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Would you let your child near a guard dog without you watching?

on the news just recently have been the reports about the rotty that killed a one year old baby and mauled a seven year old boy that was carrying it!

the media made a fuss about this and the dog had to be put to sleep! the parents and grandparents, didn’t mention until the media had made such a fuss about it, that the rotty was in fact a guard dog!

I am putting this question the dog owners and everyone else on this forum, would you let your one year old child (being carried by a 7 year old) near a rottwieler guard dog, and not supervise the dog and the children to try and prevent this kind of incident.

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Answer #1

Frankly, I wouldn’t leave any child alone with any dog…I love dogs, and have had at least one by my side every day for nearly 60 years. But they are animals, and animals have quirks…a high prey drive dog, might very well see a child, especially a baby, as a toy…it’s small, and makes noises like a squeaky toy. Little kids move fast, and make lots of noise…Dogs are driven by instinct, and act in the moment…what appears to be a “vicious attack” could very well have been just a “doggie game”…unfortunately, in the end, it looks exactly the same.

I don’t quite believe this was a professionally trained guard dog…an owner who had $15,000 to $20,000 invested in a Personal Protection Dog, wouldn’t be letting the dog go unsupervised…do ya think? This sounds like the “same ol” “same ol”…The “guard” part is the fact that it was a Rottie, and it was protective of it’s territory (they’re born and bred to be that way), and anybody who’d let their little one’s go unsupervised around a dog, especially one that wasn’t a part of the family, should have their heads examined…

phrannie

Answer #2

No I wouldn’t - although these dogs are trained to protect they can forget who you are and may mistake your identity. I would not risk it. However if it was a family dog that also was protective of the family that is a whole different matter. Because it has been brought up within the family and been taught to behave around a child.

Answer #3

but if it is a baby of only one year old, then should you then just believe that the family dog is going to be ok with it, I mean every dog can get jealous when someone or something new is brought into the household and less attention is given to the dog??

Answer #4

Dear magictink,

No, these dogs are trained to protect, they might not forgive a child for touching them ect. In some cases of abuse, the children are being too rough with the animal; subconcious abuse. I’m not sure ANY responsible parental figure would let their next generation near something designed do maim or even kill.

~plainwhitets

Answer #5

if you were the one that owned it. they are trained to protect their family, so the chances of your own guard dog attacking one of your family members is slim. if it’s someone elses that’s a really bad idea.

Answer #6

Any dog I don’t care how trained can turn bad. First off who lets a 7 year old watch a 1 year old.

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