That is a perfect answer to talking to her. It won't make either of you feel bad.


I would never bring Galen around any dog that did that. That dog has issues from the attack that the woman should have addressed immediately. She needs a behaviorist. Maybe let her know that you are going to talk to one ;) and maybe she should too. It might help her know that there is someone out there that can help her baby. . Good luck.

I really wish we were closer. I think Galen and Wallee would just love to play with each other.

I wouldn't risk it. Even if it means insulting your friend over it. I'd just tell her I'm not comfortable with her dog being around my dog. If her feelings get hurt so be it, better that then thousands in vet bills for a dog attack or worse.....

That's right. Wallee's our guy!!!

I agree completely. You don't need to lie or make excuses. Make the choice to protect Wallee physically and psychologically by asking the other owner not to bring her dog around. Do it proudly and firmly and OWN it. Your responsibility to protect your boy comes first. You do not need to provide a training ground for the neighbor's problematic dog.

I agree with you and some of you all may be able to do this. I for one, could not. This does not mean I love my little ones any less, I would do and have done anything and everything to make sure they were healthy and safe. I just have a harder time saying those things and if I can bumper it and maybe not be so abrasive, that is the path I choose to take. I'm glad that we have given the OP several different choices and ideas. I'm sure we all end up at the same place - keeping Wallee safe!

Oh, goodness, you don't have to be plain-spoken or even abrasive to tell somebody how much you value your baby's safety if you don't want. You just begin explaining the meetings with her baby have to stop because Wallee's safety is at risk and your now worried he's becoming so fearful that her dog might start to turn him into a fear-biter himself as he ran and hid last time and there is no way you can chance ruining his sweet personality and how that would kill your heart if you did allow that to happen.

Then add that as sad as it is that you can't help her anymore, she'll understand that that sweet baby of yours always comes first and foremost and you'd die to keep him safe and healthy and happy. But whatever happens, that baby of yours is your main responsibility and no power in earth would make you risk his well being again - so no more sessions that might hurt him ever. And you know she understands and can find better help with a real dog behaviorist that can actually help her dog get better. At some point, your voice will waver a bit because you are sincerely trying to keep your Wallee safe and keep a friendship with her and then you'll smile really big and bright, letting her know you fully expect she understands that Wallee means everything to you. If your defending your baby's right to stay safe from her aggressive dog doesn't touch her heart, maybe she's not quite the good neighbor you might have thought she was.

I agree with all of what you have to say. It certainly needs to be put so that there is no doubt that this woman will not be able to experiment with her dog's socialization issues on little Wallee but in the same token she's a neighbor so the OP has to be careful about how she approaches the problem since they live in the same neighborhood and she could make things hard on the OP forcing her to have to move if the neighbor is offend and she turns out to be psycho or something, you just never know, lol. Just say it in a way that means business but isn't completely downright mean. Sometimes there's no way to not insult someone when it comes to the whole I don't want your dog to play with mine even if it's said in the nicest way possible so the OP should prepare for there to be some potential backlash from the neighbor.

Hmmmmm, I always tend to think like a MOM and react like a MOM....fur or skin...no different! There is no reason to be nasty or abrasive a simple conversation as a MOM to MOM. No matter how you put it to her she may get angry, some folks are, after all....crazy yorkie owners!!! Or she may even be relieved!

Thanks for all the wonderful advice. I am going to just tell it to her nicely. I will let her know that I have consulted with many who also feel like I do about trying to expose poor Wallee to this behaviour. I have always been able to move Wallee away during walks before but last week was the first time she actually asked me if she could bring him over. I am going to tell her that I do not want Wallee hurt. I did try to explain to her that the first meeting with Wallee when he got bit that poor Wallee didn't deserve that either as he was only 12 weeks old. Her response was that Wallee got in her dogs face. To me that signifies that she is more concerned about her dog than poor Wallee so I will not let him near Wallee a third time. :thumbup:

Good idea. You need to do whatever makes you most comfortable in the way that you are most comfortable making sure that Wallee is kept safe! He's a lucky guy! Good luck!

We're on your and Wallee's side!!!

Yeah for the great advice. I explained to her about her dogs fear aggression and how I did not want that to happen to Wallee and she was great about it....whew..

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I'm glad she took it well but when a person is very determined, others seem to get that it won't do any good to disagree or put up much of a fuss anyway. Good for you and good for her and good for both the dogs!!!

I would not trust it personally, to big of a risk