Police dog tries to eat toddler's face...

[R6_kid]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10643568

C'mon KB... where is the knee jerk reaction we're so famous for? :gob::shutup:

[Ronin]

Where's the need for one?

[Toaster]

I am sure the dog handler would be feeling sick over the incident and will be filling in paperwork for a while yet.

Hope the child heals quickly and fully.

[Headbanger]

I'd assume that its one rule for all right?

So the dog gets put down.

After all, You can't go around mauling kids faces no matter how hairy you are.

[onearmedbandit]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10643568

C'mon KB... where is the knee jerk reaction we're so famous for? :gob::shutup:

Yep, cos ain't nowhere else where dat duz happin duzit?

[Littleman]

Given the kid got unwanted unjustified attention from the Police, the kid must ride a motor bike.

Surely.

[imdying]

After all, You can't go around mauling kids faces no matter how hairy you are.Well it's sort of what we pay those dogs to do... not sure why you'd put a child that close to a trained track and attack dog though :laugh:

[firefighter]

I think it's great that the family are'nt wanting the dog put down or "fired", and realise that it's a very very rare once off. Cudos to them for that.

[firefighter]

I'd assume that its one rule for all right?

So the dog gets put down.

After all, You can't go around mauling kids faces no matter how hairy you are.

Mauling is a bit of a 3 news description is'nt it?! He bit the kid, if he'd mauled him there'd be no face left.
Putting it down I think is completely knee-jerk and unnecessary. I actually do'nt think it'll do it again, after the hiding the handler would have given it! Dogs do learn, I reckon it most likely is a once off. I mean shit, we keep violent murderers/rapists etc alive, and I hold the dog told in far higher stead than them. If we put all of the rapists and murderers down first, then maybe we can look at the dog. After all you said it, one rule for all. (bear in mind I think of crims as less than equals to a dog)

[onearmedbandit]

Mauling is a bit of a 3 news description is'nt it?! He bit the kid, if he'd mauled him there'd be no face left.
Putting it down I think is completely knee-jerk and unnecessary. I actually do'nt think it'll do it again, after the hiding the handler would have given it! Dogs do learn, I reckon it most likely is a once off. I mean shit, we keep violent murderers/rapists etc alive, and I hold the dog told in far higher stead than them. If we put all of the rapists and murderers down first, then maybe we can look at the dog. After all you said it, one rule for all. (bear in mind I think of crims as less than equals to a dog)

Excellent post. +1

[Headbanger]

Mauling is a bit of a 3 news description is'nt it?! He bit the kid, if he'd mauled him there'd be no face left.
Putting it down I think is completely knee-jerk and unnecessary.)

We have no idea what would have happened to the child if the handler wasn't holding onto the dog, The potential for far more serious injury was only a hair away.

If I owned a dog and it done that to a policemans face it would be destroyed before anyone could claim it was a one off event and I'd be getting the beating. Not that any such claims would make any difference even if time was given to voice them.

If the police paraded that dog in front of my children there would be hell to pay.

That aside, We had a dog that done that to a childs face, It was horrible to witness and completely out of character.

A year or so later it tired to do it again though it was stopped before it could pierce the skin. We had him put down . A sad day for an old friend but it should have been done after the first incident.

[MSTRS]

Well it's sort of what we pay those dogs to do... not sure why you'd put a child that close to a trained track and attack dog though :laugh:

Trained. To respond to instructions, not stimuli.
I don't know the answer to this one. A dog that does it once (despite the training) is a time bomb...

[imdying]

It's a dog, not a robot... given that the training is given to it by men, then it's bound to have failures.

People stab them, and hit them with iron bars, it's imperative that they're a little savage, getting them close to school children is crazy.

[EJK]

Did the kid grabbed the dog's genitals?

[R6_kid]

It's a dog, not a robot... given that the training is given to it by men, then it's bound to have failures.

People stab them, and hit them with iron bars, it's imperative that they're a little savage, getting them close to school children is crazy.

A dog that is trained to be savage and vicious when the need arises... all of a sudden something touches him from a direction he's not expecting attention from, he gets startled and boom he defends himself as he's been trained to do. Not the dogs fault.
First thing I ever learnt about animal safety was not to approach any potentially dangerous animal from anywhere where it can't see you - this kid learnt the hard way.


