I feel like I mostly agree with that meme? Like, small children can be obnoxious as hell and take tremendous liberties that might make even a normal dog super irritated. I def wouldn't let very young kids play around with dogs unsupervised.

Basically, yes, it is the children who are wrong.

Bulldogs have massive health problems - mostly related to breathing. They rarely live past 10 years old. They're just a mess.

https://www.cesarsway.com/about-dogs...rbred-bulldogs

No they don't want to end other breeds.

Um sure but their actions don't seem to jibe with that statement at all.

This

and this

how profound

I'm not a dog person, and pitbulls always scared me and if you asked me a year ago I would have a stronger opinion against them than I have now.

My boyfriend has pitbulls (one american staffordshire terrier, one sharpei terrier). At first, I was afraid of them, and wouldn't come around unless he had them put away in another room, or outside in the fenced backyard. He was very understanding about me being afraid of the dogs. A few months into the relationship he moved out to the boonies, with a huge yard with no fence. When I started coming around more, they were put away in an all seasons room most of the time. For the most part they seemed fine in there, they had a couch to lay on and windows, and got to run around outside in the large wooded yard.

At some point, they started pooping in there (there are other reasons behind this, not me) even when he was home, and I started to feel bad for the dogs not getting more attention. His job also requires him to leave a few days at a time, and started to become more frequent, and at first he hired some lady to come take care of the dogs while he was gone (I think it was like $100/day or something crazy).

After realizing how much it would cost, and pressure from his ex-wife regarding care of the dogs, he told me I had to start to get over my fear and help out with letting them outside. We had a gate up so I started interacting with them more, but behind a gate from one part of the house to the room they were in. I started bonding with them more and being less afraid.

Once winter came around and it started to get too cold, we had to let them stay in the house since it cost too much to heat that room. They were sort of forced on me at this point, if I wanted to stay with him. I did agree I would work at being more comfortable around them. This is where things kind of changed and I was the one who started caring for them, letting them out, making sure they were fed, buying them treats, etc. Now it seems like I am the only one taking care of them 95% of the time. I don't want them to be MY dogs, but I also want to do the right thing.

The dogs follow me around everywhere now whatever room I am in, they are with me. They are very easy going dogs, just lay around and like to sleep and be petted. For the most part, I lost my fear of them, as he would always say how he spent thousands of dollars having them professionally trained (he has 2 small children part time) and insist they would never bite anyone. I am still not really a dog person, but kind of forced to turn into one to benefit the dogs and because I care about him.

Unfortunately, in just the past week, both dogs have bit someone while he was gone. I feel I am partly to blame for my poor decisions thinking they would be ok with a friend helping me finish moving in. I had them in another room but after they seemed to have calmed down thought it would be ok to have them meet my friend who is way more of a dog person than I am. It did not go well. and the smaller dog bit him, I was so embarrassed and felt so stupid realizing how bad that really could have been. Kind of a wake up call not to trust the dogs after all. Luckily he had a thick hoodie on, and it didn't break the skin, but he said it was definitely an aggressive bite. They normally listen to me when I say to sit, down, stay, etc. but not in these situations...

A couple days ago, I went outside to get something from my car and let the dogs out. I turned the corner and saw the UPS truck outside and kind of panicked, like oh ****, the dogs are out! Normally I hear delivery vehicles coming down the driveway, or the dogs would bark, but this time I didn't hear it. Once I stepped outside with them, it was too late, and I tried to call them back into the house. They charged at the UPS guy. One dog (the one that bit someone previously) seemed to listen this time and came by me, while the bigger dog jumped and barked at him, while he seemed to remain pretty calm just standing there, then he said "it got me" and I kept trying to get the dog to come back inside, but I was honestly afraid to approach too, and the situation got my anxiety up and makes me realize I am really not comfortable being in charge of the dogs. I was calling for him and trying to get his attention but he wasn't listening. Finally he did come and I got the dogs back inside. It was a puncture wound to the hand, the UPS guy seemed very understanding and nice about it, but still had to call it in to the manager. Again, I felt super stupid and felt really bad that it had happened. It wasn't a bad bite, but the fact that it happened at all, any bite is serious.

I don't think they are vicious dogs, but clearly they are capable of biting and not trained as well as he thinks.

