I don’t disagree with you on any of your points other than neglecting taking into account human nature.
I work with a lot of dogs for a living. Out on a ranch or farm, I would expect a dog in the bed of a truck is going to stay there, especially a trained dog put there by the owner.
Now, having said that, as a person who works with dogs of all levels...I know the minute her front paws were up on the edge of the bed she wasn’t reliable to stay. I would have rolled up and got out of my vehicle too, but when the front paws on the edge of the bed, I would not have continued to approach, at that point it is stand still or get back in the car.
Can we really reasonably expect cops to be that savvy around dogs of all breeds? Or is this really more an owner issue with unreliable dog training?
As vetvetdoug has noted, trained “cow dogs,” can come off aggressive. I think a lot of FReepers in this case are jumping to the conclusion as if the dog is not a working dog. As a training ‘cattle dog’...the dog is trained to bite as part of its job.
Yes
Or is this really more an owner issue with unreliable dog training?
Yes
Both could have acted to avoid this tragic event.
The owner could have kenneled his dog knowing the LEO was on his way. The Deputy could have stayed in his car when he saw the dog in the back of the pickup.