5 words

[mojozen]

"Has he bitten anyone lately?"

This is what i was asked last night when my brother and his family made it in. Mojo had started to bark and growl when the kids barged in at 1am, because that's what Mojo does - he acts as a doorbell for those people who don't know how to use them. He wasn't lunging or being very menacing - in fact as soon as he saw the kids he started to wag his tail and play bow.

But then my brother came in, telling my nephews and niece to stay away from Mojo and said, "I dont feel comfortable with your dog being here."

I got mad instantly.

My mom said "Lindsey he has been good all day."

Lindsey replied "Has he bitten anyone lately?"

I snarled out "No, he has never bitten anyone!" and went upstairs with Mojo to get my temper under control.

Then Lindsey came upstairs and said "My kids are scared of dogs, Megan and since your dog is you know ... questionable... I think I am right in being concerned. And you know, Mojo hasn't been around kids so who knows how he'd react?"

I don't remember what i replied but it was in the "whatever" category of get out of my face polite replies.

As soon as he left the room i burst into tears.

I was having a really good time until that happened.

A lot of me wanted to ask if Marlin (his youngest child who has anger/aggressive issues) has hit anyone lately? But didn't... because this christmas is as much for my parents as it is for the grand kids. And I don't want to ruin it for them.

So after a crappy night of trying to sleep while being so angry... i came down stairs with mojo to take him out for his morning constitutional... and the kids ran screaming from him scared. They were saying that Mojo was going to bite them! And that about put me over the edge...

But again I bit back my temper. I got some dog treats and worked on getting Mojo to calm down and to pay attention to me. It worked... but now we're all dancing around each other. Mojo is leashed to my side on a light weight nylon 3' leash or he is being penned in the basement which does not make me a happy Megan.

After christmas my brother and I are going to have a talk. A very long talk about how he is just as responsible for teaching his kids to act properly around dogs as I am responsible to teach Mojo how to behave around children. How by NOT teaching his kids how to behave around dogs, he is actually increasing their chances fo being bitten.

Gawd what a Christmas

 

[neapolitanpitbull]

Poor Mojo I'd be chaining him and his kids up in the basement if I were you.. no offence. It's a "what a christmas" for me at this house, too.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Meghan, if you will visit the AKC's website, and I'll give you some links in a second, you can print out some dog safety stuff to go over with your brother's kids.

It is very cute stuff, and would not only be really entertaining and fun for the kids, it is also quite educational. It might be a way to turn this entire thing around in a positive manner.

Stand by for links in the next post.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/how_to_greet.pdf

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/megan_meets.pdf

This booklet has many pages that you can print out to share with them, including the first two I have up above.

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/PBSAF2.pdf

Safety check list for kids and dogs
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/safety_checklist_for_kids.pdf

Hidden picture game
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/hidden_picture.pdf

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Sounds like your brother needs to be educated.. sorry, Megan.

 

[shazbot]

That's horrible that your brother is acting like that. Why on earth would he think your dog questionable? Give me a break. It sounds like he's making an excuse so he doesn't have to teach his kids how act around animals....

 

[Whisper]

Oh, I'm so sorry! That is so messed up.

 

[squirtsmom]

Your bro ther is a goof and he is teaching his kids to be goofs too. You have a great dog and that is all that counts.

 

[mojozen]

He's acting like this because of what Mojo's breed mix is - pitbull and dachshund. This morning he made a point of asking "So, what kind of dog is Mojo?" He knows **** well what kind of dog Mojo is... and when I said Mojo was a pitbull dachshund mix, my brother said "And why would you get a dog like that when we have kids in the family?"

Pardon me?

The dog has been in my life for almost 3 years. It's not like he just suddenly appeared. And the reason i got THIS dog was because he had a sound temperment. He is quiet and friendly. He isn't snippy, or snarly. He just likes to be around in the mix of things - thus why he's not being regulated just to the basement as my brother suggested.

The rest of my family thinks I am taking this all too personally. That i should just shrug it off. Of course, my brother is being stupid because of Mojo's breed mix - if it was a small dog like the one i grew up with then this wouldn't be an issue.

Why?

Because Mojo's jaws are more powerful -- okay I will give them that. Mojo is true to his breed, he does have some powerful muscles powering his teeth. But i disagree with this idea that because he is a pit bull mix this automatically makes him suspect when it comes to kids.

And THAT'S what i am upset about.

But my family doesn't see things the same way I do. My family still thinks pit bulls = evil, even though they've accepted that Mojo is a "good" dog. But it's hard for me to swallow their prejudice against the breed as a whole.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Look at it this way.

If you allow your brother's actions to annoy and upset you, you put him in the powerful position.

If you make the decision NOT to let his comments annoy you, and refuse to be baited by him, then you put YOURSELF in the powerful position.

Rise above it.

It will really get his goat if he's only trying to get YOURS.

 

[mojozen]

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/how_to_greet.pdf

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/megan_meets.pdf

This booklet has many pages that you can print out to share with them, including the first two I have up above.

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/PBSAF2.pdf

Safety check list for kids and dogs
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/safety_checklist_for_kids.pdf

Hidden picture game
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/hidden_picture.pdf

Thanks Red - I am going to bookmark this for later. My other brother (the one not being stupid) is of the opinion that Lindsey won't listen -- because he doesn't think he has to. They don't own dogs and aren't around dogs... so why bother?

But I am going to bookmark these sites and save them for a non-christmas time. Right now, my goal is to just get through the next 24 hours until I can pack up the pooch and start our 8 hour drive back to where we live in Wisconsin.

On a slightly bright note, when Mojo and I got back from shopping at Petsmart my niece said to me - "I love doggie!" She still looked frightened but, she's been having a few small but good one on one interaction with Mojo when her parents aren't around. Granted, that mostly involves Mojo licking her hands enthusiastically while ducking his head submissively and wagging his tail... but it's a small step.