Given the kid got unwanted unjustified attention from the Police, the kid may ride a motor bike.

Surely.

Good thing it wasn't a motorcyclists getting his face bit or we'd already be 20 pages deep in "kill the fucking dog" posts

[Okey Dokey]

Off topic, but I think it is sad that a three year old is in kindergarden at all. Seems too young to me :(

[T.W.R]

We have no idea what would have happened to the child if the handler wasn't holding onto the dog, The potential for far more serious injury was only a hair away.



<_< More like we have no idea what provoked the dog to bite the kid, if the dog nipped the kid that easily the potential was there already for the dog to have taken half the kids face off in one swipe as it was.
clips like the one the dog did are a get the fuck out of my face warning to the provokee :yes: If the dog wanted to really grab the kid there'd be a young fella under going facial reconstruction now......75PSI pressure can do a lot of damage to soft skin & bone :yes:

[YellowDog]

The kid tried to pat the dog.

I also feel sorry for the handler. Like has already been said, the kids shouldn't have been allowed to get so close.

Hope the kid recovers OK. Looks like a nasty bite.

[Jonathan]

Over all it was an unfortunate event but everyone seemed to be very reasonable about it (for once!).
Mr Hatton said the family were not angry. "These things happen. Good on the family for not being these hysterical nut jobs you see usually when things like this happen.

Little kids are immensely annoying to dogs and, like others have said, the trick is to keep the kids' faces away from the dogs' faces. I should know, my face was mauled by my cousin's dog when I was 4 (Still have the scars - they add to my rugged masculinity). I was sorry, the dog was sorry, and the dog and I were best friends until he passed on many years later.

[Little Miss Trouble]

Off topic, but I think it is sad that a three year old is in kindergarden at all. Seems too young to me :(


FFS! I hope you are absolutely god-damned perfect if you are going to go judging other peoples personal choices for child care...

[imdying]

FFS! I hope you are absolutely god-damned perfect if you are going to go judging other peoples personal choices for child care...Pssh, if you can't afford or don't have the time, to have children, then don't.

[Okey Dokey]

FFS! I hope you are absolutely god-damned perfect if you are going to go judging other peoples personal choices for child care...

I wasn't being "judgemental". I was making a personal observation that I thought it was sad- are you a bit touchy about the topic?

[Little Miss Trouble]

I wasn't being "judgemental". I was making a personal observation that I thought it was sad- are you a bit touchy about the topic?

No actually, I don't have kids and don't have any plans for them in the immediate future either. I just think its sad that people have to make comments like that, that make wonderful parents who've for whatever reason put their kids into daycare feel any more guilty about it than they already do.

[Headbanger]

If the dog wanted to really grab the kid there'd be a young fella under going facial reconstruction now......75PSI pressure can do a lot of damage to soft skin & bone :yes:

If enough damage was done to require facial reconstruction then I'd want to see the cop shot as well as the dog.

As is already evident by the damage done a massive fuckup has been made,and the kid sure as hell aint the one at fault.

[Headbanger]

Truthfully I can see merit in multiple view points on this issue, But I would be interested to hear from a couple of real word dog experts.

(thats legitimate real world dog experts, Not just internet experts)

and for more meh


"It's about dog safety, ironically. I wasn't there but apparently he was patting the dog - they weren't crowding it or anything - and the dog just spun around and gave him a nip on his face."

[T.W.R]

If enough damage was done to require facial reconstruction then I'd want to see the cop shot as well as the dog.

As is already evident by the damage done a massive fuckup has been made,and the kid sure as hell aint the one at fault.

Bit like the police dog that had it's muzzle sliced up a few weeks back huh? why not have the criminal sliced & diced for inflicting such a damaging wound :yes:

Having been brought up around German Shepards, A grandfather who was a cop that had two of the 1st recognised police dogs under his control and having had the police approach the family about breeding for the police; German Shepards don't under that sort of control do things just for the sake of it, they're a lot more intelligent than that.

[Flip]

That dog can get the lead handshake.

You would never trust a dog that has bitten a child. Don't care that it's a police dog.

Just remove it from the K9 gean pool for every bodies sake.

