neighbor issue

[Tara]

What should I do about a neighbor who puts her ~7 month old baby's face (which is covered in food!) in my dogs face? All Roxy does is kiss the baby, usually on the toes, but it still worries me a little. I'm thrilled that the neighbors like her and think she's great, but there's that voice in the back of your head that goes, if this kid starts crying will the mom think that Roxy did something. She loves kids, but I don't want to be naive or take unnecessary risks. BTW, she is on the shortest possible leash with my arm on her when this has happened.

[Roscoe's dad]

Politely ask her not to do that. Tell her you know and trust your rottie, but would not be able to live with yourself if there was even a tiny accident.

[roccorottie]

Agree with Roscoe's Dad. As a father of 2 small girls, I can never understand why some parents don't think before they allow such things to happen. I can tell you this - with our 7 mo old Rottie, we never let him near the kids when they are eating. Sometimes, we give our kids a cracker and they might walk about the home with them...Kids get up from the dinner table and run with food...kids drop food and try to pick it up...knowing all of this, our Rottie pup is never roaming during our eating times - he gets confined until we're done eating.

What's scary is this child's face is covered in food. What IF your dog decides to take an inadvertant chunk instead of a lick?? Some kids eat and leave chunks of food on their faces (mine did) and you don't want to have your dog making a decision about "lick" vs "bite".

I'm not sure if this takes place at your home, but this mom needs to be told very nicely to wipe that face before your dog gets close...and besides, common sense tells most aprents to always supervise pets and children closely (at all times). Why should you have to "put up" your dog in your home so her kid can run amok with food on its face? Some parents...geez.

Good luck!

[shybird]

I am in agreement with the others, this is not a good thing. You will have to tell your friend that it is not good to put the baby in the dogs face. You might want to fib a little and say that you are trying to get your girl not to lick so much and the face is to tempting. Tell her that you need her help in this training. Well the fib is a bit better that telling the friend she is being an A$$ putting a baby in the face of any dog. Even if you put it very gently your friend might take offence that you are calling her a bad parent. Some people are real thin skined. I think I'd opt for a little fib and make it my fault.

[rottnkidd]

Please take the good advice of other's and put an end to this
immediately! I've got to wonder if this neighbor has her head screwed on right! I don't care whose child it is, or whose dog for that matter. I'd never, ever allow that. It only takes a second for a dog to 'react' negatively and this child could be disfigured for life. We all know how strong the Rottweiler is. One quick lunge at this baby's face is all it would take. It scares me just to think about it.
kathy

[Storm]

No leash is short enogh for this, if something should happen, it is in a blink of an eye with devastating consequences for both dog and child. I know it's nice for the neighbors to see a dog of this breed that is of a kind, stable disposition and if you snatch the dog away they may think eeeew, what's up with the dog. Maybe tell them the dog has eaten already! LOL!

[poohbearsmom]

Have no problem whatsoever crating my dogs when company comes over.... They get to greet company, usually one at a time, and most of the time, both are loose... however, if I feel uncomfortable about a situation (someone is a tad fearful, or babies in the house), or, they're a bit too playful (like moving the furniture around) when I'm trying to carry on a conversation, I take the higher road and crate my dogs...

In my world, humans, and their comfort (and safety) are just a couple rungs higher on the ladder than my dogs... ;) They are dogs, after all.

My dogs like their crates, they know they'll be let out soon, and they seem to be OK with it. lol. Actually, most of the time, they go into their crates voluntarily when the company gets "boring" for them. I have a clear conscience about this, and my dogs still love me.

Regards - Elisabeth

[Miabella]

I agree with everything everyone else is saying. I also wanted to add that you should do this child a favor and explain to the mom that it is never safe to do this to ANY dog. Make sure that she realizes this isn't just because your dog is a Rottie or because of your particular dog's personality. Even a small breed dog could leave a disfiguring mark on such a little one, and it would be a terrible shame if something like that happened just because mom didn't know how to act around dogs. :(

[Loki's Mom]

I always crate Loki at dinner time. One reason is because if Shelby is eating and decides to "drop" something, she's possibly gonna lose a finger or something if she tries to pick it up. Food on the floor is fair game around my place. Reason number two, Shelby was outside one day eating a snack cake, and she would not share, which I strongly enforce. What happened, Loki knocks Shelby down and steals her snack cake. So from then on, Loki knows that when food is on the table, she is in her crate.

[Tara]

Thanks for all your replies. I wanted to know a polite way of saying, lady, get your baby out of my dogs face without showing any negativity to Roxy or the breed. I was in total shock when she did this!!! I have no children of my own, but if and when I do, I would not do that with my own child!
This lady also has a girl about 3 and I make Roxy sit, she usually lies down on her own when she sees the kids because I like her to greet the kids sitting or laying down. Then she gives five to the kids and then she gets petted. But putting a baby in her face left me in awe! I will politely tell her next time I see her that we don't want to take the chance of something happening and would appreciate it if she didnt do that!

[ILoveRotts]

Tara,

Here's a nice way....

Tell you that although your dog is very gentle, it is not a good idea to teach her child this behavior with dogs in general. Other dogs that the child might encounter may not be as gentle.

That way you don't even have to get into a discussion about your dog.