Just another possiblity from a past experience. A few years ago, my wife and I had just moved into a new neighborhood. My male rott was right at 3 years old and has always been perfectly well behaved around kids or anyone else. Neighbors had an 8 year old boy who had been bitten by a cocker and was scared to death of dogs because of it. We decided to introduce him to our dog so he would see that he wasn't mean. Well Dakota sensed his fear right away, but allowed petting and was o.k. with the situation until I stopped paying attention and got into a conversation with the mom. Next thing I know Dakota has rolled over on his back trying to submit because he doesn't understand the boys fear, the boy steps around behind his head, where he can't see the boy anymore, so he spins back on his feet and gives a major warning growl/bark. Needless to say, the boy would never have anything to do with Dakota again.

Anyway, point was, maybe the kid has a fear of dogs, but saw all the other kids petting and figured if they can, he can. Dog senses fear, kid touches dogs nose (some dogs don't like that), so gives a warning.

Kory

Chuck:

That was way of showing support through humor. I've been down the road of shooting from the hip and then everyone jumping on me. You might not have been technically correct but your moral was right on the money!

I didn't think I was "jumping on" Chuck. Sorry, Chuck if it seemed that way. I thought we were having a discussion..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Well hell, I have been known to jump on someone...so here goes...

Chuck, oh hell now what was I going to jump on you about. I guess I'll get you next time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ps.

A snap is a warning. Plain and simple. I got snapped at yesterday and silly me I didn't learn my lesson so I got bit. But, you know what? The dog learned its lesson! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey all- I was rereading the original post and it said that kids had been around the dog all day pulling on her ears with no problem. To me that sounds like an owner who is putting her dog in a postition that it feels it needs to protect itself. Sounds like a nice dog who was sick of being abused by well meaning but rough kids and since owner was not doing anything to protect the dog she did it on her own. Do people think that a dog should take all sorts of abuse and do nothing to protect itself if a child is involved? I understand that peopel dont want their dogs ever biting kids but I sure as hell would have had something to say if a kid came up and pulled on my ears for a while.

No offense taken anyone!LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Yes a snap IS a warning....but it's a serious warning than many times ends up being a bite if someone dosen't move out of the way in time. that's all I really meant. The stuff I said about a snap being a bite that missed.....well 9 out of ten times was likely not accurate. It was impulsive for me to say that, I admit. However, I don't think saying 5 out of ten times is unreasonable. How many dogs are we saying have pin-point bite accuracy? I really think many times a person does pull away fast enough and so they are left saying "my dog snapped at me". Yes...I can see Richard and others point about intentional misses. I agree it can happen where the dog is missing intentionally. Bottom line in my opinion....a snap is a snap is a snap. It's bad news and there must be serious consequenses for the dog. Whether the owner is setting the dog up for the situation or not is another issue to be corrected. But a dog must be taught this is not an option no matter what.

I'm tempted to close this thread because it's been lurking around for a while. The only reason I won't is because I certainly don't want to sound like Mr. know it all on this as people have differing views that I respect. Unless someone else closes it, I'll leave it open for further comments, then if it starts to really get stale.......SEEEEEYYAAAAA.LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

GSDSAR-
The situation was not as you described. You are exaggerating the circumstances. Re-read my post. I did not subject my dog to being harrassed by children all day. I do see need for clarification, though, I should clarify that the toddler who pulled on her ear was more like gently tugging her ear while he stood next to her. The dog didn't mind at all.

I found a very good definition of the snap in the book called "Mine" by Jean Donaldson. This book was written for the SPCA.
"The snap is an air-bite - the dog deliberately misses. People frequently report that a dog tried to bite but missed or else they were able to move away quickly enough. This is unlikely, as a geriatric couch-potato dog has a reaction time better than an Olympic athlete. When dogs itend to bite, they bite. When they intend to snap, they snap."
I think it says it all. I have seen it a few times when the snap was finished and the hand just started to move away. :rolleyes:

GSDSAR-
The situation was not as you described. You are exaggerating the circumstances. Re-read my post. I did not subject my dog to being harrassed by children all day. I do see need for clarification, though, I should clarify that the toddler who pulled on her ear was more like gently tugging her ear while he stood next to her. The dog didn't mind at all. Sorry, I am with GSDSAR on this one. You should have read your dog better. Toddler pulling on the ear is a no-no. You can't possibly keep an eye on the dog much less a toddler under those circumstances. You made a mistake, fortunately no one was hurt. Move on and learn from it.

Here's how it went: The toddler was not the problem. The dog was content while he touched her, ears and all.
It was the 3 yr. old who touched her nose while she was lying down that she nipped at. I'll agree that with this child, the 3 yr. old, not the toddler, that I should have been watching closer, (the dog was at my feet under a table, positioned so that her head was easily accessible by people.)