[Headbanger]

German Shepards don't under that sort of control do things just for the sake of it, they're a lot more intelligent than that.

Ah,yeah, which is why they are looking into it, Its quite possible the dog can't be trusted.

As in defective.

And may warrant lead poisoning.






BANG!

[blackdog]

That dog can get the lead handshake.

You would never trust a dog that has bitten a child. Don't care that it's a police dog.

Just remove it from the K9 gean pool for every bodies sake.

i agree

i remember an incident when i had a cop in my house many years ago and he had raised his voice. my dog didn't like that at all, so shot out from under the couch and nipped the coppers ankle

we had quite a fight on our hands saving her, even though all she was doing was letting him know that he wasn't the boss there (either that or she felt like some bacon)

[imdying]

You would never trust a dog that has bitten a child. Don't care that it's a police dog.Wait.... what? I've seen Police Ten Seven and the like... don't these dogs, you know, chase and then bite people for a living? Or are those padded up guys they use for training taking the piss? You can't teach the poor dog to bite people and then get upset when it does... I'm not sure it's fair on poor fido to teach him to bite people and then stick him under the nose of some children, they're not exactly the kids it lives with and is familar with. I would've though an agility demonstration would've been more suitable for what's basically an attack dog.

And German Shepherds aren't smart, they're thick (cuddly and loyal, but still thick), that's why they use as police dogs. Smack a rotty or a doberman with a bar and it'll be like screw this, I'm outta here... German Shepherds just hang on and wag their damn tails!

[T.W.R]

Ah,yeah, which is why they are looking into it, Its quite possible the dog can't be trusted.

As in defective.

And may warrant lead poisoning.






BANG!

:laugh: yeah it can't be trusted that's why it's a dog in operational service :weird:



And German Shepherds aren't smart, they're thick (cuddly and loyal, but still thick), that's why they use as police dogs. Smack a rotty or a doberman with a bar and it'll be like screw this, I'm outta here... German Shepherds just hang on and wag their damn tails!

Police use them because they're as good as two men in a fight and the fact they've got more clues than most other dogs put together....wonder how they got their name originally?? because they were dogs trained to tend flocks of sheep un-aided by humans they'd protect a flock of sheep from wolves without getting into a blood lust and destroy said flock of sheep which most other breeds of dog would :yes:
And Alsations as the uneducated like to call them are the same dog though the name was brought about by a small town on the French border of Alsac where there were a number of German Shepards rescued by people who got them out of france during the war because another bunch of knuckle draggers wanted the breed eliminated

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd_Dog

[CookMySock]

He better not fuck with my toddler, or
207090


Steve

[scumdog]

Truthfully I can see merit in multiple view points on this issue, But I would be interested to hear from a couple of real word dog experts.

(thats legitimate real world dog experts, Not just internet experts)

and for more meh

It's fuckin' KB - you're expecting a miracle.

[FJRider]

If enough damage was done to require facial reconstruction then I'd want to see the cop shot as well as the dog.

As is already evident by the damage done a massive fuckup has been made,and the kid sure as hell aint the one at fault.

Going by past "Dog attacks child" reports ... some ... it turns out (later) the dog was provoked/teased (hair/tail pulled/poked) by said child ... but little miss/master "couldn't/wouldn't" do that ... well not admitted on camera anyway.

[EJK]

Going by past "Dog attacks child" reports ... some ... it turns out (later) the dog was provoked/teased (hair/tail pulled/poked) by said child ... but little miss/master "couldn't/wouldn't" do that ... well not admitted on camera anyway.

I told you, I'm sure the boy pulled the dog's genitals

[FJRider]

I told you, I'm sure the boy pulled the dog's genitals

I reckon if you pulled on MINE ... I'd bite YOU too ... :yes:

[Headbanger]

:laugh: yeah it can't be trusted that's why it's a dog in operational service :weird:


Uh, Not any more, at least until the real experts (as fallible as they are) decide if its to be trusted in operational service.

after all it just bit a child's face, and like it or not, Hairy or not, that isn't acceptable.

