Check this out:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/news/s_177515.html

What do you guys think? My last dog (akita/shepX) seemed to have a problem with the black people in the apartments next door, but I think that was more so because they were really rowdy. The dog never had problem with my daughter's best friend or her family, they're black.

I think that it's sad that a dog that has bitten children in the past is brought in for school demonstrations. What were they thinking??
Now the dog will probably end up dead, which perhaps is better, but who knows what the whole story really is? I would tend to think that this is a handler problem, not a dog problem.

I live in Pittsburgh, and know quite a few police K9 officers and the NAPAWADA master trainer...there is much much more to the first incident than the media wants to present, it is very slanted!!!! But - it WAS stupid to take this dog into a school..!!!!

Wow now that is just nutz what the hell were they thinking? Total lack of common sense-but then again, did they ever do a check to see if drugs were in these kids homes? As far as dog being racist-wouldn't suprise me, a friend of my husband and mine owned a Shar-Pei and no one of Asian or black ethicity could get near him or the owner. I have been told it is because they smell different-could be complete bullpucky but I don't know because I don't go around sniffing people. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Dogs aren't racist. That incident, if it played out as stated, was nothing more than a lack of common sense. Accidental dog bites should occur no more frequently than an accidental weapons discharge.

DFrost

The mere fact that someone would call an animal racist bugs the crap out of me. To an animal a person is a person. To be racist the dog must be cognitive of what constitutes racism. I have no doubt that animals may take a certain dislike to persons whom they may have had negative contact with. Or of people who may have taunted or injured them. Shoot, they may even not like a class of people by the way they smell or use their bodies in the way they move. This does not mean they are racist. They are only protecting themselves from something they percieve as a possible threat to their well being which may have come from having prior bad experiences with persons who smell, move, act or speak a certain way. I have been chased by many a "hood" dog while working the streets. I dont make a big deal of calling THEIR dogs racist. Those dogs are only acting to a strange person that suddenly materializes in their enviroment. To those that would call an animal racist,..I call them ignorant and uninformed. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Nice post Howard.

I really question how much of that article is accurate, to the fullest extent. That would be like me saying my infant daughter is racist because she only vomits on blacks.......WHAT THE F*** are they thinking? For the council people it is politics as usual....for the others, perhaps they need a bite in the ass to realize how uneducated they sound. How unfortunate.........for everyone invovled.

From the article:
"Bobby Kirkland said his daughter was second in line behind a white girl to pet the dog. Though she flinched, Dolpho allowed the white girl to pet him, but leapt and attacked when Angela Kirkland's turn came up, Bobby Kirkland said."

Im just curious, but I wonder what demeanor Angela displayed to the dog just before she attempted to pet Dolpho. I mean she just saw the white girl in front of her flinch, so likely Angela was exhibiting unsureness as she approached next to pet the dog. I wonder when Angela went to pet Dolpho with her hand and being unsure of the dog, was she figidity or withdrawling with her hand as she went to pet him. As we all know dogs are incredible at reading body language and how others approach them.

Also, where was the petting done, top of head?, saddle area? under chin/chest area?

Robert,
Thanks. Just representin'.

Luke,
Youre on the right track. There is a current thread under the "Dogs that are too aggressive towards people" portion of this BB that addresses this exact issue. I hope this PD doesnt end up losing an asset because of this incident. Fortunately the 14 year old "child" wasnt injured. Could be the dog was just giving a warning. DO NOT believe what you read in the newspaper. I personally have prepared press releases and was in shock when I read the newspapers' account of what happened during an incident. This, after given the true facts by someone who was there. Happens so much its disgusting. Thats why I only get the Sunday paper (plus I need the TV guide).