I think Only1scoop was referring to my post about my Dad's hunting dog and dd2 and also working on the mistaken belief that family dogs often turn with no warning, which yeah, is hysteria.
No dog has ever attacked a child with no warning. I'd bet my life savings on that.
It's often reported in the media that the dog was fine with children before the incident. The dog liked children, the attack came out of the blue etc. When, if you delved deeper, you'd always find that the dog had shown many, many indications of being uncomfortable around children, it's just that these indications weren't growling and snarling. They may have been lip smacking, yawning, sniffing, or typical avoidance behaviours. All of these behaviours are often misread or missed completely by your average dog owner, it doesn't mean they were not there. Dogs like to avoid aggression wherever possible, it is an evolutionary safe guard to their survival as a species. They do not start fights that may leave them injured and unable to hunt unless they absolutely have to. They'll only resort to aggression as a last means, when all other means of of stopping the unwanted attentions have failed.
I taught dd2 these signals. She understands when a dog wants her attention and when to back off. Most dogs would not like being dd2's patient and dd2 would not play doctors and patients with most dogs, but this dog, for reasons known only to the dog itself, enjoys being dd2's patient. It's never shown any sign of stress during these games. In fact if dd2 gets bored before the dog does the dog will attempt to encourage her back to the 'doctors office' by headbutting her and play bowing at her.
Leave this dog unattended with a cat and it would be bye bye kitty.
I firmly believe that the basics of canine behaviour should be taught in primary schools. This would have a far greater effect on reducing the number of child fatalities to dog attacks than ill thought out, knee jerk dangerous dog laws.