[T.W.R]

Uh, Not any more, at least until the real experts (as fallible as they are) decide if its to be trusted in operational service.

after all it just bit a child's face, and like it or not, Hairy or not, that isn't acceptable.

it's been stood down until a review of the dog can be made :yes:
And the reality is that it's only because it's the public eye that it gone like this because of the PC birgade are on the band wagon....chastise the dog and the kid is a little angel; sure a dog biting a child isn't acceptable but truth is if it'd bitten the kid as i said before the kid would have suffered a lot worse :yes:
And just think how many kids a bitten in the same way around the country and around the world every day and even scratched up by cats more often than bitten by dogs :blink:
And for a bit of perspective there are more dog bites inflicted by shithouse little parlor dogs and troglidite pitbulls and other breeds favoured by knuckle draggers every year than German Shepards

[scumdog]

i
And for a bit of perspective there are more dog bites inflicted by shithouse little parlor dogs and troglidite pitbulls and other breeds favoured by knuckle draggers every year than German Shepards

Ain't THAT the truth!:yes:

[FJRider]

Ain't THAT the truth!:yes:

This is KB .... whats truth got nto do with a good yarn ... ???

[Headbanger]

Well then its fucken disgrace to everyone involved if a police dog biting a childs face would only raise eyebrows due to the public hearing of it.


You really think its fine for dogs to run around biting children's faces?, and for someone to take a dog into a group of children for some face biting?

[Headbanger]

And just think how many kids a bitten in the same way around the country and around the world every day and even scratched up by cats more often than bitten by dogs :blink:
And for a bit of perspective there are more dog bites inflicted by shithouse little parlor dogs and troglidite pitbulls and other breeds favoured by knuckle draggers every year than German Shepards

That's funny because it doesn't put anything into perspective.

Lets try this.

How many MM's take their pitbulls into child care centres with a face bite as a result?

Mines better then yours and its still retarded.

[FJRider]

You really think its fine for dogs to run around biting children's faces?, and for someone to take a dog into a group of children for some face biting?

But most here on site think it is ok to ride motorcycles at twice ANY posted speed limits ... if it suits ... or if THEY think it's OK/SAFE (for them) ... regardless of possible potential danger to OTHERS ... at the time ...

[T.W.R]

That's funny because it doesn't put anything into perspective.

Lets try this.

How many MM's take their pitbulls into child care centres with a face bite as a result?

Mines better then yours and its still retarded.

Why don't you take a kid for a walk around Aramoho or Gonville and see what sort of dogs make a charge for both you & the kid and then go for a wonder around Trentham and see what happens :yes:

[Headbanger]

Why don't you take a kid for a walk around Aramoho or Gonville and see what sort of dogs make a charge for both you & the kid and then go for a wonder around Trentham and see what happens :yes:

Haven't had a single dog charge me or my kids in Aramoho or Gonville so I don't see you have a point.

Anyway, It will be interesting to see what happens to the dog and I wonder if the police officer still trusts it 100% around his children.

[CookMySock]

I told you, I'm sure the boy pulled the dog's genitalsWell he saw his mum doing it and thought it would be ok.

Steve

[Toaster]

I grew up in Trentham and we had dogs attacking people and other dogs all the time.

It was normal to ride your bike home at speed trying to avoid the neighbours pitbull. Stuff walking, that was just asking for trouble.

[T.W.R]

Haven't had a single dog charge me or my kids in Aramoho or Gonville so I don't see you have a point.



That's funny because I know a few residents of both neighbourhoods that won't let their kids be out by themselves due to some the other residents of the areas and their dogs

[T.W.R]

I grew up in Trentham and we had dogs attacking people and other dogs all the time.



You grew up in the Police dog training centre :shit:

[Toaster]

You grew up in the Police dog training centre :shit:

Hehe nice! Yeah that wasn't far away...

[Headbanger]

That's funny because I know a few residents of both neighbourhoods that won't let their kids be out by themselves due to some the other residents of the areas and their dogs

OK, I'm more then happy to believe that you know people who won't let their kids outside, what is your point?

or,if that is your point, what are you expecting me to take from it?

[T.W.R]

OK, I'm more then happy to believe that you know people who won't let their kids outside, what is your point?

or,if that is your point, what are you expecting me to take from it?

Well put it this way....

