Reporter wasn't White House dog's 1st bite victim

AP ^

[jacquej]

do you know the difference between a snap, a nip, and a bite?

My dogs will “air-snap” at strangers who behave badly. This involves a rush up to them, with a loud snap (snapping the air) on either side of the offending stranger. This is meant to cause the stranger to stop moving toward the house or me. If said stranger, whether dog or person, stops, the dog stops the air snap, and waits for me to indicate friend or foe.

Certain types of herding dogs will sometimes “nip” people(sheep) they want to move in a certain direction. This is done using their little front teeth, no the canines, and is just a “pinch”. It is part of their desirability as herding dogs.

My female, particularly, will nip me in the most sensitive part of the back of my arm, if I am not moving to the door fast enough for her, or am outside playing with her. She never draws blood, and doesn’t intend to. It is her way of saying, “hurry up, mom!”

A full bite is meant to draw blood, maim, pull flesh away from bone. Good dogs do not bite, but will snap and nip.

People who do not understand dogs should not try to pet them, and probably shouldn’t keep them as pets.

Reporters are, to Barney, total strangers, and these fools have no business trying to pet him. Barney has good manners, and if reporters do not invade his space, he will leave them alone.

[Dianna]

I decided to keep them, and train them not to do it. I think time has proven that I made the right choice.

The lack of a smiley makes me think you're not joking. Children are different from dogs. My children didn't bite people. I knew how to handle them and they didn't scare me.

[olliecollie]

“If a mutt, you need to have some idea of what seems to dominate the mix.”
Sorry could not resist.Obama is a self proclaimed mutt

[al baby]

Good Barney

Bad Seven of nine

Smoochs

[al baby]

I stepped in Dog Pelosi once

[snugs]

Nor would I and does not excuse the pun pass the smell test.

Barney is not a dangerous dog and there are many many photos of him around the media and strangers.

Andy Card celebrating 2004 win would you allow a dog subject to biting to be among this crowd of people

Do you think this would have happened

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Barney (left) and Miss Beazley (right).

Cry havoc and let loose the Sco'ish Terriers of war!!!

[driftdiver]

“do you know the difference between a snap, a nip, and a bite?”

having owned several dogs yes I do.

Owners that fail to train their dog properly or that fail to keep their dog in safe place are wrong. Joking about how ones dog bites people is painfully stupid. If a dog can’t be trusted around people then it shouldn’t be in a public place.

Control your dog or your dog will be put down and you will be sued.

[smokingfrog]

I did not bite that woman, Ms. Walker. Not once. Not ever.

[jacquej]

yep, food aggression can be a problem with some dogs. Easiest way to deal with it is to crate the dog while kids are eating, and teach kids not to tease dogs with food in their hands!

My sis inherited my mom’s tea-cup poodle, when my mom died. Benjamin weighs all of about 7 pounds, but is very much a “food-guarder”. Benjamin gets fed in his little crate, and no-one opens the crate when Benjamin is eating, or else they will be wearing band-aids!

No matter what the size, dogs need to be trained, and children should be constantly supervised when interacting with dogs. One never knows when a child will do something stupid, like stick a pencil in a dog’s ear, and get seriously bitten.

It isn’t that children are bad, or that dogs are bad. It is just that the natural curiosity of children, and the instinctual nature of dogs are not always a good combination, until both are very well trained!

[Desdemona]

One could have been just a mean dog, but after number two I decided that I don't know how to train dogs and ought not have one.

Probably right. The two in my life are not all that loved by adults because they are slow to trust. Smart little dogs.

[KJC1]

For whatever it’s worth, I give you credit. I am a lifelong dog owner, many of them rescue dogs, (have 3 now) but you at least know that dogs just aren’t your domain. And you are smart enough to realize this instead of getting an endless stream of dogs just to turn them out and away often with major baggage.

So, while I *wish* you were a doggie person, I do respect that you realize that dogs just aren’t your cup of tea. Some people never realize that and really damage dogs.

I also have a cat that thinks he’s one of the dogs. :^)

[snugs]

I would say Barney does not bite it was a little nip blow out of proportion as a further attack on G W Bush look at photos over the years and Barney cams this dog is used to strangers and even the media.

Would you allow a dog subject to biting around children

Or the German Chancellor

[SevenofNine]

Hey AL Baby I hope your ladies are out of way of wildfire here in SO CAL

[snugs]

Done to me. We lived in flat (apartment) above the fish and chip shop my parents managed it was a semidetached building with the betting shop next door the brick stairs at the back had a brick petition between the 2 flight of steps and their cat used to sit on it.

If you tried to stroke it would dig its teeth into your skin and on more than one occasion drew blood. I did not go crazy and demand they got rid of it or kept it indoors I was a sensible 13 year old that realised that the wall was his territory and was invading his space.

[SevenofNine]

HOW CUTEEE Barney with Ariel Sharon

OH MAN I watching MOnarchy at work remember Queen was in DC for something Barney was sniffing her foot she enjoy Barney company LOL!

[snugs]

Almost looks as it the hands were too near the throat to me.

[SevenofNine]

Hey Snugs look like Barney check out FR homepage right there

HEY BARNEY

[snugs]

Absolutely and savvy dog person would have moved out of the way from an air snap.

This reporter may have a mother who has a Scottie who knows him but he is obviously not dog savvy.