Kids will be kids people.
Because of their dogs' short comings, *** MOD EDIT ***

I'll stand by my original post.
The myriad of consequences in a bad out come in the op. actions far out weight any monetary concern.

Kathleen, what did you see in the mirror the next morning?
Randy


*** MOD NOTE ***

I agree about personal attacks. Seems like the points were pretty well covered without them.

Thanks.

Randy, Im sure that personal attacks arent going to improve responsible dog ownership

I'm sorry Mary, did you take that personlly?

If I may paraphrase, if the shoe fits, then wear it.
Randy

Didn't really expect to get attacked over this. Tried to delete my belonging with this forum after reading few of the post but decided to explain myself because I am a responsible owner. Some of you all attack and fail to ask.

First of all it was 85 degrees here I am not leaving my dog in the car it's too hot not to mention my interior would probably be destroyed. Also the last time I was in a pet store without a dog I was robbed at gun point, so no thanks staying with my dog.

I never said the child was expected to understand. They don't know better that's why their parents need to be watching them. Regardless if I had my rhodesian who wants kids all over him or my gsd I would have made the kid stop and not just run up on my dog and been upset with the parents.

Regardless if he had the muzzle on or not I would have still been upset. I was honest I did forget his muzzle, but even if he was muzzled the parents should still watch their kid.

As far as my dogs training, he has come a long way and trainer feels he would be ok without the muzzle. He is out of the muzzle in our training sessions around children, he does like my friends 3 and 4 year old and they can platz him and make him sit. He never has tried to bite a child he just started barking at them crazy and out of control when he was about 6 months old. Hs final straw was when he jumped up on counter and started barking at a kid, that day I got on this site and someone refered me to a trainer. I intend to use the muzzle for the rest of his life and I think I will always se on on my dogs out in public. My brother had an incident at his vets office where a kid come and pet his lab and she licked him on the hand he went running to his mother and said "that dog bit me" thank god the receptionist saw the whole thing and had his back.

Ruger is with me pretty much 24/7. I tell every child I do not know not to touch him. His petting is in a controlled environment with children I know or the kids at the trainers (usually k9 officers children) that he is being set up for different scenarios.

I guess it is understandable maybe my dog is pictured as a dog who snaps at kids or growls etc. I take little signs of aggression VERY seriously so yes my dog barking at a child or anyone without reason is untolerable by me.

My original post was mainly because I was SO proud of my dog for laying their and obeying his command. All my practice of having him in a platz with kids running around, throwing balls, and making noise had paid off and it was the first time I'd seen it in action.

And when I looked in the mirror I saw ... well I think maybe I might need a haircut and I'd like to lose about 10 pounds.

I understand Kathleen's point completely and she should be proud. This was a milestone for this dog.

This store has an open door policy in which pets are allowed to come in with customers and everybody knows it when they walk in. I believe people take their own risks because not all dogs are pet or people friendly.

Parents should be even more vigilant in watching their kids because there are animals of all types there and kids assume they can be touched. Any intelligent parent should teach their offspring not to touch any animal or pet without the permission of it's owner.

Kathleen knows she made an error in not having a muzzle with her and took a chance. She almost got away with it. As a precaution, she could have picked up some type of muzzle while she was getting pet supplies. I suggest that she have two muzzles, one in each car for now on.

I truly feel the blame should be on the idiot parents because they are responsible for their children's actions. In any case, children should not be roaming any store because anything can happen pet related or not.

I'm a shift manager at one of these mega pet stores and while we do allow all leashed pets owners are responsible for their actions and their pet's actions while they're on that leash. Period. I have routinely had to tell people to leave who didn't have that leash, helped them shop if they were having trouble controlling that dog, and yes, plain telling them to leave if they have an aggressive dog. Never under estimate the stupidity of the general population.

There are many things I can suggest along these lines on what can be done, what should have been done. I suggest the OP didn't need catfood all that bad that day. In my mind a child aggressive dog with or without a muzzle has no place in a public setting where there are children. I can have a billboard, vest, harness, blinking neon sign on my dog that says please don't touch my dog and you know what. My dog will still come into contact with people.

No person, in a pet store or not, no matter what age should worry about being bit by someone's dog while in a friendly public setting. While the original post was somewhat sensationalized the incident still brought up a good topic to take to heart. I am responsible for my dog no matter what the circumstances. While parents should keep an eye on their kids, children in our society have a reasonable expectation of safety in public, that is why it's a CRIME to endanger children, that is why it's a CRIME to harm a child, and that is why it's a CRIME to have your dog bite a child. If your dog can be compared to a loaded handgun, has a known history, and is not 100% bombproof against acting upon that aggression unless you order it you better pray I'm not on your jury.

Kathleen,

I don't think anyone here is saying that parents shouldn't have to watch their children. I'm often shocked by how people aren't responsible for their children or themselves.

But ultimately, people who have a dog that is known to be aggressive to children...and it seems that you do as these are your words:

 Quote: Kathleen Heth

HUGE change for dog who tried to jump counters to get to a kid.

Well, you have a responsibility that you took too lightly, IMO. You took a dog that you know to be aggressive into a place where you knew it was very likely that kids would be present.

So it was hot? You could have:

a.) left the A/C running if you were only running in for cat food.

b.) bought a cheap muzzle while at the store, like Melissa said.

c.) gone shopping for cat food SOME OTHER TIME. This is my personal favorite.

I'm sorry, but it's not like you brought your kid-aggressive dog into the store to put out a fire or save hostages. You put a child at risk...to buy cat food.

What disturbs me the most about your post(s) is that you claim to be a responsible dog owner, but yet you show not a whit of responsibility for what a dangerous situation you created. You don't acknowledge that there was anything wrong with what you did...in fact, you keep passing the blame. How can you be a responsible dog owner if you don't take responsibility for your actions?!?! Would you have continued to think that you were innocent of responsibility if your dog had, in fact, bitten the child?

Yes, it's a two-way street and people should also be responsible for thier children. But in this case...you were driving on the wrong side of the road, IMO. Two wrongs don't make a right, remember?

I'm happy that your dog is making progress, and I'm happy that you're making a sincere effort to work on your dog for his issues. But you certainly won't get any sympathy or understanding from me if you can't even admit you made a mistake. You got lucky...but that doesn't make it okay.

I'm sorry, but the media is glutted with cases of people not doing basic things to insure the safety of society concerning their dogs and it makes me crazy. You can't call yourself a responsible dog owner if you don't act like one and take responsibility for your bad decisions.

 Quote: Denise Hau

This store has an open door policy in which pets are allowed to come in with customers and everybody knows it when they walk in. I believe people take their own risks because not all dogs are pet or people friendly.

i really have an issue with this. if you have a dog you know to be aggressive, it is your responsibility to ensure it is under control and unable to injure another animal or person. honestly - that is not only responsible ownership, it's also just basic consideration. other people shouldn't be 'taking a risk' that someone is going to be ignorant enough to bring an uncontrolled aggressive animal into a store.

i don't know if that's how you meant it, but i was a little shocked to see this. we need more people stepping up and taking responsibility for their dogs and their dog's actions, not sloughing off responsibility b/c other individuals should have an expectation of risk.