Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
I have a 30lb dog and I'm terrified when kids run towards him to pet him. I usually pull my dog away and go in a different direction. It's not that my dog is aggressive but he's an animal at the end of the day and they can be unpredictable when startled. The worst thing an owner can do is assume because his dog is gentle with people in the home that he is going to be gentle with everyone else. Be smarter as an owner and be smarter as a parent.
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You either rescued your dog or you failed to socialize him properly in the critical first four months of his life. Your dog also picks up on your "terror" and has learned children are to be feared. Rehabilitation is possible, but if the dog is bad with children, then yes it is up to the owner to recognize that and control the interaction. Particularly if he wasn't taught proper bite inhibition, again, as a puppy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
This is the mentality that caused the death of that old woman and plenty of other people. I'm sure her dog was properly socialized and trained and I'm sure he was typically at ease with strangers. Then one day he's not because at the end of the day he's still a simple minded animal. After how many savage fatalities have we heard how the dog was always gentle and great with people prior to the incident? I don't think you can ever be overly cautious when it comes to the welfare of strangers around your dog. Especially children.
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Why on earth would you assume both of these claims? The owner might have
believed it to be true, but owners often have no clue. Sure, a dog is a simple-minded animal, but some dogs are well trained, properly socialized, soft mouthed, simple-minded animals. It's up to the owner to put in the effort and many do not.