Genuine question: how do dog owners cope with the idea their dogs can turn at any time?

[Simblythebestie]

Have always wondered this and I'm honestly not attempting to be goady. Do you ever wonder about your dog - particularly a large breed - turning and biting you and causing damage to you or your kids? The idea of this would terrify me and is one of the reasons we'd never got a dog. Do you always know what they are thinking when they are looking at you? That's something else I've always wondered about. Or do you feel you know a dog after you've been living together for a period of time?

How do you cope with the idea you could be hit by a car and killed when you’re walking down the street? It’s unlikely so you don’t think it will happen.

I feel very confident in knowing my dogs. I have a poodle and a little mongrel and neither of them has ever shown biting aggression to anything, not even other dogs when they're being invasive/aggressive. One of them will bark or growl but then would run for the hills!

No one should ever say 'my dog would never' but I just wouldn't have dogs if I felt unsure in the least in the way you describe. Anyone who isn't sure of their dog absolutely should not keep it in their family.

Basically I would never have a dog that could inflict massive damage. I have 2 collies and a boot in the ribs would give enough time to get a hold of it and subdue it. That's not to say they couldn't do damage but as an adult who has had dogs for a lot of years you do get to know their moods.

In same way I know my best friend won’t ’turn at any time’ - I suppose it is possible but all the signs are that won’t happen. And those are odds I am happy with.

I think it depends on the dog and what access it has to children/the household.

Small dog with a garden? Not an issue. Large working dog kept outdoors on a farm? No issue there either. Pitbull allowed indoors around young children? Very substantial issue.

If they have had it since a puppy and it's always been fine then it likely won't be on their radar that something could happen.
The dog gradually changes from a harmless puppy one day at a time, building reassurance that it isn't ever aggressive.

Also a lot of dogs do live their whole lives never attacking so talking to other dog owners adds extra reassurance.

I had a big gsd who was big enough to do some serious damage to me, but she was so meek it never crossed my mind that she'd attack me, a nice dog's energy is just the same as say living with a man who could also turn and kill you if he wanted to, most of them just don't. I also have a 15kg sighthound cross that has bitten me several times in her younger days (I take in unwanted dogs because I find project dogs interesting, nothing pitbull blooded though) and I'm careful around her but she doesn't really worry me because I know what makes her do it. Never worried about a bite out of the blue from any dog once I've lived with them for more than two years if I haven't owned them as a puppy. Most reasonable dog breeds even if they bite you won't maim you as an adult human being though, it's the bite and hold breeds that are deadly or disfiguring towards people most of the time.

I don't have kids but I have cats living with my dogs and I take extra measures to make sure that they're separated when I'm out of the house or sleep just because I get a bit neurotic, so I can understand where you're coming from with worrying about them biting your kids. Do you feel the same about small dogs or is it the risk of serious maiming and death?

Currently sat on my couch, buried under a mountain of (clutch your pearls) rescue dogs 🤣🤣 Some teeny, some much bigger, some individually would have the ability to hurt me, some wouldn’t. If they all went for me together, I think I’d be in real trouble!
But, I know them and I trust them (and yes, I do know what they are thinking. Dogs are not difficult to read) In my experience they are far more trustworthy and predictable than people. Statistically, I’m far more likely to be harmed by the man in my life. Or in a car crash. As are all women. I think I’m safe!

My Labrador practically sniffed me to death today after I’d met another dog out and about. I sat down and let her do it. I’m still alive.

Have you ever thought that dogs aren’t quite the smoking gun you’d believe them to be? I’m 48 and have rarely been without one, and I’ve never been harmed once. Anyone who tried to hurt me might be though.

I love my dogs and they love me. It’s lovely.

Interesting replies thanks. I've been thinking about this again after reading somewhere, probably mumsnet, that a couple's powerful dog had attacked the couple when they were asleep. Previously it had been a very loving dog, they treated it well etc. I've always been very wary of larger dogs purely because I don't know how to act around them really as we didn't have dogs growing up.

I have pugs

Everything is a risk if you’re that way inclined, how do we know we won’t be in a fatal accident or be attacked or hit by a bus or any number of things? We don’t know for sure but if we lived in anxiety of ‘what if’ we’d never do anything. The vast majority of us aren’t in fatal RTC’s and the vast majority of dogs don’t eat or attack humans.

I trust my dog, he’s 12, I know his body language & he’s never in over a decade, even so much as growled, I’ve risk assessed him & I’m super confident that me & my DD (and anyone that visits) are perfectly safe.

