Yes it could have.
I am not even sure an adult present would have been able to stop the attack, but if I was there I would damn sure have tried.
Thank God the boy is still alive.
Agreed.
You are right, an adult might not have been able to stop the attack, but there are better odds for an adult plus a 6 year old versus just a 6 year old.
As an aside, Danes usually are referred to as gentle giants. But as Joe pointed out in the Herriot example, there are circumstances that create added danger. And, though there are certain standard temperaments among various breeds, each animal has to be viewed individually. I have known sweet heart Pit Bulls and aggressive Golden Retrievers.
I was bitten by a seemingly docile German Shepherd because I didn’t know her history. I was giving her treats from a treat bag on a lanyard, reaching to the bag, and then out toward her. The third time I did that she lunged forward and bit my upper arm and shoulder. I found out later that she had been abused by a prior owner, and some of the abuse involved Schutzhund training. I believe my arm motion was close enough to the type of Schutzhund movements used in baiting an attack, that it triggered that reaction in that particular dog.