Now I am starting to freak out about these dogs. Since I live here now, I am basically taking care of them, even though I would never own pitbulls myself, no matter how awesome they are as a pet, I know what kind of damage these dogs are capable of, and I am not really comfortable with that. I would never let my niece and nephew around them even though he lets his kids around them (I felt this way even before the bites, just not worth the risk imo). There are also other things that if I did own dogs I would do, like fence in an area of this yard rather than let them roam free, but I am not the one who can make these decisions or financially able to do things for the dogs, and I also don't really want to make them my responsibility by doing things I shouldn't have to do myself. We are in the woods, but houses are close enough that I can see them looking out the window thru the wooded area. Mostly, they are good about staying on the property, but I don't think that matters at all anymore. They should be handled more responsibly and not just trusting them. But if I have to let them outside, I don't really have any other options but to just let them out??

I am not sure what is going to happen now with the dogs. He seems kind of in shock and doesn't understand why they would do this, as he was under the impression they were very good dogs and would never bite anyone. I feel like he blames me for not having better control of them, or not acting properly as the "alpha" even though I tried. But I never really wanted to be in this position to begin with, I do it because I love him and it seems reasonable to care for his dogs when he is gone. He is thinking of putting the bigger one down, since he can no longer trust it and has kids, even if the dog is normally well behaved. I feel so bad that it happened.

After reading more, I realize that legally, I could be held responsible and considered a "keeper" of the dogs, dogs I don't really want to be responsible for but am just because I live here and taking care of them just because of circumstance. I don't like that at all! It's stupid that I have to worry about being liable for what his dogs do while he is gone. I don't want to have to move out because of his dogs, I can't really afford it right now anyway since I have no income and chronic pain. I told him I was worried about being liable, and it seemed to piss him off that I was more worried about myself than that he might lose his dog. Grrr.

Anyway, that is my story. Pitbulls can be really good dogs. They were able to get me over my fear of dogs (...kind of). But, dogs bite. Pitbulls can cause a lot of damage if they want to. I just don't see why anyone would want to carry that responsibility of such a potentially dangerous pet. But if someone does, I think they better be exceptionally responsible pet owners.

He should be worried about you, the children, UPS drivers, and people who help move. Not all dogs bite.

Two things stand out here...

This makes him like every other bad pit owner.

and

And this probably confirms he is both a bad pit owner and partner.


The fact he owns two pits and leaves town for a couple days at a clip for work is maybe the height of ignorant pit owner. Sorry to be so blunt, but the way he thinks is dumb and dangerous and of course he is going to allow his children(strangers and opposition to the dogs) to be around them.

And lastly gorie, I wouldn't ever forget that these two animals will turn on you in the blink of an eye for no apparent reason and literally maul you to death while wagging their tails. The same just happened recently to an owner walking her former dogs in the woods(she had given them up and was visiting). Not even joking gorie, the day these two dogs turn on you at once and nobody is around is probably going to end in death. It sounds like you are already living in pretty much constant fear(or at least heightened uneasiness) and that is no way to live just because your partner is an idiot.

Again, sorry for the bluntness, but that is quite the story you just laid out.

The one on top looks pretty wimpy. The one under the covers that won't listen to you and bit the UPS driver looks pretty dangerous.

Yeah, he is pure muscle! He is a typical pit bull as far as body type. My bf and his ex wife describe him as a "sweet big cuddler" (her mocking me for being afraid of them is kind of what set things into motion with him expecting me to take care of them like she did. He was much more understanding until she started pressuring him to rehome the dogs. They had 3, and she could only take 1.) but he could definitely destroy me if he wanted to. He chews through big treats in like 2 seconds. The white one takes forever to chew through things and doesn't seem to like treats that are hard to bite through, but she is generally more skittish. The white one actually seems to really like me and attached to me.

I should also say, when I asked if he blames me, he said no, he blames the dog. But I can tell by the way he was talking to me he was upset with me, too. He's still away on business and won't get back until Monday. So I will have to wait and see how he handles everything.

a massive pit bull conservatorium is what this country needs.

Gorie, that sounds like a horrible situation, and that he is a horrible pit bull owner with horrible priorities who is a horrible partner in many ways.

I understand that it is a difficult situation, but please do your best to get the dogs removed or put down, or extract yourself from the situation. Best wishes.

