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It can be dominance, it can be stress, but it's not just "I want to be close to you"! You won't find many dog owners who would allow their dogs to hump them, or many adult dogs who would attempt to hump their owners. Definitely this dog hasn't been taught boundaries. Your friend really does sound like she has some issues to work through.
Follow common sense with this. If you don't feel that your baby is safe around the dog, don't put your baby in the situation. Don't go to her home and don't invite her to your home. Meet in a neutral area (restaurant or mall) where the dog can't go.
It can be dominance, it can be stress, but it's not just "I want to be close to you"! You won't find many dog owners who would allow their dogs to hump them, or many adult dogs who would attempt to hump their owners. Definitely this dog hasn't been taught boundaries. Your friend really does sound like she has some issues to work through.
Exactly...personally I'd be losing her as a friend like yesterdays news
I think you would get the same responses in the parenting forum as you are getting here.
This woman has a problem. if she cannot see that she is in the wrong to let her dog run off leash, that a mother is going to be protective of her child and that in your home and anywhere you are with your child you have the right to call the shots then she is unbalanced. Makes no difference whose home this happened in. You have to protect your child.
I do have to say I feel sorry for her. Dogs are wonderful companions and friends but they are not children no matter how much we love them. I personally don't
think you have lost that good of a friend if she is unable to be reasonable about this.
Dogs and babies can co-exist, as long as the dog recognizes the frailness of the baby. Our kids grew up around a German Shepherd and I believe she took care to avoid stepping on them when they were babies. Of course, we kept a close eye on them.
In your case, the dog isn't well controlled and even worse, your friend doesn't acknowledge any problem. The fact you were uncomfortable and she didn't take steps to alleviate it, means you were justified in what you said and did.
Since your friend likely won't take steps to control her dog, you can take steps to do so when she plays with the baby. We went to a gathering at a friend's house and they had a young dog that would greet visitors by jumping up on them. We happened to be the first to arrive and as our hosts were busy with the meal, I took control of the dog, keeping him sitting or laying down. There was no excitement greeting visitors and our hosts were amazed at his behavior. You can do something similar, taking a dominant position with the dog.
My friend is definitely a little kooky, but she has been a really good friend. Maybe it's time to let a little distance develop until the baby is a bit older.
The dog situation has been an annoyance from day 1, but now it just doesn't feel safe. Ugh I hate stuff like this!
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