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?

I agree especially an instant turn with no warning signs. It's about being gentle with your dog and not putting them in situations where they could feel threatened

I've been bitten by accident by one my dogs and had to go to hospital and for a while after that I was shaken up. It was so bloody painful and was a very small bite so I can't imagine the pain and terror of being attacked and killed by a large dog. But it was an accident and it's up to me not to put me or my kids in that position. We have horses too and they could easily kick or crush me to death if they wanted. I guess life is just about mitigating risks isn't it and deciding which ones you want to take.

I just know my dog. I know her as well as I do my children. If she starts yawning, licking her lips, or her eyes start darting, then she's not feeling safe. She's never so much as growled at us.

It comes with knowing your dog as PP have said. Different dogs have different 'tells.' There are only very rare circumstances where a dog will turn with no warning - and it has happened to me. It was terrifying. But it hasn't stopped me having dog since.

Ultimately, any pet ownership is a risk.

But then I often think most things are a risk. Taking a man back to your house after only a few dates and talking to him online is a massive risk - yet women do it every day.

Life is full of risks and if you're not willing to take a few then you live a very sad life IMO.

Love dogs, have had various breeds and mixes over the years, never worried about being bitten. But there are certain breeds I would never have anything to do with because I dont trust them.

And BTW, the only pet I have had which has ever bitten me was an elderly cat when I was looking at her paws and discovered an ingrowing claw. 5 days of antibiotics after my hand blew up like a balloon. But she was 17, and in pain, so I could not blame her.

I would never have any of the Bull breeds (with the exception if a French bulldog) simply because they were bred to fight and consequently have the ability to do terrible damage.

It's hard to describe to be honest, I just know she won't even try to hurt anyone, especially the family. A nervous dog once suddenly barked at me while walking on a pavement and she moved in-between me and the other dog without changing her pace, didn't even look at the dog. She protected me in a very calm, self assured way. No one, except maybe my mum, has ever loved me to the extent that they'd rather be next to me than anywhere else all the time. She adores me and I her. Having said all that sensible people will always be safety conscious regardless of how much they trust their dogs.

I don't worry about it because it's one of those risks that can be managed quite sensibly and reduced to negligible if proper precautions are taken.

The thing with dogs is that they do not bite for no reason. There is always a reason. Usually it's fear aggression, but it may be something else, e.g. an elderly dog who has been a docile family pet suddenly becoming snappy because they are in pain.

Good owners reduce the risk massively through good socialisation and training. They manage the remaining risk by trying to avoid putting their dogs in risky situations where a bite might result and also learning to read dog body language so they can recognise the signs of stress that are nearly always evident in the lead up to a bite.

I've been bitten by dogs twice. Quite nastily. In both cases the dog wasn't mine and I was intervening. My own dogs have never bitten anyone.

Is keeping a dog primarily indoors better than them having a garden or farm?

@Devilshands I agree and would take it further - "turning" at all is very very rare. Most dogs give warning after warning and never act. Statistically speaking, dogs are mind - bogglingly safe.

What a wonderful dog you have, this brought tears to my eyes 🥹

I have had my dog a long time, and she is breed that is known for their gentle manner.

If I was so scared of my dog that I was worried she would turn at any time, I would not have a dog. I would also not allow anyone in my home (people are more dangerous), and I would not leave the house (cars etc). Life is full of risk. Irrationally worrying about it is the path to madness.

Yes of course! Dogs are pack animals, they need to be with the family.

Working dogs are not usually kept as a single animal are they, and they WORK together for many hours every day.

Family dogs are not expending energy most of the day and are often the only dog. Their bond is with the human owner.

It would be incredibly cruel to have one dog kept all alone outside don't you think?

Some bastard in my neighbourhood locks their lone dog outside all night often. It whines and cries for hours and hours. Sadly I can't pinpoint which house and have got nowhere asking around.
If I ever find out which house I'll be delivering a letter of complaint and telling them to stop doing it or ill be straight onto every authority I can think of.

Bastards - to the poor dog and the neighbours.

Only animals that have bitten me;

1. Cat in the process of killing herself on plastic, sunk her tooth into my thumb as I was removing the plastic from her trachea. Ungrateful wretch.
2. Mum's friend's small dog. He jumped up on her sofa beside me, he was going blind, didn't realise I was getting up and my hand touched his face as the seat sunk down. Was a warning nip. Kept my hands to myself after that.
3. Schoolfriend's Yorkshire Terrier. Was sitting on doorstep with friend, she picked her up, flipped her over and started poking at her belly and ribs, dog went for the wrong child's face in the attempt to escape over her shoulder after growling furiously and she was just laughing at the dog's unhappiness.

None of those animals were at fault for what they did.

That’s awful. Mine gets who eh if we all go upstairs without him for too long before he settles down for the night. We always make sure someone is around for him h til he’s tucked up.

I was bitten by a dog once. I knew the dog, I also knew he hated being picked up. Unfortunately he'd escaped from the office and the choice was pick him up or let him take his chances with the lorries in the yard. Got a warning nip and plenty of growling, but I didn't have a choice. I don't blame him though, I had to do something he hated.

You know your dog, I think. Research the type and think about the age of your children. I got a gentle lab X when daughter was 14 so we weren't worried. If in doubt, dog on a lead when out. I'm not a trainer but I think a dog will likely turn when scared, hurt, anxious so you recognise those situations and control them. Socialisation and lots of exercise help.

OP, if you are that nervous around dogs I genuinely think it best for you not to get one. It's not for everyone and it is a big commitment. I've had dogs and been around dogs all my life and never known anything more than a playful nip. If dogs turning on their owners was common place hardly anyone would own one. You're a million times more likely to be groped by a bloke in a pub.

@ginasevern no I would never get a dog because it would worry me too much what could happen. I was just interested to hear how owners particularly of large dogs coped with this thought and whether this ever crossed their minds or not! I think my nervousness around dogs is most definitely picked up by them and I find it hard to cover that up with friends' dogs for example which makes it more likely for them to attack ironically. Any tips on stating calm and hiding my fear would be very welcome! Thanks x

What, that I trust them and choose to associate with them despite the fact they could physically overpower me?

I'm pretty sure they know. 😂

Ah sorry, thought you were considering it. Sadly I don't have any advice to overcome your fear. I'm just natural around dogs and they are around me.

If it's any consolation, I'm nervous of horses. Admittedly they are 10 times bigger than dogs and could accidentally do you serious harm. They are also not domesticated in the same sense as dogs, ie, sleeping on their owners' beds, being taken to pubs and generally living within a family unit.

I've never known a dog owner who thinks their dog might suddenly savage them. It's sort of like wondering every night whether your dinner might be poisoned.

It's not negligent in the slightest, unless you do not bring either child or dog up correctly and you leave them together. Are you seriously saying any parent who has a dog is a neglectful parent?

In answer to the OP, I don't 'cope with it as it just isn't something I think is remotely a risk. My collie is 12 years old and we all know each other as well as anyone who has lived together for over a decade does.
We know when he is uncomfortable in situations, what he likes and dislikes. He is a big part of my family.

I also have cats. Had 6 altogether in my life and those little gits give no indication on whether they want fusses or violence sometimes! Would I share my bed with them if they were the same size as my collie? Well... that would be a risk 😂