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If you ever want calm and protective look into live stock guardians. : )
You are reading it from a human view point though, from a dog view point the person/toddler did something to provoke the attack. It may seem out of the blue, but always on a deeper look it it's never an unprovoked attack. Humans and Dogs communicate differently. The toddler might have moved in a way or looked at the dog in away that was threatening. That's not unprovoked.
Unless you have some sort of vet or animal behavior degree, I'd say we are both about equally qualified to give opinions here.
I think these arguments (not just yours, Sprite) miss the point that maybe dogs shouldn't be around people if the animals are so sensitive to triggers known only to them.
My neighbor's very large dog one day all of the sudden bit my relative for no apparent reason. Now, maybe my relative looked at the dog the way the dog didn't like, but I don't think we are required to be dog mind readers.
Sometimes a dog thinks it "owns" a certain person or more than one person. There are dogs that will bite if someone gets close to "their" person. The grandmother could have reached out to touch one of the children that the dog felt it "owned" and it could have gone after her for that reason. Did the grandmother have bite wounds or just neck and spinal injuries? I was wondering if the dog had been biting her or if it just knocked her down and jumped on her causing the injuries. How old was the grandmother? An older person can be fragile and hurt by being knocked down and stomped on even without bites. I once had a fox terrier who would bite anyone who tried to touch me and my friend had a small dog that would bite anyone who tried to touch her. That is an example of the dog "owning" a person instead of the person being the pack leader in charge and the dog the follower.
[/QUOTE]Only once did I see a dog -snap-aka Go red.
An abused German shepherd that we'd rescued. He did indeed snap one night and attacked me.
Could darn well of killed me if I hadn't been lucky enough to escape.
Yes, we put him down. Very hard and sad for us.
However, I nearly immediately went out and got a new German Shepherd. He is one of the greatest loves of my life.
I've owned shepherds since I was 5 years old. About 11 of them now. Never had a problem except this one poor dog.
Anyway, yes, he snapped. It's rare IMO, but it can happen.
I feel awful for this poor family.
Wish there was more info.
QUOTE=SpriteGal;8715801]I have to agree there is always a sign of a dog being distressed, or upset before an attack. They never just snap and attack, it's usually misinterpretation from the person who didn't read the signs that an attack was coming.
So then....just get rid of dogs in general? Kids NEED dogs and they don't usually just snap but I would be careful of the breed I chose!What I am trying to say is that dogs can snap and kill a human.
And giving excuses such as the dog doesn't just snap because maybe the human looked at it the wrong way doesn't fly.
Hahahahaha!! So totally agree!My neighbor's very large dog one day all of the sudden bit my relative for no apparent reason. Now, maybe my relative looked at the dog the way the dog didn't like, but I don't think we are required to be dog mind readers.
I have known many many rescuers and dog show people that owned, bred, or fostered in hundreds and hundreds of dogs. I have heard many PERSONAL stories from knowledgeable people, I trust the first hand accounts of real dog knowledgeable people far more than "Internet stories with an agenda".
If people can't read (or don't try to read) signals then they may think a dog "just snapped". People are often just plain stupid when it comes to dogs.
In this case if the grandmother rarely babysit it is possible the 1 year old baby may have started getting very stressed, if the baby started crying frantically and sounded REALLY distressed the dog could easily have gotten concerned and agitated.
Baby crying in an unusually stressed/frantic way + Stranger is handling/doing things to frantic baby = Stranger is upsetting/harming baby. Just because people people do not UNDERSTAND the dog's logic or motivation does not mean they are crazy.
This video is another example, 7 million hits because people think "it is soooo cute! Dog and baby singing together!" If this dog ever suddenly bites this baby then the owners will surely say "Oh my god, the dog just snapped! He loved the baby so much and then one day he just went crazy!". In fact it is obvious that the dog doesn't like the baby but the parents can't see that, they only see what they want to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyk1HXvCNks
When we bring home a new foster dog, the male pit wears a muzzle for a couple of days and drags a leash. Then once he accepts the new dog he is totally safe with it (but I don't leave him alone with it). He's great with all of my dogs and cats. You have to know your dog and use common sense.
I have a Lab and a Pap and both are protectors but if......large or small....they bite....they die!!!!
Dobermans were my breed for many years, showed them, did rescue, etc... Guess I am getting old, I wanted a calmer dog with less prey drive, switched to an Anatolian. Totally different canine mindset, had to research as this dog was so very different, but awesome once this dumb human got edumacated about how their mind works.
If you ever want calm and protective look into live stock guardians. : )
My nephew was nearly killed by a friend's chow. Totally unprovoked.
They were laying on the floor watching tv. My nephew barely nudged the sleeping chow and he went for my nephews neck.
The family swears the dog NEVER showed any aggression.
After my nephew was rushed to the ER my sister was told he was very lucky because of the position of the wounds. A different spot would have killed him before he made it to the ER.
I really don't care how many dogs someone has owned or fostered or how they research it.
SOME DOGS SNAP!
ETA: the dog was put down because he was capable of snapping.
Smart move IMO because it may have saved someone else's life.