Yes we are all entitled to our opinions, mine differs to your.

If you tell a child not to poke a finger at a dog , and they do it, then the dog bites said child, are you going to blame the child...what if the trigger for this dog is people staring, are you going to tell the child don't stare at the dog, then say the child is violent because he did not listen

The buck stops with the owner, not the guest.....

I'm glad you said that - I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one reading this that thought 'someone staring at a dog' is not cause for the dog to attack them.

A total stranger who knows no better and hasn't been told not to might stare at a big powerful potentially aggressive dog. I think OP is lucky this happened to be her brother.

I agree with this bit of what Lynn said:

How I've put that in the past is 'you sometimes never know what will spook them'.

I used to always put my GSD out if people with very young children were visiting. They'd remonstrate with me (knowing the dog) 'saying she'd never hurt anyone'. Well my view is BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. I've seen very young children poking pencils into dog nostrils and grabbing their back ends and sometimes just accidentally hurting and alarming a dog - I recall an instance when a toddler slid down off a chair and their feet landed on the sleeping dog's whiskers - must have been very painful.

Big powerful dog capable of maiming or killing someone - up to the owner to ensure that it is never in a situation where it could do so.

I mean the forewarning was there:

She can be very wary of men & barks loudly at them if they come in the house

Not sufficient in my view to just tell them to 'ignore her'. Thank heavens it was only 'scratches' and not wounds requiring surgery and thank heavens even more that it was your brother and not one of his kids.

I would be very worried, especially given that she has bitten in the past, going off earlier posts, from when the dog was 6 months old, is it true she bit a postman and then bit family members.
I would not want to be in a room alone with this dog.
Sounds like you need professional help from someone experienced with these breeds.

I think the above puts a new light on it, is this the same dog that your stepson bought, and has a bite history ?

My thoughts and concerns too.

Important piece of information to leave out, don' t you think?

Definitely does put a new light on it if the dog has bitten before. you must protect visitors and family and if that means putting the dog out of the way that's how it has to be.
The dog is obviously stressed by some people so would probably be happier out of the way.

The brother was staring at the dog BEFORE he was told not to stare, he had done as he was asked by ignoring her.


Some people are find with most dogs but frightened by big dogs and this is a big dog but many men won't admit to being frightened of a dog. If this is the case the dog would have picked up on this which would make her more nervous.

The mistake he made was to go outside and come back in again and meet the dog without anyone being with her, this is when the dog bit him, BEFORE he threatened to punch the dog. I wonder how many have been bitten by a dog, my hands are covered in scars from bites.

What training have you done with her? Is it positive training or have you been using rolling her over to get her under control.

I have taken on dogs that have put several people in hospital and turned them round, just because a dog bites doesn't mean it will continue to bite through his life.

As well as keeping the dog out of the way when visitors call I would get a proper behavioural assessment done ASAP. It does not need to be someone with experience of the breed but it does need someone who has studied canine behaviour. It will not be cheap but will be worth it for you to know where you stand with this dog, if she is dangerous or if these are issues which can be worked on. Gwen Bailey works in your area, as do some other Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors. Here's the link.


http://www.apbc.org.uk/help/regions/area/gloucs

Personally I would always seek advice with an aggressive dog, but especially with one as powerful as yours. You can be guaranteed that Gwen will only use effective kind scientifically based methods and you and your dog will be in safe hands with her.

Hi All

Many thanks for all your replies. Unfortunately my situation is not very straight forward. The dog is actually my step-sons, but to cut a long story short (as i have already posted about this). Myself & my partner have taken her on as she was just stuck inside on her own the majority of the time. She is two now so she hasn't had the best of starts.

She needs socialising, & I have been advised to get her spayed. Im still upset about what happened as part of me thinks well no matter what at the end of the day she did bite, but on the other hand my brother did this when my Mum had a Westie, she told him not to go near the dogs face but would he listen, no so the dog bit him on the noise.

I truly believe that with a bit of time & money she could be a great dog. She is not naturally aggressive as i can take anything off her. I'm finding this hard as i have never had a dog like this my last two were so gentle & my JRT i have now is a darling.

Thanks again