Could very well be that in the name of security, some things are getting pushed just a little too much. VERY possible.
But,
I'm still waiting on, 'the rest of the story'.

 Quote: anne jones

"It'll be interesting to see what the surveillance tapes have to say about how it came about" Quote: Randy

I wonder do they have them throughout the entire airport...encompassing all areas?

I'm at Dulles, and the surveillence cameras would encompass the Customs area. Some of the cameras are mobile, however, and may have been turned the wrong way in the moment. I know this happened at the Main Terminal Customs Inspection Hall, but I'm still trying to get the rest of the details.

I am assuming that this is a CBP dog. But then the one article indicated it may have been a dog associated with the Front Royal Academy.

I'm not sure of the training for CBP canine handlers, but I was speaking with a TSA canine handler awhile ago, and she said they are only sent off for 2 weeks of training before being sent home with their canines. At that point they are on their own, except for some managed excercises. I've never owned/trained a working dog, but this seemed an awfully short time frame to me!

Nancy

 Quote: Melissa Thom

100% handler error.

Yep. Completely. It is unfortunate that kicking him would not have gotten the dog off of the child.

 Quote: randy allen

Could very well be that in the name of security, some things are getting pushed just a little too much. VERY possible.
But,
I'm still waiting on, 'the rest of the story'.

Robert K all ready posted the most current

http://www.wusa9.com/news/breaking/story.aspx?storyid=97332&catid=158

100% Inexperienced Handler Error

I am by no means any kind of expert but I do know and own sharp dogs. My 98 lb GSD rescue has bitten 2 six year old boys. Totally different circumstances but the public outrage and call for death were exactly the same. 8 stitches to the back of the head of the family child and severely damaged muscle tissue-swollen/bruised/broken blood vessels to the hand of the nephew. Two separate occasions.

He was scheduled for destruction when a co-worker contacted me about the situation and asked if there was anything I could do to help this 10 month old pup. Long story short, several discussions with bi-law enforcement/vets/city officials - the dog was turned over into my custody.

The human/natural aspect that I haven’t seen mentioned is the HANDLERS need/want/desire to protect and preserve life. HE’s face to face with a terrified, screaming 4 year old little girl – possibly knowing that HE and his canine companion are causing this outburst. HE is in a training/learning situation, in public with all eyes on HIM and for a split second, I would think HE feels some sort of anxiety, helplessness, maybe even panic – projected towards this commotion. Even the most docile dogs will pick up on and be affected by this type of reaction/adrenaline coming from their handler, granted - not usually to this extent. With the high drives and protective nature our GSD's and Malinois’ this type of split second reaction, to remove a threat, is not uncommon. Cougar, badger, porcupine, attack cat or 4 year old child – any of which may be causing a discomforting reaction to their handler.

Hind sight is always 20/20 and I’m sure this handler wants nothing more than to replay that situation, act quicker and simply walk the dog away – unless of course he’s the arrogant type and doesn’t have a clue what got into the dog. Needless to say – as Michael Ellis so gracefully pointed out to me, these sharp dogs are far too serious for this type of work – I’m thinking that perhaps some handlers may be too.

Here is a case of Customs not fitting the K9 to the working environment. We use Goldens, beagles, etc for drug inspections in schools for that very reason. Minimal chance of biting or aggression. We use Mali's and Shepherds for explosive detection work in cargo areas, vehicles, or areas where we can control the people near the K9.

For the life of me, I can't understand the need for a dual purpose K9 in a single purpose detection setting. Judging from the info that our company hears, you're going to see more K9's deployed in the passenger areas of airports across the country.

 Quote: scott garrett

I'm going to get flamed for this but, I don't really care and I will not defend my statement. Pound sand if you don't like it.

I would've kicked that dog as hard as possible if it attacked my child.

You would've been in shackles faster than you can say "defending my child." Government workers (and their dogs) are much more "precious" than the poor people they can sometimes victimize.

I would've done the same thing regardless, however.

There are probably hundreds of dog bites every day. The only ones that get reported are those that cause serious injury or if a police dog is involved. Police canine, make thousands of contacts with the public on a daily basis with out such incidents. Granted, this, in my opinion, should not have happened. I teach all my dog handlers; an accidental dog bite should happen no more frequently than an accidental weapons discharge. The fact is, accidents do happen. This officer could well suffer sort of discipline, I don't know. Beyond that, dogs don't need to be muzzled, officers don't need to stop bringing dogs around the general public. This is in all probability a dog that has not had any apprehension training. It's a single purpose drug dog. Only the handler and trainer know if this dog was predisposed to "attack" a person without warning or provocation. They are the ones that will have to answer that question. As tragic as this is, the parents at least will not have to worry about medical bills.

DFrost

Yes Chris,
I don't know what kind of grief you'd get, but you certainly would have made the problem worse.
At the very least, you would have been impeding the very person the dog knows who can interrupt the action and take charge, thereby you would be causing more damage to the child.
At the worst, you'd have your leg torn apart while the officer is still trying to get a handle. So now we have two injured parties.
All you'd be doing is amping the dog and getting in the way of the officer, who NEEDS to get CONTROL of the situation.

AND your child still would have been bitten.
Yeah Chris, this is a good idea.

Still waiting for the rest of the story.

The report said that the child backed away in fear and cried out. The Handler should have known that the dog sensed her pheromones and saw her as a prey item. The Handler is definitly at fault for not being proactive as well as no control of the dog after the fact