She's also the more brave of the three kids, and has always met Mojo head on before. Even when she was a baby when I first brought Mojo home she was cautious but enthusiastic. She boxed Mojo square in the nose the first time they met which made my dog lick her all the more causing her mother to look horrified while Freya giggled.

Granted Mojo was 2ish at the time and Freya was about 6months old... but still... this is why I worry less about my dog's reactions around children than children's behavior around my dog. I always keep watch... but I don't worry too much.

Right now Mojo's having some quiet time in another part of the house...away from the noise and the kids. Last time I checked in on him he was laying on the bed we've been sharing resting. He's not used to all the noise and commotion of children so I think it will be good for him to have a few more time outs today.

 

[Miakoda]

Your reply:

4 words--"No, but I have."

 

[krisykris]

I love how it was said that your dog is "questionable". That so bothers me. Your dog is FAR LESS QUESTIONABLE than a yorkie, a poodle, a lab... with no training or manners. Seems like your baby has ALL of the good qualities that he should and an owner that cares enough to do her part in training.

Your furkid is great, and don't let anyone make you feel like he isn't..

<3 <3

 

[Kayla]

God I hate that sort of attitude and level of ignorance, I'm so sorry to hear and it's deffiently not the kind of Christmas present anyone wants. If it helps I can totally relate as every year we have a big boxing day party at my house and every year since we moved here 5 years ago ( when I was 12 my mom re married into this current family), certain aunts and uncles especially ones with kids but have dogs themselfes have demanded that our oh so vicious boxer be put outside for the day until they leave. We used to kindly say, a) your in our house, and this is our dog, she is not vicous, mean, is actually the biggest suck in the world and the most you have to worry about if her licking your kids to death

b) she is just as an important family member as you and we will not sitck her outside for the day in freezing weather when she has no coat but we will leave her downstairs for the day where it's warm.

Unfortunatly she passed away two months ago, a few weeks after I brought home my first dog ( as my uncle who lives with his son upstairs already had Diamond before we got here) and have already been told at last nights christmas eve party by those same aunts and uncles that they expect my dog ( who is a 4 month old Rotti/German Shepherd and Collie puppy) downstairs away from their kids as he has dangerous breeds in him according to them and therefore can't be trusted . Meanwhile Duke is the biggest suck in the world and though still teething loves everyone he meets ( after he gives them a good barking session until they get in the front door) and is very gentle around small animals ( both human (kids) and non human (my cats, parrot,snakes and so on).

I also had a hard time controlling my anger but simply said that he'd be downstairs ( as we live down their anyways) but out with my most of the day and quickly tried adding in a bit of education to no real avail.

So i feel for ya, unfortunatly some closed minds are very hard to open.

Anyways here is my EXTREMELY VICIOUS DOG!!!!

Unfortunatly it's a sad reality many breeds face when ignorant masses do not understand a dog's past or what it was breed to do.

Don't let you brother get you down as hard as it, unfortunatly som minds are just to hard to open.

Duke and I wish you a very Merry Christmas though and hope you don't let it ruin your holidays
Cheers
Kayla

 

[Alexa's~Mom]

Your reply:

4 words--"No, but I have."

hahahaa, i loooove it.

God I hate that sort of attitude and level of ignorance, I'm so sorry to hear and it's deffiently not the kind of Christmas present anyone wants. If it helps I can totally relate as every year we have a big boxing day party at my house and every year since we moved here 5 years ago ( when I was 12 my mom re married into this current family), certain aunts and uncles especially ones with kids but have dogs themselfes have demanded that our oh so vicious boxer be put outside for the day until they leave. We used to kindly say, a) your in our house, and this is our dog, she is not vicous, mean, is actually the biggest suck in the world and the most you have to worry about if her licking your kids to death

b) she is just as an important family member as you and we will not sitck her outside for the day in freezing weather when she has no coat but we will leave her downstairs for the day where it's warm.

Unfortunatly she passed away two months ago, a few weeks after I brought home my first dog ( as my uncle who lives with his son upstairs already had Diamond before we got here) and have already been told at last nights christmas eve party by those same aunts and uncles that they expect my dog ( who is a 4 month old Rotti/German Shepherd and Collie puppy) downstairs away from their kids as he has dangerous breeds in him according to them and therefore can't be trusted . Meanwhile Duke is the biggest suck in the world and though still teething loves everyone he meets ( after he gives them a good barking session until they get in the front door) and is very gentle around small animals ( both human (kids) and non human (my cats, parrot,snakes and so on).

I also had a hard time controlling my anger but simply said that he'd be downstairs ( as we live down their anyways) but out with my most of the day and quickly tried adding in a bit of education to no real avail.

So i feel for ya, unfortunatly some closed minds are very hard to open.

Anyways here is my EXTREMELY VICIOUS DOG!!!!

Unfortunatly it's a sad reality many breeds face when ignorant masses do not understand a dog's past or what it was breed to do.

Don't let you brother get you down as hard as it, unfortunatly som minds are just to hard to open.

Duke and I wish you a very Merry Christmas though and hope you don't let it ruin your holidays
Cheers
Kayla

OMG!!! You dog looks exactly like my Alexa!!

Cept she has a little more tan on her.

That's weird, considering she's a Rottie/Lab cross.

 

[Kayla]

HAHahah I like the 4 words response might try that tommorow

.....ooou i wanna see pics of Alexa (can you pm a link to some of her pics in another thread) this is a front on pic of him he has odd posses he has a very shepherdy pose where you can really see it in him and these odd posses where he loooks completely different.

This is Duke front on where you can see more the Shep in him (not to hijack your post)