyway, if I go get in the car he barks and acts like I’m a stranger. Husband spends more time with him than with us or our daughter. Today I had it, they went on a bike ride and my daughter came back with bloody knees twice because “he couldn’t watch her since he was watching the dog”. I was livid. I’m not familiar with getting rid of a dog or rehoming or anything but this one is just, something else. Any advice?”
– Mamas Uncut Community Member
Community Advice for This Mom Whose Dog Has Gotten Aggressive to the Point That It’s Causing Major Family Drama
To see what advice the Mamas Uncut Facebook community has for this mom in need, read the comments of the post embedded below.
Advice Summary
The community offered this mom in need a lot of great advice. Read some of their responses below.
Y’all are nuts. Just get rid of the dog. At the end of the day… It’s a dog. Not worth risking your kids getting hurt. I had my boy for 4 years then my son was born & my dog bit him when he was 6 months old. Since my husband had a day about what happened to him, he went to the pound. Had it been my choice the dog would have been dead.”
“Puppies destroy things — they are like little kids. If ya didn’t know that, why’d ya get one?? It sounds like your house has a lot of tension and the pup is probably picking up on that, they are more sensitive than we think. It could be also picking up that you don’t like it and acting out maybe? We got our pup when our youngest was almost 6 months old so not sure re: the pregnancy, but he did destroy things but was never aggressive. He’s a big softie. Maybe he needs some training and some stimulation? Also love and to not be locked outside!”
“The dog definitely needs to go. Your husband needs to get his priorities straight, which are you and your kids.”
“If you don’t have time for the dog, find it a new home or surrender it to the pound.”
“I’m sorry, but I would rehome. I couldn’t take the chance of the dog attacking the new baby then decide to take action once it’s too late.”
“That dog needs to go, and if baby daddy won’t allow it, he needs to go too. Rehome the beast; some dogs aren’t good with kids.”
So here’s the thing… Neutered, it’ll help. It really will. Unaltered dogs have higher bite records than an altered dog. Male dogs especially. You may need to seek a behaviorist to figure out the triggers, but quite honestly it sounds like you’re just kinda set on being over the whole thing. You have a Frenchie, that’s a dog created to have medical issues (honest, bulldogs are medical money pits)…
… Leaving him as an outside dog and separate from the household dynamic won’t help any issue ever except reinforce whatever trigger he has with you and teach him not to be housebroken. I’m not sure what state you live in, but Frenchies are not equipped to handle heat or winters well. If you are gonna rehome him, contact a rescue group familiar with the breed.”
“Don’t ever feel bad about rehoming a dog to protect your babies. You, your kids, and the dog will all be happier. We had to rehome a black lab for similar reasons and he is WAY happier where he’s at.”
“Is the dog fixed? Male dogs can be aggressive if they are not fixed. I have a pit bull that I got when he was 10 months old that did the same thing. Got him fixed and started walking a lot and he is such a big baby now. Dogs need lots of exercise and attention. Putting in a kennel won’t help at all it could make it worse.”
“She is 35 weeks pregnant and has a 7-year-old. I understand the logic of ‘don’t get a dog if you don’t have time for it,’ but she’s focused on what is coming in 3-5 weeks. If the dog is too much, then maybe they should rehome to someone with no kids. (Always ask for a vet reference and maybe a small rehoming fee. There are too many people looking for dogs for dog fights.)…
… If her husband is so concerned with the dog, why doesn’t HE take the dog to the training classes? Everyone is bashing the mom when the dad is treating the dog better than his own daughter apparently. If hubby doesn’t like the dog being rehomed, rehome him as well. The dog also has access to the garage. So he isn’t fully “locked outside”. Kids come first, not dogs”
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