Help With Puppy Letter To Parents..Xl Breed

[mamac]

Both my homeowners and daycare insurance has a list of about seven dogs you cannot own if you want to use their insurance. But, Mastiff isn't on either list. They were German shepherd, Pit Bull, Husky, Dobermans, Great Danes (I thought that was odd) Chows and any type of wolf breed. (Akitas, Alaskan malamutes, Huskies)

Honestly, instead of a note, i'd just start telling them about the puppy, and how excited you are to get this great dog.

Congratulations on the puppy.

Yikes! Your insurance company would have had NO problem denying me insurance for my dog! (that I unfortunately no longer have) He was a half Husky- half Chow, Pit Bull, Shepherd mix. But he was the sweetest dog ever!

[daycarediva]

Are you prepared to lose families over it? I hate to say it, but I would pull my kids. Don't shoot me, I LOVE animals, but it isn't worth the risk.

[Cradle2crayons]

Breed specific legislation here is so tough that some areas ask owners to DNA their dogs to prove their breed.

I'd be extremely nervous unless I had some sort of proof exactly what breed this is. This is inky because I had a friend who lives in a city with BSL and years ago they got a dog they though had no pit bull etc in. That was before tha BSL. Well, 8 years later, their neighbor reported they had an illegal breed and they agreed to DNA to prove the dog was what they though it was and the test proved the dog had some of the illegal breed and they had to get rid of the dog. That would be so tragic after all that time.

That being said, I'm the type that is Leary of thinking " oh this dog never will come into contact with the children " and not making plans of other scenarios and then something happens and the dog gets lose. Accidents happen, even with the most careful of plans.

If its a dog I would have to worry if that one in a million loose event happened, I'd be very nervous.

Of course, any dog has potential and should be treated that way. But some have more potential for damage than others.

OP, I agree with the PP letter, but be prepared for parents who may not be happy, even if you say the dog will never be with the children.

[slorey]

Are you prepared to lose families over it? I hate to say it, but I would pull my kids. Don't shoot me, I LOVE animals, but it isn't worth the risk.

I agree. My dd was bit by a lab when she was 2 and needed 6 stitches! Thankfully it was only her hand, but I do not trust any dog around children anymore. If a lab who are supposed to be good with children can bite, anything can. We do not have any animals, despite the pleading from my children and that decision is primarily because I do not want the liability of something happening to one of my dc kids. But also because I don't want the added responsibility right now. My 3 kids and 5 dc kids give me enough to do already!

[daycarediva]

I agree. My dd was bit by a lab when she was 2 and needed 6 stitches! Thankfully it was only her hand, but I do not trust any dog around children anymore. If a lab who are supposed to be good with children can bite, anything can. We do not have any animals, despite the pleading from my children and that decision is primarily because I do not want the liability of something happening to one of my dc kids. But also because I don't want the added responsibility right now. My 3 kids and 5 dc kids give me enough to do already!

My dd was attacked by a pitbull, they couldn't close her wound because she needed muscle repair and skin grafts. She has a lot of scars from it, and it was a neighbors dog and up until that point, very friendly to us/their 3 small children. It even slept with their 3 yo every night.

[slorey]

That must have been awful for you and her! I was stressed enough about our situation and that wasn't even very serious. I don't trust pit bulls. I am sure there are many out there that are good dogs but there are also too many that aren't. My daughter is 7 now and I still freak out if she wants to pet a strange dog, even if the owners ok it. Her scar is barely visible. It is on the palm of her hand and it looks like one of the other lines on her palm. :hug: to you and your daughter for having to go through that!

[Unregistered]

I have a boxer/mastiff mix. He stays in the garage during daycare hours not only because I would never risk it but his tail is LETHAL!! It gets te back of my knee all the time and has gotten my one year old face a few times! it feels like someone snapped a towel!!

[daycarediva]

That must have been awful for you and her! I was stressed enough about our situation and that wasn't even very serious. I don't trust pit bulls. I am sure there are many out there that are good dogs but there are also too many that aren't. My daughter is 7 now and I still freak out if she wants to pet a strange dog, even if the owners ok it. Her scar is barely visible. It is on the palm of her hand and it looks like one of the other lines on her palm. :hug: to you and your daughter for having to go through that!

Thank you! I am so glad your dd is ok! My dd is a tough cookie and she is STILL an animal lover, stood in court telling the judge (at 7, almost 8) that she didn't blame the dog, she blamed the owner for not keeping him chained/fenced in and was genuinely sad that they euthanized the dog. She volunteers at an animal shelter and wants to be a veterinarian. Everytime she leaves to go volunteer it's like half of my heart goes with her. You know how that feels! EEK!

[Blackcat31]

I have a boxer/mastiff mix. He stays in the garage during daycare hours not only because I would never risk it but his tail is LETHAL!! It gets te back of my knee all the time and has gotten my one year old face a few times! it feels like someone snapped a towel!!

That is something to consider too.

My dog is so large that simply leaning on a full grown adult can knock them over.

When he is running, he cannot stop on a dime and often over shoots his mark and pile drives into who or whatever is nearby.

