My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

Yesterday my family was over for a birthday party. My cousin kept making his two year old son hit my dog Brutus!! AND HARD!! His wife was freaking out and told me to hit his hand away when he went near him. But I explained that I am not going to hit their son for listening to his BRAIN DEAD father - what does the baby know?

So finally, after making him hit my poor Brutus for the THIRD time. . . and seeing my Brutus COWERING because we have only hit him MAYBE three times in his whole life for doing something TERRIBLE ( like snapping at someone etc ). . .i turned around and freaked out! I told him that if MY DOG bites off HIS SON'S face you better BELIEVE that i am not putting MY DOG to sleep and he better cut it out.

Of course he is the type of guy that you could be hysterically crying in front of him . . . and he STILL wouldn't take you seriously bc to HIM its all a big joke. Yeah he is in his thirties. . .nice right?

HE IS SO LUCKY that Brutus is SO well behaved with children. . . but if he snaps its NOT his fault he is an ANIMAL!!!

OMG i just got so much madder typing that!

Message edited 7/13/2009 3:31:33 PM.

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

I read this on LIW and was fuming for you. I'm surprised you didn't snap after the first hit.

If this ever happens again, I would personally speak to that child's mother (b/c clearly the father is a good-for-nothing loser) and explain that it's really dangerous for a child to be hitting a dog (or any animal). I would also take the 2YO and Brutus (sexy Brutus!) and teach the kid "nice touch"... show him with his hand how to touch the dog.... if this kid doesn't learn now, he's going to have a rude awakening when he comes across a dog that has a much shorter temper than Brutus!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

I would also tell them that if they don't teach the kid (or dad) to stop - they will no longer be invited to your house again.

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

That is horrible! What kind of parent does this? What an idiot!!!!!! Cruel to the animal and dangerous to for the child!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

Thank you for the advice and support!

Unfortunately, I still live with my parents so I can't stop my cousin from coming over.

I planned on calling him and trying to have an adult conversation without all of the distractions of the birthday party. I know this will be pointless though since he can never take anything seriously.

I do plan on speaking to his wife though and really stressing how dangerous it is for her son to continue this behavior!

It makes me so sad because Brutus was specifically there to celebrate my niece's birthday - all of the kids beg me to let him stay when they come over ( sometimes he goes to "work" with my FH ) and I would hate to have to leave him out of family celebrations!!!

You should have seen his little face looking at me when he got hit. . . he was so hurt and confused!

I have not told FH about this yet because I know he is going to FREAK OUT!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

I'm sorry but I would have hit (hard!) anyone who laid a hand on one of my dogs.

And I would have told DH immediately knowing he'd kick some *** as well.

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

eta: I read it wrong, I thought it said they were teaching their kid to do that to their dog...

You had every right to say that!!!!!!!

Message edited 8/20/2007 4:23:06 PM.

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

OMG your poor baby!!!!!!!!!!!! What a disgusting pig that guy is!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anyone ever laid a hand on my dog I wouldn't go insane on them!!!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

That is just a sad situation.

I feel so bad for your dog...can you imagine how he must have felt and how confused he must have been

And for your cousin's wife...what goes on in their home that he is teaching his baby to hit dogs and she allows it.

And of course, the baby - who IS going to get bit one day if he learns that behaviour.

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

I am seething over this. You can bet that would be the first guy demanding a dog be put down if it snapped at his son!!

Coopersmom and Marcie gave you some great ideas. And I would NOT let this man be around your dog again ever. Even if you have to bea the the same party, go to a different room with your dog.

Poor baby....kisses from Scout!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

Thank you everyone for your support!

i do NOT come from a family of animal lovers. . . so while they understand why i am upset. . . they do not really "get" the full extent of it so i felt like i may have been overreacting

Since you all proved that I have a right to be this upset - I have decided to tell FH about it ASAP and I have also spoken to my brother and sister and they have agreed to help me if I need to confront him

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

Posted by greenfreak

Posted by Wendy

I'm sorry but I would have hit (hard!) anyone who laid a hand on one of my dogs.

See, that would be my reaction too. Especially if an adult was instructing someone else to do that.

I think you have every right to be angry. Just as you are understanding that they are not animal lovers, they should be understanding that they don't reprimand or touch your dog.

Good luck with a solution.

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

I would not speak to this guy any longer or have him over if he refuses to stop. What an ignorant Loser. How terrible. You wonder where children learn their ways...look no further. You need to speak to the child's mother. It is HER job to teach her child that this is WRONG, despite what the idioit father is doing/.saying.

Poor Brutus, but you need to stand up for him, and if that means making enemies with a family member, so be it.

Message edited 8/20/2007 11:52:13 PM.

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

I agree with the other posters. I would've told this guy off right then and there after the first hit and no way would he or the child be allowed anywhere near the dog unless and until the father acknowledged that what he did was wrong and this was conveyed to the child.

And while I am 100% a woman who believes women should speak up for themselves and be empowered, unfortunately, I also agree that your cousin may only take it seriously if it comes from another man (your FH or brother). Your cousin might have the misconception that women (you, his wife) are overly "emotional" and he may discount anything you say.

I still would've gotten between them and the dog and made a scene if necessary to convey that I was dead serious--he crossed the line.

Best of luck to you and hugs and kisses to your very good dog!!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

I know it's uncomfortable to approach someone else's kid - But really ?? your poor dog is getting abused by a 2 year old !! - And it's not the kid's fault !! -

Maybe you could talk to the kid next time and explain to him (as best you can explain to a 2 year old) that it's "not nice" to hit the doggie !! -
What the hell does his dumb arse father WANT the dog to turn around and bite the kid's nose off ??? -

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

Thanks again for all the support!

I told FH about it last night and he wants to talk to my cousin. I was supposed to go there today for dinner but I really don't want to see them for a few days. I have to get myself together and confront them.

This is also not the first offense. . . I found out that he was teasing my brother's dog a few months ago and making my brother's daughter cry. My brother informed him that if he wanted to raise a serial killer - that was fine with him BUT if he didnt respect his kids or his pets he would no longer be welcome in his home. That put an end to his behavior.

Well, in January he will NOT be welcome in my home once i have a place to call my own!

Re: My cousin is teaching his 2y.o. to hit my dog!

wow this is so sad. Why is he intentionally teaching his DC to be abusive? In addition to the conversation your DH will have with him about your dog, I think maybe the rest of your family needs to plan an intervention with your cousin about how she is allowing him to do this.