Recently a huge dog attacked a kid. It was a Rottie mix Matiffs, it looked like a big Tan Rottie but bigger. The dog was out and the neighbor's 9 yr. old started petting it.

Going by the neighbors this was a common scene, the neighborhood kids would pat this dog. Something happen and the dog attacked sending the child to the hospital. The dog was taken by animal control and with owners Ok it was put down.

My problem with this is nobody learned anything.

I have a Doctor friend that still thinks that stray dogs should be petted and reasoned with like a human. Dogs can be Man best friend, but it didn't start out that way. We must respect the fact that these are animals, though demostic, still an animal.

I think in a case like that somebody should call its owner and tell him his dogs out. Or the what if should be discussed. I'm sure he would have argued not my dog.

You should never approach without some kind of plan and control tool. I have on occassion taken stray Rotties and Pit bulls back to there owners. But its done with caution and a leash and or makeshift muzzle.

I just always hate to read about, or hear about this happening to a child.

One of the things that I have been doing for the past two years is going into as many of the local schools and day care centers as I possibly can and teach DOG SAFETY. AKC provides all the materials that I need, including a great video. Plus a book that all the children get to keep, the title of the Book is SAFETY AROUND DOGS, and the sub title is Your Safety Begins with You! I also ask the teachers to please let the children know that it is a good book for the parents to read as well

Inge is my four year old GSD, she and I are a Certified Therapy Dog Team,we go into the schools together, and my prayer is that if I can teach this class and it keeps one child from being bitten, than I have done my job.

I know that every one on this list knows that all dogs do not like all people. So I stress, do not ever go up and approach any strange dog. And if the owner is there, always ask permission to pet the dog. Children will just go up and pat the dog on the head, and many children are just eye level to the dog, to me that is a bite waiting for a place to happen.

I.C. is my male GSD and he is also my Service Dog, when my mobility is not as steady as it should be. I was down at Wal-Mart about a month ago and I.C. and I were getting ready to go into the store, when I saw this three or four year old break loose from his mothers hand, and he came running up to I.C. and before I could stop him, he reached up to pet I.C., I then very politely told the child that he needs to ask the owner's permission,before he can pet the dog, as some dogs bite, then I turned to the parent and told her that this is something that the parents can teach at home. I.C. by the way is 95 pounds, and has a wonderful temperment, and I am very thankful for that.

It is sad that the dog had to be put down, yes I know that the dog should not have been out. But did the dog jump a fence? I can't imagine a dog owner of that dog just letting the dog out to roam free. I'm sure the child will have physical as well as emotional scars for a long time to come. This is just sad for all that were involved. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />


Blessings To All,
Joyce

Joyce - I.C. is a darn good dog, the parents of that child some have been reprimand, you were definetly right in telling them the liability of letting their child touch every dog.

I personally won't let my grand kids touch any dog that not ours or not with its owner. I really won't leave my dog with them for any appreicatble amount time. My dogs seem to like or care for them but I won't trust the nature of a dog, Life is too precious. Kids are too unpredictable.

I agree the owner of that Rot/Mat was really at fault, the dog should not have been allowed to run free with out its owner. But it was allowed and he never expected the dog to attack the child.
I was an off and on thing that the Kids in that neighborhood would/could pet this dog. Then something went wrong. This was am lively full spirirted dog, well muscled but I don't know how much OB or socailization he had. Some people think this built in, just by being around human.

Sometimes good intentions is just ignorance.

I don't let stray kids touch my dogs, even though on a commmand and the dogs would allow and enjoy it especially Mulan, but the is risk too high!!!

Dear Don,

I still do not understand why the owner of the dog allowed the dog to run free <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> My heart goes out to that little girl.

You are so right when you stated "Sometimes good intentions is just ignorance" I can deal with ignorance because sometimes it is a case of not knowing any better, but what I can not deal with is stupidity. The owner was at fault.

Blessings To All,
Joyce

Joyce apparently this owner is like my Doctor friend she thinks that her dog is so much like a human that she can purposely let it outside to try to run dogs and people off their property. I don't know if she thinks its funny or that she like the dog to think its protecting the grounds.
But to let a growling dog out on an approaching person/negihbor?

I asked her not to do that, and told her why. Her comment was Misty would not hurt a fly. But I asked her if the dog would bite, she said that she beleives she would. But when upset it won't bite, were is the logic?

She is a Doctor, with two degrees, so she is Book smart. But she doesn't know beans about dogs, IMO.

I agree the owner is at fault, but he believes something happen to the dog, that made him go haywire. I think it was owner's neglience.
I say the dog is just a dog, and things outside pack members are on thin ice, somethings they can't do, like pulling with the dogs tail!!!

Don,
This sort of thing really pi$$es me off.
I hope your friend is a successful doctor, because if this dog bites someone is going to cost her a lot of money. I think you should direct her to this site or get permission to copy these posts into an e-mail. Better yet, bring her to see some PP dogs work. What she is doing is downright stupid. I know that's not a nice thing to say, but it's the truth. I have gone so far as to put people in a bite suit and let them experience (under very controlled conditions with safety being foremost) what a bite feels like. That changes people's mind real quick about taking stupid chances.

Daniel I agree, but Spock would never agree to getting in a bite suit. Thats too barbaric. I can hear her now saying Misty is not like other dogs she would not hurt a fly, but she thinks she the boss around there. Why she is too fat to jump up in the bed sometime at night. She is not dangerous.

I don't know why people try to make their dog so special that the dog reasons like a human.

If it loks like a dog, barks and has teeth its a dog. You have to respect the fact that its animal and it must be respected as one. Though its domestic its still an animal.

It seems that in her exculsive neighborhood they are all crazy, she stated that while taking the garbage out (she has 2 sons 17-18), the neighbors CHOW and PIT BULL ran toward her, the Pit advance and she let it smell her hand and it followed her to the front door. Her son adviced not to feed it or it will return.

That place sounds like a accident waiting to happen, I asked her to call them and say her I'll keep mine in if you keep yours in. She said that was silly??? I asked how silly does a dead Misty sound or being bitten by the untrusting CHOW.
She is mad at me now. Go figure.