He wags his tail and can knock you off your feet. He doesn't mean to but just playing with a kid is like wrestling a full grown adult from the kid's perspective.

The first thing our vet said was if you own a big dog, you HAVE to establish control right away because once he reaches full grown weight/size, you will no longer be able to physically manage him so he HAS to know how to listen.

[Lyss]

I grew up with Great Danes (and Boxers, we always had at least 2 dogs) and holy cow did it hurt when they got you with their tail! It was like getting whipped with a plastic jump rope! Getting knocked over by them just became par for the course as a kid (we had 3 Danes and a boxer for years)! :: But its definitely something to consider when you have small children around, especially ones that are not your own.

I love dogs, sometimes more than people ::, but with this business I've started to look at the "liability/risk" in everything we bring into our house.

That is something to consider too.

My dog is so large that simply leaning on a full grown adult can knock them over.

When he is running, he cannot stop on a dime and often over shoots his mark and pile drives into who or whatever is nearby.

He wags his tail and can knock you off your feet. He doesn't mean to but just playing with a kid is like wrestling a full grown adult from the kid's perspective.

The first thing our vet said was if you own a big dog, you HAVE to establish control right away because once he reaches full grown weight/size, you will no longer be able to physically manage him so he HAS to know how to listen.

Sometimes I feel like I'm playing chicken with my dog; will I move first or will she actually be able to stop without slamming into my legs? Most the time I lose and move! ::

[WImom]

Are you prepared to lose families over it? I hate to say it, but I would pull my kids. Don't shoot me, I LOVE animals, but it isn't worth the risk.

I'm hoping not to. I do have a dedicated space just for my daycare (inside and outside) so really to me there isn't much risk the dog will ever come in contact with the kids even after she is not crated (she would be gated to my living room/kitchen) or if she is outside. The only time the parents would see her at all would be when they enter but she would be gated/crated away - daycare is to the right of my front entry way.

I probably won't list the breed on my website, just that I have two dogs not allowed in the daycare space. That way they can meet them when they are here interviewing and not form an opinion before hand.

Waiting to hear back from insurance to see if it will cost more.

[Willow]

Jmho, I wouldn't offer to let potential families meet pup or your dog.

I don't offer that as part of my interview process anymore than I'd let them poke and prod my own children.

If the dogs will not come into contact with anyone they are none of a mere visitor's concern.

[Lavender]

I just want to make sure you know that an intention to keep a dog separate is a little less certain with a large dog than it is with a smaller dog. We have a bullmastiff mix (so much smaller than a full-grown English Mastiff but still 90lbs) and he has gotten out from areas he was supposed to be confined to several times. Our dachshund mix has NEVER gotten out. EVER. He is also the sweetest, gentlest dog there is (I've seen him play ever so gently with a guinea pig before) but I have no doubt that if he ever felt one of his people were in danger he would do whatever was necessary to protect them. Bully breeds are in general very protective of their people and their property.

[Cradle2crayons]

I just want to make sure you know that an intention to keep a dog separate is a little less certain with a large dog than it is with a smaller dog. We have a bullmastiff mix (so much smaller than a full-grown English Mastiff but still 90lbs) and he has gotten out from areas he was supposed to be confined to several times. Our dachshund mix has NEVER gotten out. EVER. He is also the sweetest, gentlest dog there is (I've seen him play ever so gently with a guinea pig before) but I have no doubt that if he ever felt one of his people were in danger he would do whatever was necessary to protect them. Bully breeds are in general very protective of their people and their property.

Lol its funny you say that about your dachshund, ours is the SAME way. He's the barker too. But he'll run through the house with our pet rat attached to his head having the time of his life and daddies rescue kittens like no other. But he is protective more towards children. No he's never bitten a grown up but once the UPS man was going to high five my son and Shorty did growl. Of course, now the FedEx and ups man bring doggie treats and all is well in his world .

I think the important thing is that while small dogs sometimes do bite, their bite typically doesn't do the harm of that if a bigger dog. My two dogs stay out with the kids though. My jack russel mix is an ESD dog and Shorty the weenie doggie sits by my special dcg every minute she's here. Both dogs also spend all outside time with us because they kill snakes.

[Lavender]

Lol its funny you say that about your dachshund, ours is the SAME way. He's the barker too. But he'll run through the house with our pet rat attached to his head having the time of his life and daddies rescue kittens like no other. But he is protective more towards children. No he's never bitten a grown up but once the UPS man was going to high five my son and Shorty did growl. Of course, now the FedEx and ups man bring doggie treats and all is well in his world .

I think the important thing is that while small dogs sometimes do bite, their bite typically doesn't do the harm of that if a bigger dog. My two dogs stay out with the kids though. My jack russel mix is an ESD dog and Shorty the weenie doggie sits by my special dcg every minute she's here. Both dogs also spend all outside time with us because they kill snakes.

Everything I said was about my male dog - the 90lb bullmastiff mix - except for the part about my female dachshund mix never getting out. LOL She is 7lbs so they are way different in size.