A Redditor Is Setting Firm Boundaries Between Her Dog And Her Baby, But Husband Is Not On Board
A 28-year-old woman is trying to keep her baby and her shelter dog separated, but her husband keeps pushing for “friendly” interactions that feel like a disaster waiting to happen.
Their 9-month-old is still learning boundaries, and their dog is sweet but complicated: a 40-pound ex-backyard-breeder mix with a high prey drive, excitable energy, and a history of food aggression and resource guarding. On top of that, he jumps, doesn’t reliably listen when he’s hyped, and he gets jealous when people pay attention to the baby instead of him.
It all spiraled after a visit to relatives, where her husband entertained the idea of letting the baby touch the dog, or even ride him.
The OP’s husband encourages the dog to approach the baby and has joked about letting the baby ride the dog.
Original Post
My husband and I are in disagreement on dog and baby interactions. He wants the dog to feel open to approach and interested in our 9 month old, let baby touch our dog, joked about letting the baby ride the dog, etc.I have been firm from the beginning that I do not want the dog and baby alone and I do not want them touching/playing until baby can understand the importance of giving the dog their space. I am under the mindset that I would rather the dog be uninterested in the baby than overly obsessed.Our dog is a shelter dog, we got him at about 9 months old. He had food aggression in the beginning that I think we have worked through and I would say a high prey drive (runs after squirrels in the backyard, loves lure courses and chasing lasers). We did DNA testing and it came back as a pretty long line of crossbreeding Australian shepherds, mini ausssies, Staffordshire terriers, and pit bulls so I think he might have come from a backyard breeder.Now our dog is very very sweet but excitable (jumps on people, doesnt focus on commands when excited) and has never shown aggression aside from the resource guarding. No jumping has always been a command that never stuck and he rarely ever listens to commands from my husband. He is a relatively quiet dog and does not bark often in the house, likes to sit in peoples laps, licks alot and weighs about 40lbs.He also exhibits jealousy when his favorite people give attention to other dogs instead of him and has tried to jump on people when they are giving attention to the baby which i nipped in the bud.1.) Went to a relatives house and they have a rescue lab and someone joked about our baby being able to ride the dog.My husband looks at me and asks if the baby can be set on top of the dog. I said no and he looked disappointed.2.) Before baby, husband would close the dog in the bathroom with me while I was in the shower as a joke. Since baby, I keep a bouncer in the bathroom for baby since he fusses when he can't see me. I close the door so the dog cannot come in.Husband on multiple occasions let the dog in the bathroom and shut him in with the baby while I was in the shower without informing me. I got angry with him and he said he would stop that.3.) My MIL and husband have confessed to calling the dog over and making him sit so they can pet the dog with the baby's hand or foot.After this our dog has taken to coming closer to the baby while at floor level to sniff/lick his face or feet.4.) Dog has growled at friends toddlers crying 2x.Frankly, I do not want our dog to think he is free to approach our baby until I am comfortable knowing our baby will not invade the dog's space and knowing that our dog likes to jump and sit on people.My husband disagrees and says his baby and dog should be able to play/touch each other and that he would never let anything happen. I have countered that there is plenty of time for that when the baby is older and he has said that I am overly protective, an ass, and I hate our dog.
Here’s how the Reddit community reacted.
“It’s better to supervise and teach gently hands now.”
NTA.
“Stand your ground on this.”
“This is not safe.”
Your husband is the problem here.
This also echoes the meddlesome dog owner who wouldn’t stop pushing dad to let her dog interact with his kid.
“Dogs kill babies all the time.”
The dog needs some training.
“Your husband and his mom really suck.”
“It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
YTA.
A professional dog trainer might really help.
Weirdos!
ESH.
At the relatives’ house, the dog was the punchline, with her husband disappointed when OP said no to setting the baby on top of him.
The real issue is that OP isn’t just being cautious, she’s reacting to a dog who jumps for attention and tries to get between people and the baby.
And it’s not like their dog is calm by default, he rarely focuses on commands from her husband when he’s excited.
Now every joke about “baby riding the dog” turns into a fight, because OP wants the dog uninterested in the baby, not obsessed.
The Redditor ended her post by saying she isn’t trying to keep her dog and child apart forever — she just wants to slow things down. For now, she believes prioritizing safety and boundaries is the right call, even if it makes her look like the “overprotective” parent in the room.
He might be the one who has to choose between a safe baby boundary and his dog “jokes.”
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