But the owners (the g-parents) were gone. The dog was disoriented and upset, I'm guessing. (See 151.) Here is a "new owner" with a new "top dog" (the baby) getting all of the love and affection, leaving the rottie as third fiddle. Just getting kibbles and water and ignored, while the baby is showered with attention.
Peering into the rotties "thought process," I'd say the rottie was extremely upset at the "revolution" which happened in the household with the "new owner" and the "new top dog" (the baby."
This was a recipe for disaster, IMHO.
And when a 150# fanged beast goes berserk, it's not like a poodle or even a lab.
I'm not arguing with you. You might be correct. There might be more to this story, too.
An average dog will flee, if squirted with cold water from a hose. Best way to break up a fight.
I knew some guys who's dogs started fighting and they kept pouring scalding hot water on them and couldn't understand how come they kept fighting harder.
After I put out the fight with cold water from the hose, I explained why what they were doing was wrong.
Travis, you're babbling. He might have been the alpha. Heck - he probably was. There are tons of people not in charge of their households when it comes to dogs.
Dogs don't consider people to be the leader - they respect the leader because the leader commands respect. No way any dog would assume that a baby was a new top dog.
The hierarchy of the pack is not a new discovery. Gillman has it right.