.

Pit bulls that bite and two small children. What could go wrong? Your initial instincts were right; those dogs shouldn't ever be allowed around people.

Ya if that guy doesn't get rid of those dogs after the bites he's a moron.

Gorie, I don't generally step into relationship things, but you're being manipulated hard by this guy. When that dog bites someone, it's not your fault. When the dog bites you, you will get the blame. It's not if it bites, but when. I can tell you from experience that those bites are no joke. Don't get caught wearing leggings.

Are the kids around these dogs when he is not there? Seems like that could be a tragedy waiting to happen. If I was you, I would be long gone.

Well, he's thinking about putting the big dog down, gorie reports loving the dude, gorie seems broke and at least partially disabled. I'd at least be cautious suggesting that she just take off.

If the ex-wife doesn't take the dog instead of it getting put down, she's FOS about who much she loves it and thinks it's just a big cuddler regardless of whatever he living situation is. Just the relationship with the dude and the ex-wife and you sounds pretty unpleasant.

No, the kids aren't here if he is not here. But the dogs have always been around when he has the kids. I don't think that will be the case anymore, since he said himself he can't have a dog he can't trust when he has 2 small children, but who knows what he will actually do.

My story and why I am where I am deserves it's own thread, but I feel pretty stuck due to no income (lost my job about a year ago, can't seem to hold jobs or make decent money), a lot of debt, serious chronic pain - I can barely function. I am here partly because I thought he wanted to help with that while I figure out a plan to get my life back, but that's not really the case. It is definitely a bad situation for more than just the dogs. My life in general is a giant fail and I am severely depressed and trying to figure out how to actually function normal enough to have an income. So it's not as simple as just moving back out, even if that's what I should do.

That's the problem with having little to no money. You end up being at the whims of others, and you often sleep with the devil to get by.

Gorie is putting herself at risk of serious injury or possibly death, taking care of dangerous dogs, which she is afraid of, to find a modicum of stability.

It's a tough balance and while I wouldn't say leave tomorrow, it's apparent she's believes she's putting herself at physical and legal risk. It's odd that this guy can't find a dogsitter that loves taking care of pits.

Not judging.

This.

I am trying to get disability atm, and re-starting physical therapy (hasn't helped in the past, as well as behavioral therapy for the depression/anxiety. I don't think I will get the disability, because to others I appear fine, and doctors suck and minimize my problems despite begging them to save my life. But I definitely should, because I simply am. Even if I do get it (I was denied years ago when I tried, but am worse now), it won't be much, since my income history sucks. Also, my parents both died within the last few years, so I don't have them to bail me out either.

I spent over 6k on medical expenses last year in a desperate attempt to get medical help, but no luck. Then I had a breast reduction in December after my deductible was met, praying it would help relieve some pain, but unfortunately did not.

The ex-wife is living with her new boyfriend in a rental that only allows the 1 dog. But, she told me they are looking at buying a 5 bedroom house. So if that actually happens, she should take the dogs - but I highly doubt she will. The dog she does have with her is also a pit mix of some sort, not as big as the big one that bit the UPS guy.

Honestly he hasn't even been helping me financially up until now that I officially moved out, and I still will have to contribute financially, but it will be better than living alone. I've been living here for months buying our food and stuff while still paying my own rent despite having no income and increasing debt, because I was nervous to have nothing to fall back on, but I finally gave my notice and it's a done deal. Before that I was spending a ton of money on gas driving here all the time (since he moved 45 miles away from where I lived). But yeah, it's not really a healthy situation overall.

I was living on my own supporting myself and things were going good for awhile, at least... but after both parents died and my pain got worse and my business failed, things have just gone majorly downhill. Now I am kind of afraid of being alone, which doesn't help. But hopefully I can get back to being a normal person at some point.

Income or not, you need to gtfo out of that situation immediately

gorie,

Sorry this happened to you, and I echo everyone else's comments regarding the dogs, the dude, the situation, etc.

That **** is dangerous, get out of it while you can.

Do you have a friend or relative you could go stay with short term? It's really not normal at all for a dog to bite someone in your home or run out and bite someone outside the home. I'd be mortified if my dogs did that and would have to seriously consider putting them down as I wouldn't trust them anymore. I certainly wouldn't blame the person who was looking after them.