I very closely supervise every interaction that takes place between him and a non-family member. Just a sensible precaution.
Posted on 02/25/2014 11:47:21 PM PST by Dallas59
In case you haven’t heard, an Alaskan Malamute killed a 6 day old baby in Wales this week. The dad had brought the dog home from the pub several months earlier because someone said they were going to get rid of it.
This news makes me incredibly sad. It also makes me painfully aware that the breed may soon be as demonized as the Pit Bull.
But humans also carry some responsibility for this tragedy. What with your fanciful ideas about dogs and such.
So at the risk of upsetting some of my readers, let me state what should be obvious to each of you.
.
I don’t care how many dresses or bow ties or hats you put on them, dogs are not human children. You can call them your baby and refer to yourself as mommy or daddy, but they are dogs. And as a dog, they will act in ways that dogs do. Clothing does not transform behavior. Only training will do that.
(Excerpt) Read more at rumpydog.com ...
I agree. I have two words that solve this problem: Labrador Retriever. The only breed we have ever had. Terminally happy dogs. They love kids too, especially those who throw tennis balls for them. Almost any other breed, I don't trust. I had a mean-ass cute little Chihuahua bite my ankle once for no reason.
that is not unique,it’s dangerous as the dobie is not recognizing who is in authority and that the child is not his.
We had dobies,they are an incredible breed but one time one simply gave that look, when 1 of our children WAS BEING TOLD SOMETHING-and was immediately put under command to SIT then out as in get out of this area NOW,
He was an incredible dog,a good guy but small kids and dogs can make issues of “dominance” and you know it too-he ain’t the boss.
He came into the house when there were only 2 kids under the age of 3 and was introduced to each new arrival on a leash,under command having scented the baby blanket before I went home and thankfully there were never any issues as our family grew.
My kids had to be watched as they always were trying to ride him he would let them climb up but would simply sit down and they would slide off,they used him as support while learning to walk,those show cropped ears fascinated them-he was protected from them LOL but he was extremely tolerant and did enjoy the kids but knew the limits.
He was very smart,understood his place,was reminded only once that time and did guard the children when everyone went downstairs to the street.
People were fascinated-he would sit on the stoop and watch the children and if an adult went near them he would stand up and people would get back,but if i were there,he knew who was in charge, and remain alert-i was always here with my kids as well and he was always with us.
Very good dog once he understood his job and very easily “fine tuned” so to say.
still miss that dog after all the years he’s gone.
You love them all but some were truly an outstanding dog.
Golden retrievers and golden labs are the safest breeds of dogs one can have. They have almost no,record of ever attacking anybody.
“I had a mean-ass cute little Chihuahua bite my ankle once for no reason.”
He bit your ankle because that was as high up as he could reach.
Bull crap.
The pecking order is adjusted every time a member is added or subtracted.
It also changes as alpha gets older and the younger gets stronger.
We had dogs at home when we had our first child and none of your fantasy played out.
Google Labrador Retriever attacks.
It happens much more often than people realize.
Totally in tune with this. Tired of people being too gags over dogs (and other animals), spewing platitudes and pablum about what they are. Cesar Milan has it right - they are dogs, not human. They need to be dogs, and you need to let them be dogs. Respect them as dogs, don’t love(?) them as humans. We’d have many fewer dog problems if that was the view.
Well, I wouldn’t put it that way, myself, but a big part of the problem (or “the” problem) is when dogs are allowed to maintain “alpha” status in the pack. The owner is the alpha. Or they better be.
I would never leave an infant or small child alone with a dog, period- no matter the history, how much I might trust them, or how much they love the kids.
I don’t leave my dogs home alone to fend for themselves if there were a fire or a break-in, either- so maybe I’m just weird.
Spitz type dogs have been on “the dangerous dog lists” forever, with not one but *two* represented.
[Husky and Malamute]
Why are people shocked?
http://www.petsdo.com/blog/top-ten-10-most-dangerous-dog-breeds
http://listverse.com/2012/05/04/top-10-deceptively-dangerous-dog-breeds/
[Love the Dobe “disclaimer” on this one] :D
http://www.curiosityaroused.com/nature/top-10-most-dangerous-dog-breeds-based-on-bite-fatalities/
And a Siberian breeder who has taken the time to make sense of it all.
http://www.onqsiberians.org/dangerous_dog_list.htm
Pomeranians have killed babies.
A dog is a dog, regardless of breed or size and should not be left alone with babies.
This ^.
Pack hierarchy constantly changes, often imperceptibly, sometimes moment by moment but usually so subtly we humans never notice.
The pack is fluid.
I think what I had in mind is that the Chihuahua would not be able to reach the baby. Unless they are really good climbers or jumpers and can somehow get into the crib?
Just a general statement, really.
I assume somebody left the baby within reach of the Pom.
Chihuahuas have no problem jumping onto sofas so that’s a good 18-24”, right there.
I am not part of the pack. I am their master, period. If I was part of the pack then it would acceptable for a member of the pack to challenge me and that ain’t happening.
One of the dogs is alpha in the pack. In my home it is the pit mix. It used to be one of the smaller males but the pit got big and the torch was passed.
Only an idiot would leave a small child or baby alone with a dog so I am not going to address that issue.
I can’t take all six of my dogs to work or to the gun range so they are left to fend for themselves. They can stay inside if the weather is bad or go out the doggie door if one of them starts a fire.
“or go out the doggie door if one of them starts a fire.”
*chuckle*
Here, bizarrely, it seems to switch between huge Odin and Gypsy the little Portuguese Podengo Medio.
Inside, it’s mostly Odin.
Outside, the fleet of foot and infinitely agile yet puny velociraptor Gypsy is the scourge of the pack.
Odin goes out and lifts that leg up and gloatingly marks his domain as high as he can reach...and then she zips in from behind and nips his hamstrings, causing him to stop mid-stream and assume a defensive crouch.
He gets the point.
:)
I understand. And disagree with none of what you’ve said.
One of mine is blind from birth & now, has neurological issues that sometimes make getting around difficult for her & another is extremely old & only emerges from senility when there’s people food or she realizes the door is open to go out (then, she’s *very* spry). Then I have 2 boys who are itching to kill each other & have to be kept separated. :shrug: I made my bed. I’ll live with it & be fine w/ that.
The problem is that she's attempting to treat the dog like a human, but it seems that the dog is both an animal, and one that was never properly socialized to begin with.
Mark
She was just doing her job, protecting the young ones.
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