Myself I've been bitten three times by dogs, twice on the arm and still have the scars to prove it plus the third time I lost the top of my left ear which is quite noticable and of all those three times I bare no malice to any of the dogs involved, just the same as the father of the child that was bitten on this occassion he bares no malice towards the dog involved and doesn't want anything untoward to happen to said dog ie: doesn't want it put down. Basically because of the realisation that the incident had more to it than just a dog biting a child, it wasn't an attack
Have you ever seen or been involved in a dog attack??? most likely not :yes:
A dog the size of and with power of a German Shepard would do a shitload of damage in zero time.
Around areas like in your backyard there are dogs that don't need or want reason to attack people or children they'll just do it given half a chance, quite often it isn't the dogs fault it's like that it's the owners who intentionally train or mistreat their dogs into being what they are. To think this police dog did what it did out of share contempt for the kid is ill versed.

Jump down off your high horse and just think if the police had pitbulls as their dogs, how many crims wouldn't make it to court to face a justice :blink: though in some cases that wouldn't be a bad thing and would save tax payers a fair bit of coin......"criminal torn to shreds because police dog handler couldn't call off his dog" . Least with Shepards they understand obedience and 9/10 times don't make mistakes, this was a unfortunate incident and the old addage of there's two sides to every story and unfortunately the dog can't speak for itself so is easily targeted for discrimination.

[Headbanger]

Look, I'm seriously missing your point if you have one, apart from the fact the dog could have killed the kid which was never in dispute.

You can take the fact it was a police dog out of the equation, You can take the breed out of the equation, and your left with a dog taken into a children's environment where it then bit a child on the face seemingly without provocation.

And my (high horse) position is it will be interesting to see what happens to the dog, If its usual in these situations to shoot it then that is what should be done.

[kave]

Who is responsible for this?

The dog isn't responsible, it was trained as an attack dog and then placed in a kindergarten.

The child isn't responsible, a four year old was placed in close proximity to a trained attack dog and was either allowed to touch it or was inadequately supervised while in close proximity to the dog.

The cop may partially bear some responsibility for inadequate supervision of his dog, but although the officer is trained in how to deal with dogs it is unlikely he is trained in how to deal with four year olds.

Really this is poor policy. The handler was sent into this kindergarten, it was not a choice he made. It has always been a stupid idea. Police try to claim that the aim of these visits to kindergartens is to instruct children in dog safety but it would really be hard to find a less suitable dog to tour kindergartens than a police dog. The real aim is to install a positive perspective of police in the community. I think this is an admirable aim as distrust between the public and police is the cause of many serious problems, and when that trust completely breaks down the effect on society is terrible, I just believe that there are better ways to achieve this aim than taking an attack dog and surrounding it with children. I would support police going to kindergartens and talking about policing or road safety, and I would support animal behaviourists going to kindergartens and talking about how to behave around animals.

Unfortunately although they aren't completely responsible for this outcome I am sure that the dog and handler will have to bear the brunt of the punishment. I expect that the dog will officially be put through retraining but probably at the end of the training will be found "unsuitable" and "retired". I also have no doubt that the handler will be severely reprimanded, and that the punishment will be disproportionate, whether the real punishment is ever made public or not. The people who are actually responsible for the ongoing kindergarten visits by unsuitable dogs will walk away without a stain on their reputation, although changes to kindergarten visits will be made, not to protect children but to pevent another possible P.R disaster for the police.


(p.s I am posting this while incredibly inebriated, please forgive any poor grammar)

[blackdog]

(p.s I am posting this while incredibly inebriated, please forgive any poor grammar)

for someone who's pissed i would say you have a very good grasp of the whole situation, and present a well balanced argument.

we can only wish that many of the posters here were this sensible when they were sober.

[peasea]

Who is responsible for this?

The dog isn't responsible, it was trained as an attack dog and then placed in a kindergarten.

The child isn't responsible, a four year old was placed in close proximity to a trained attack dog and was either allowed to touch it or was inadequately supervised while in close proximity to the dog.

The cop may partially bear some responsibility for inadequate supervision of his dog, but although the officer is trained in how to deal with dogs it is unlikely he is trained in how to deal with four year olds.

