I am aware of the reasons why shelters have said lists. And in your second theoretical, once again we agree. Owners are the cause of bad dogs raised from puppies. All true. Without dispute.
That is not, was not, and will never be a point I seek to contest.
My point is and remains, still not addressed by anyone, that an unknown and untrained adult is not the best or safest choice for a family with young children.
This family went out and got an 8 year old dog, for 7 year old children and it attacked. My strong and firm conviction is they would have been safer, better, wiser, to have gotten a puppy. Even then, if they failed to raise it right, failed to teach it, it would have destructive issues, but it would see the children as members of the pack and not as threats.
LESS
RISKY
That is all.
>Even then, if they failed to raise it right, failed to teach it, it would have destructive issues, but it would see the children as members of the pack and not as threats.<
Au contraire. An adult dog, especially an adult male dog, would very well see the weaker children as pack members all right. They would see the children as subordinate pack members to be disciplined according to canine cultural norms. Dogs discipline with their teeth and a bite that might not hurt another dog can very well scar a child permanently. In addition, get the wrong dog even as a pup, and you could have an adult dog that sees itself as alpha. At that point an unwitting adult who challenges the animal could very well find him or herself in a world of trouble.
Remember, your entire premise rests on a novice or uneducated dog owner. It takes a certain amount of common sense and dog savvy to raise a dog as a subordinate family member. Obviously, you and your family have done well raising dogs. The clueless among us will not be so fortunate.