Regarding kids mingling with certain dogs on my territory (the pet store), I never thought twice about intervening (usually just by saying "no! don't touch" to the kid) when I saw a child trying to approach another customers dog. Particularly if it was a dog who was exhibiting negative body language (which unfortunately parents were often oblivious to, many dog owners as well ), or if it was a dog that I had already witnessed lashing out. I've also seen a ridiculous number of timid dog owners simply freeze and stare helplessly as though hoping for the best when a child approached their not-so-predictable dog !
Not everyone appreciated me telling their kid to stop and sometimes the dog owner would look perturbed, but frankly I don't give a damn about niceties when witnessing a possible and totally preventable bite in my store on my watch ... I've intervened in public as well despite the occasional awkwardness. It's not fun, but sometimes some dog owners and some parents need to be jarred back to their senses!
Chip, since you are trying to understand here. I can't offer much but as a possible explanation for the dog's behaviour, it is entirely possible that she was corrected (in the past) for growling.
It has been posted on this very board several times that dogs corrected for things like growling, stiffening or hackling (warning signs) often simply stop warning when they are about to bite, and just bite.
Although with the way you described the owners, I'm not sure if it's the case here.
Mike Arnold Webboard User Reg: 07-09-2004
Posts: 1344
Loc: CNY
Offline
Mr. Wise:
Agent Smith: "Never send a human to do a machine's job."
Agent Smith: "I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species and I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed and the only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You're a plague and we are the cure."
Ah yes... Agent Smith...
Perhaps a bit colder but none the less...
Good call, I think.
But I digress...
Mike A.
"I wouldn't touch that dog, son. He don't take to pettin." Hondo, played by John Wayne
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Re: Got snapped in the face today...
), or if it was a dog that I had already witnessed lashing out. I've also seen a ridiculous number of timid dog owners simply freeze and stare helplessly as though hoping for the best when a child approached their not-so-predictable dog 
!
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