Really this is poor policy. The handler was sent into this kindergarten, it was not a choice he made. It has always been a stupid idea. Police try to claim that the aim of these visits to kindergartens is to instruct children in dog safety but it would really be hard to find a less suitable dog to tour kindergartens than a police dog. The real aim is to install a positive perspective of police in the community. I think this is an admirable aim as distrust between the public and police is the cause of many serious problems, and when that trust completely breaks down the effect on society is terrible, I just believe that there are better ways to achieve this aim than taking an attack dog and surrounding it with children. I would support police going to kindergartens and talking about policing or road safety, and I would support animal behaviourists going to kindergartens and talking about how to behave around animals.

Unfortunately although they aren't completely responsible for this outcome I am sure that the dog and handler will have to bear the brunt of the punishment. I expect that the dog will officially be put through retraining but probably at the end of the training will be found "unsuitable" and "retired". I also have no doubt that the handler will be severely reprimanded, and that the punishment will be disproportionate, whether the real punishment is ever made public or not. The people who are actually responsible for the ongoing kindergarten visits by unsuitable dogs will walk away without a stain on their reputation, although changes to kindergarten visits will be made, not to protect children but to pevent another possible P.R disaster for the police.


(p.s I am posting this while incredibly inebriated, please forgive any poor grammar)

Excellent post. My initial reaction was; 'wtf is a dog doing anywhere near a kindy?' I don't care if it's someone's pet, a dog has no place in a kindy (or a school for that matter). I think that it's a stupid idea and whoever thought up the scheme needs rooting. The officer's time would be far better spent teaching the kids road safety, your suggestion is a good one. Road safety should be an on-going part of pre-school and primary education which could then be applied in practical terms with vehicles at secondary school. By the time the kids are old enough to sit their license so much more than the basics would be second nature.

With motor vehicles so much a part of modern society it is imperative our young know the rules and the dangers at an early age. Geez, there are computers in every class now, computers are a part of life, just like motor vehicles, but the kids get shitloads of computer training and sfa road safety training. That's just stupid; you're far more likely to get run over by a car than a computer.

Road safety training would be far more productive than getting your face bitten. The policy makers need a wake-up call, perhaps this is a good time to give it to them.

[Trouser]

Off topic, but I think it is sad that a three year old is in kindergarden at all. Seems too young to me :(

Really. My children will go and have gone at that age. 2 hours three times a week of playing, singing and dancing is hardly a cause to be sad. It's because it's German, right?

[peasea]

Really. My children will go and have gone at that age. 2 hours three times a week of playing, singing and dancing is hardly a cause to be sad. It's because it's German, right?

Yeah, my kids went to kindy, they had a ball. (They had other toys too...) My ex wasn't working at the time and was with them, we didn't use it as a baby-sitting service (not sure if you can) and later, when she went to Uni' I sold up my bizzo and played house-dad for a couple of years. It cost us big time financially but having a parent to walk them to school and be there when they get home for nibbles and homework is a biggie in my books. I thought kindy was great for them.

[Pegasus]

While I feel sad for all those involved, the dog (regrettably) needs to be put down. End of Story.

I say this as a dog lover/owner, who was also a victim of a dog bite as a kid.

Saddest of all is that the kid will now have a mistrust of unknown dogs (at the very least) for life.

[CookMySock]

Really this is poor policy. The handler was sent into this kindergarten, it was not a choice he made. It has always been a stupid idea. Police try to claim that the aim of these visits to kindergartens is to instruct children in dog safety but it would really be hard to find a less suitable dog to tour kindergartens than a police dog.I agree with you and I don't.

The dog handler is the person who makes the final decision - not his employer. It is his and his alone decision to enter any situation - not any other persons'. If he makes the wrong call he must answer to his boss, and in this case the childs' parents and the media as well.

But yeah, as you say - the dog is a loaded weapon and it is meant to be, so wtf taking it into a preschool. But no, it is the handlers call - no one elses'. He is the trained expert and he makes the call.


Steve

[BoristheBiter]

Over all it was an unfortunate event but everyone seemed to be very reasonable about it (for once!). Good on the family for not being these hysterical nut jobs you see usually when things like this happen.

Little kids are immensely annoying to dogs and, like others have said, the trick is to keep the kids' faces away from the dogs' faces. I should know, my face was mauled by my cousin's dog when I was 4 (Still have the scars - they add to my rugged masculinity). I was sorry, the dog was sorry, and the dog and I were best friends until he passed on many years later.