I've had my dogs for 14 and 12 years. I know them and trust them and they know and trust me. I would still never leave any dog alone with a toddler or baby. And I didn't get my dogs til my youngest started school - children have to be old enough to understand how to treat dogs.
I've met dogs in the park that make me wonder - dogs that show aggression to my dogs, or seem to ignore their owners. My never show aggression, are always happy and curious but are well behaved and obedient. It's partly their personality and training.

Mumsnet is like the Bible of dog hating. It’s utter hysterical horseshit.

But if you’re not sure don’t get one. Dogs need to be loved wholeheartedly without reserve, anything less than it isn’t fair.

It must be lovely to have that sort of relationship with an animal and a great comfort I'm sure.

Most (decent) dog owners will have spent time around dogs or taken the time to learn about dogs, including dog body language, before getting their own.
It's incredibly rare for a dog to "turn" & attack out of the blue; there are almost always signs beforehand.

If you're an animal person and have been around dogs a long time you can read their body language and behaviour and that gives a lot of reassurance. Knowing the dog inside out and what they find stressful etc is important too.

Personally I wouldn't have a breed that had been bred for fighting or protection at home as I wouldn't feel comfortable.

I have a larger breed but she's a greyhound cross (still weighs 27kg though) and is past hip height.
We spent a lot of hours training (18 months) her but also us learning her body language. I know if she's stressed out or uncomfortable by a look. We still do continual basic training as well.
My kids have also been trained from a young age (around 6 months) to leave her alone especially if she's in a certain spot or is sleeping. She's very protective of them as well and we are careful when out that she doesn't go into defensive mode with other dogs and we can tell small things to if this is likely if she licks her lips for instance.
The children are never left unsupervised with the dog despite the fact she doesn't react ever to them.
She would have to be very unwell or in high pain to bite anyone and we know her traits (she's also a greyhound they scream at the smallest of pain elements)

Denial for those with dogs able to do substantial damage.
just like those people who post their photos of babies with dogs who say “ My dog would never”… it’s denial. No one knows.
But as a PP said- we also as women often say “my man would never” until they do…

I only have medium sized dogs and not bite and hold breeds. I get them from a reputable source as puppies. I had a break in my dog owning from first DC being born to last DC reaching school age. My dogs have lots of outside space which they utilise throughout the day.
I know my dogs and trust them, but would not leave them alone with a vulnerable individual.

I have a large 40kg dog and am completely confident that he'd never hurt anyone. He's a lovely boy who was bred for temperament.
Generally I think that large dogs are better natured than small dogs.

Interesting question.
I actually feel more anxious about cars and driving, funnily enough, because you can't control other vehicles, you have so little control and so much exposure out on the road. I quite admire the fact that the majority of car drivers don't even think twice about the dangers of driving.
So it's like that, really - I've risk assessed and determined the benefits outweigh the risk.
When it comes to dogs, personally I will never own a dog that I could not overpower. Now, dogs are very strong under stress, so there's an argument to be had that I can't truly judge this - absolutely fair enough. But there's a lady near me whose around 5ft, petite build, and I see her get dragged along by her beautiful boxer, struggling to control it, as its bouncy and playful but so so strong, and it gives me the shivers, tbh.

I have Labradors. My family have always had Labradors. They are the most trustworthy, beautifully natured dogs and steady as a rock.

I've never had one single moment on concern with any of them (and we've had a fair few).

The shih tzu? Yeah I'm not worried. I'd be more at risk of harm if I got a man

When you think about it, it's actually quite absurd to have a dog, albeit hugely pleasurable. My wife and I were discussing it the other day. We have this intelligent (mostly) animal who lives in the same house as us, but doesn't speak our language and looks at us as though we are stupid quite a lot of the time (he has us pegged probably).

To answer you question, I would echo the sentiments of the previous posters in that it is all about risk. My first dog was a rottweiler who was soft as butter. He would only ever fetch for my godson who was 4 at the time, for everyone else his attitude was "you threw it, you can get it". Would I have ever left them in the same room unsupervised? Of course not, but I didn't really ever have a doubt either.

The instances of dog attacks are so few when compared to how many dogs there are, and how often they interact with humans. Mumsnet and the news would have you believe it is a much higher risk than it is. Statistically, there is more chance that a bit of space junk will land on your head. And you can improve those odds by being wary around pitbull derivatives.

Generally a dog will give many warnings before it actually attacks unless it is unwell or in pain for some reason (or has been bred specifically to be aggressive). If you are interested, the IMDT run a dog body language course for very reasonable money and it is really interesting. A day well spent.