[Tammy8]

I just hope people don’t think only pits are an issue around small children. As far as I am concerned small children and large dogs just don’t mix. Small children can be very mean to dogs without knowing any better until they are taught to be kind to animals. When any animal is hurt or pestered to the point of being angry they can lash out in pain or fear. The issue is if the dog is very big that snap or biting done in self-preservation mode can be serious and deadly to a small child. I know people say they watch their child and dog very closely, when small children are in the house adults are busy and cannot possibly watch the dogs or children every single second.

[gunsequalfreedom]

I just hope people don’t think only pits are an issue around small children.

On this thread, pitbulls are the topic of disucssion.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

It depends on the individual dog. When I was a kid we had a labrador that was the scariest thing you could imagine when strangers were around...But at the same time, my sister who was a toddler at the time escaped her play pen and pulled the hair out of his tail. The dog didn't lash out or even try to move away while she was holding onto his tail, he just sat whimpering.

I suppose such dogs that can be trusted with your life are rare though.

[Secret Agent Man]

the exception i’d make’are black labs, they are the most kid protective dog breed i know of. unless you don’t consider them’to be a big dog, i am not sure if they are classed that way.

[old and tired]

I just hope people don’t think only pits are an issue around small children. As far as I am concerned small children and large dogs just don’t mix.

In my experience, it depends upon the dog and what he's used to. We have always trained our dogs to get a treat when a small child puts a finger in the dog's eye or pulls his tail. Every German Shepherd we've ever owned has actually provoked kids into pushing and kicking him just so he could run over to the fridge for a reward.

My prayers are with this family. Surely they must have seen some sign of this dog's aggression toward their child.

[Gaffer]

Before she married, my daughter bought a cute black puppy. This dog turned out to be the size of a small horse. A great big Great Dane, the largest I have seen personally.

That dog lived with her and protected her, later her and her husband, and later from their first girl all the the way through their third daughter.

He lived with them, the babies grew up with him, and he with them, I guess. Long story short, extremely tolerant, forgiving and loving dog to the girls and family, and fiercely (I mean very fiercely protective of the family in total, of the girls in particular). The dog never once bared his teeth to any of them.

[old and tired]

Have you ever owned a big dog? For the most part, they're just not aggressive like little dogs. When big dogs hurt, they don't lash out at their families, they yelp and cry.

Sure there are exceptions, but if you spend some time with your dog, you know what kind you've got.

[kanawa]

Voice of reason bump