The GSD that I totally bonded with, my parent's dog, performed a sustained attack against my older father. We were lucky because I happened to hear the dog barking, I ran to the site of the attack and grabbed the dog off of my father. We got this dog at 3.5 months old, realized after it was entirely unsocialized (no exposure to houses, steps, leashes, etc. pretty sad). He was always suspicious of men, and unfortunately my father played into this by acting improperly. When the attack occurred, it was accompanied by sharp barking, indicating that the dog was insecure. I saw this coming because my dad would annoy the dog, and withdraw at any sign of aggression. At first, there was a growl, then a snap, then a bite, then an attack. In my eyes, it was predictable. I had warned against the poor behavior to no avail, and all of a sudden I rescued my elderly father from a sustained GSD attack. I loved that dog. He was a wonderful dog that met a bad end at the hands of ignorant people. I guess I just really need to vent about it. Don't get a dog that you don't feel comfortable taming to your needs.

I wanted to add that in addition to multiple serious puncture wounds, my dad had a large patch of skin ripped off. I'm glad that these have healed over after many weeks. I don't think he's learned his lesson, but what can you do.

What you can do is NEVER have any dog around this man. Obviously he is one of those people that never learn and it would be unfair (to both the dog and your dad), not to mention postentially dangerous,to bring a dog into the home under these circumstances.

So, before I vent, perhaps the 'between the lines' stuff that I think happened...

You knew your father should never have been left alone around the dog you 'totally bonded with.' And the expected or should have been expected outcome was predicted by prior behavior exhibited by the dog responding to your father's 'taming.'

Predictable behavior trained into the dog by your father...

And you rescued your 'elderly father from a sustained GSD attack.'

And I presume the dog was put down in so far as 'he was a wonderful dog that met a bad end...'

And your lesson learned was 'don't get a dog that you don't feel comfortable taming to your needs.' Taming to your needs...

You had an absolute obligation and responsibility to protect this dog from your father. The lesson you should have learned is that you failed this dog utterly. Utterly.

'I saw this coming' and you didn't take appropriate action to protect the dog that 'I totally bonded with.' Far out.

That you could offer up this post as a 'vent' is beyond the pale.

I just re-read your post and you note the dog was 'my parents dog.' Elderly father.

I don't wish dog bites on anyone. Perhaps your elderly father suffers from dementia...

Your post has little to do with the dog and everything to do with people. Tame a dog, indeed.

You'll forgive me if my sympathy is directed to the dog.

My God!

What a miserable set of circumstances.

" I don't think he's learned his lesson, but what can you do."

 Quote: Elaine Haynes

What you can do is NEVER have any dog around this man.

And you already knew that.

Just can't fix STUPID! And yet another dog pays the price for owner stupidity.

Mike said it a lot better then I am capable of.

My father is starting to lose some capacity and learning is not going to happen any more. He is set in some habit.

Harley is very reactive to him. No interactions are permitted. Dog is with me, that is it.

My parents live right next door so my dad is always near. Dexter will play with my dad, but Harley not. My dad gets mad because Harley bark and run so Harley would just escaladed in aggression.

At the first bark to let me know that my father as come out of his house Harley is called back to me, what ever I am doing and what ever time.

I won't risk my dog or my dad.

I completely understand the anger and frustration that has been expressed, because I fully agree and have felt the same things. The bottom line is that this was not my decision, none of it was. I just spent a ton of time with the dog and did a lot of training with him.

I'm still grieving over him which is why I wrote the post.

I really don't understand why you posted it Claudette. An old man teasing a dog till the dog bit him. ****ing stupid.