The simple response is: Yes.
I own a couple of female pitbulls and I am well aware that having these animals around children is a responsibility, though not for obvious reasons.
The least of my anxieties is that my pit bulls will attack any child but that the situation is potentially dangerous…..
Hypothetically, an eight year old playing with my dogs could be knocked down and scraped since the animals are trained for action and could get a little boisterous when excited.
While the parents have given permission for the child to play and understand this was an accident, what goes on record is that the pit bull hurt the child. They may have read articles about recent pit bulls attacks which could compound their attitude.
Five handy tips to protect both children and Pitbulls playing together
interaction between children and pit bulls should always be supervised
Under any circumstances for the safety of both, you should NEVER leave children alone with any dog, even a puppy.
Around ninety nine percent of online reports about pitbull attacks on children, detailing how the kids got maimed, hurt and even killed, have in common that is the children had been left unsupervised with the animals.
Watch the child
Adults need to realize that children can sometimes be cruel with animals. Even a well trained pit bull could react adversely, bite or ‘attack’ in defence in of harsh treatment.
Teach children that dogs should be treated well. Children should understand to respect even the dog’s space and not interfere with its belongings such as their special bed, water, food or toys.
Put away your Dog’s Favourite Belongings
Nothing could rouse a dog more than have a child running around it with its favourite bully stick held up over their heads. The dog will certainly come after him to get it back. This could result in a nip or two, not out of viciousness but in an attempt to protect its possession.
Put away treats and toys your dog is particularly fond of so the children cant access them to avoid any incidents.
Arrange Obedience Lessons
Enrol your dog to have obedience classes as early as possible. If your pitbull g is trained to do a trick to ease the fears of an anxious parent, lie down on command when he gets a little too boisterous, and lie down to be petted it relives your tension.
Do not make your dog uncomfortable
If your dog displays strange reaction to particular people, don’t force him to greet or play with them. Pitbulls are usually very people oriented, but being aware of the possibility helps to intervene in time and move them away.