Little kids are immensely annoying full stop.

[scumdog]

Saddest of all is that the kid will now have a mistrust of unknown dogs (at the very least) for life.

Probably save it being bitten - again.

[george formby]

I've had dogs on & off for years, Alsatian, Bull Terrier's etc & the one thing I have learned is never too assume how the dog will behave. Regardless of breed they are all the same toothy carnivores. My dogs are well trained, socialised & friendly, soft lumps but i never trust them when around other people or dogs. I have no idea how they perceive a situation & believe prevention is better than cure. If my lovely pet nipped or bit an adult or child then it's all over, dead dog, hurt person, very sad George. If kids or adults want to stroke or play with the dog I have no problem but I watch her like a hawk & stay right at her side, if it's not 100% tickle my tummy time then it's game over. Not worth the risk, ever.
It's very sad that a trained trusted dog has hurt a small child, I wonder if the officer in question would ever have had doubts about putting his dog into that enviroment purely because of the risk, no matter how slim, of an incident like this. Maybe just following orders even if they were considered potentially risky by the handler.

[Shaun]

We have no idea what would have happened to the child if the handler wasn't holding onto the dog, The potential for far more serious injury was only a hair away.

If I owned a dog and it done that to a policemans face it would be destroyed before anyone could claim it was a one off event and I'd be getting the beating. Not that any such claims would make any difference even if time was given to voice them.

If the police paraded that dog in front of my children there would be hell to pay.

That aside, We had a dog that done that to a childs face, It was horrible to witness and completely out of character.

A year or so later it tired to do it again though it was stopped before it could pierce the skin. We had him put down . A sad day for an old friend but it should have been done after the first incident.

AGREED, shoot the Dog, and TRAIN the Handler to handle the dam thing properlly. Any Dog ever bit my Daughter would be dead, simple.

[Indoo]

Teaching good dog safety would surely be to encourage young kids never to touch, approach or stroke any dog other than their own family pet. Unless its some 12 year old obsese Lab or other walking zombie type breed any dog has the potential to give a strange kid a 'nip' who approaches and trys to touch it. To a dog a nip is nothing of consequence, its just a warning - telling someone off and acting on instinct they aren't going to always realise that humans damage easier than other dogs. It's also something easy to prevent in future and nothing that should stop the dog catching more crooks. An attack is something else all-together and would warrant destruction of the dog.

[scumdog]

, and TRAIN the Handler to handle the dam thing properlly.

Ya goin' to teach him how eh? eh?

[Kickaha]

Any Dog ever bit my Daughter would be dead, simple.

Even if your daughter did something to antagonise the dog? yeah that'd be fair

[avgas]

Stupid kid - you never pat a police dog.
Isn't that like feeding a gang members rotti?

[peasea]

Stupid kid - you never pat a police dog.
Isn't that like feeding a gang members rotti?

I bet the kid didn't know it was a gang members dog.



Oh, hang on.....

[sinned]

I've had dogs on & off for years, Alsatian, Bull Terrier's etc & the one thing I have learned is never too assume how the dog will behave. Regardless of breed they are all the same toothy carnivores. My dogs are well trained, socialised & friendly, soft lumps but i never trust them when around other people or dogs. I have no idea how they perceive a situation & believe prevention is better than cure. If my lovely pet nipped or bit an adult or child then it's all over, dead dog, hurt person, very sad George. If kids or adults want to stroke or play with the dog I have no problem but I watch her like a hawk & stay right at her side, if it's not 100% tickle my tummy time then it's game over. Not worth the risk, ever.
It's very sad that a trained trusted dog has hurt a small child, I wonder if the officer in question would ever have had doubts about putting his dog into that enviroment purely because of the risk, no matter how slim, of an incident like this. Maybe just following orders even if they were considered potentially risky by the handler.
Thanks for adding some sense to this discussion. A dog is a dog - not a variation of a human as some people want to consider and treat them. And a child to a dog is what?? To suggest a dog is put down for a giving a bite is ridiculous. The police need to review how they allow a dog to interact with children. A muzzle seems a simple solution when the dog is to close to children.