My pitbull has issues with a 2 year old

[bad14u]

You're turning what Spidey said around to make him sound like an ass.

Sorry Spidey! Not my intention to do that. I was just trying to understand why he wouldn't at least try and correct the dogs behavior first.

[spidey]

So you get rid of the dog or move him/her before trying to let them know that they have done wrong? Sorry to hear that!

I could turn that around and say "You mean you would take a chance, even a small one, of your dog savaging your own child? Sorry to hear that!"

The thing is, I could never be 100% sure the dog would understand the lesson. The dog would not have a second chance to harm my son. I view it as simply having my priorities straight. I would make sure she was taken care of though. It's not like I would take her to the pound or anything.

Fortunately for me, it's a mute point. My dog loves my son and has never shown the least bit of aggression toward him. In fact, I am confident she would protect him if something or someone else tried to hurt him.

[bad14u]

I could turn that around and say "You mean you would take a chance, even a small one, of your dog savaging your own child? Sorry to hear that!"

:agree: True! Let's just drop it. :)

[spidey]

:agree: True! Let's just drop it. :)

Good enough. I didn't mean that to be quite as caustic as it turned out. It's all good bro.

[bad14u]

It's all good bro.

:agree:

[spidey]

I LOVE YOU MAN! (reaching for your beer). :elephant:

[Primal Instinct]

Sounds like the dog is establishing the pecking order with this child. The less contact betweeen the two the better off all parties will be. It is one thing for a working dog (Chow, Rottie, Dobie or even pit) to submit to a larger physical being but a smaller or similar sized being (another dog, child, or even some farm animals) will not fare as well with the more aggressive breeds of dogs. It seems more like the dog doesn't like being on the bottom of the totem pole and feels indignant that a newcomer of small staure should command as much respect as you or a regular visitor to this dog's world.

I have a friend who owns two full breed arctic wolves. They are huge and yet very playful when he is around. Yet when he must travel out of town, his wife takes care of them (they are penned in his backyard), she must deal with the alpha male/wolf heirarchy thing. They will test her authority constantly and exhibit aggressive nature towards her. Once, I was visiting during an outdoor party there when my friend's GF went to give them each a biscuit (she was petting them only an hour before) when she accidently dropped one of the biscuits outside the pen. So she bends over to pick it up and they got aggressive as if they would attack her. Needless to say, it scared the hell out of her and us too. They may act like pups and be playful and all but they still have a wild aggressive streak within them.