Probably not the best place for this but was wondering..

PeaceLoveVeggies

What do you guys think of this story?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/rescued-dog-bites-nbc-anchor-face-during-feel-141755422.html

Of course it makes headlines because people think it's a pit bull who bit the dog and everyone is saying the dog should be put down. I say that she provoked him. Anyone who knows how to handle animals should know that her mistakes were as follows:

1) You're not suppose to look a dog in it's eyes if they don't know you and are not comfortable with you.
2) Touching the dog first. Let him/her smell you before you become too affectionate and
3) She's above the dog and leaning down towards him.

Any thoughts?

Crystal817

I haven't gotten a chance to see the actual video, but in several articles posted, dog trainers/professionals said the dog gave very clear signs that he was going to bite her.

You don't stick your face or hands near a large (or small) strange dog. Don't we teach this to little kids? It's not the dog's fault that this lady never learned "strange dog 101".

She didn't use any common sense what so ever and if I was her, I would be really, really embarrassed.

anyonebutmehaha

i saw the video and it was obvious as hell that dog was nervous and it wouldn't take much to push him over the edge.
she was an idiot AND the owner is a total idiot for what happened in the 1st place to land dog on the news and for not neutering his dog!
once again idiot people and who really suffers? the poor animal through no fault of it's own.

Crystal817

once again idiot people and who really suffers? the poor animal through no fault of it's own.

I really hope they don't put the dog down. So unfair. :frown:

foremant86

I will never understand people who stick their face in front of an unknown dog, it's about the dumbest thing you can do.

It's her fault she got bit, people blame the dog because they can't own up to their own stupidity.

myogibbs

OMG do not get me started! I have seen the video & the dog was screaming BACK OFF...his body language was unmistakable. Poor dog was just rescued from icy water, air lifted out & then he comes on this show with lights and people and weird loud noises and smells & then this STUPID woman gets all up in his face and then HE gets the blame. He isn't a pit bull by the way...a mastiff. Approaching ANY dog the way she did is dangerous. As a vet, believe me...the small dogs are just as dangerous if they are scared. Ridiculous....just unbelievable...

Lyndi4

I saw the video, and I think that the dog was giving off signals. I feel bad that the lady got bit. She seemed to care for the dog, but she didn't know how to behave around new dogs. I believe that she had a regular segment where she had pets come on or featured pets of the week or month or something. Anyway, the studio really should have made sure that she was educated on how to behave around pets that don't know you; they could have had her attend a class with a dog behaviorist or at least watch a video. Even the sweetest pets can be unpredictable when they feel threatened.

We have an English Mastiff, and he is very sweet and loving. He loves to cuddle with our kids and is just as sweet as can be. His large size (about 180 lbs) can be intimidating to new people, and he will give a big bark with new people, but he is usually as sweet as can be. My sister-in-law came over yesterday, and he seems to be in love with her. He always jumps up on her and gives her a hug. He never jumps on anyone, but he LOVES her. She has learned to brace herself when she walks in the door. LOL, and sometimes when we know that she is coming we will crate him for a little while so that he can calm down and get used to the fact that his favorite person is here. Then we'll let him out.

However, for some reason, he does not like our neighbor. She tries to give him treats when we walk him over. She loves him. She even sent him a little package of dog bones for Halloween along with goodies for the kids. She is the sweetest, little, old lady. She is petite, 4'8" maybe & tiny, but he gets very nervous and agitated around her. We live on a some land, so our neighbor really only sees him when we walk him over (which we don't do very often, esp not now), but one time we brought him over there, and he barked and barked. He finally calmed down, so we let him get a little closer. She loves dogs, so she wanted to get to know him. Anyway, he tried to bite her. We were right there and were able to pull him back. Thank goodness. I think the dog owner should have intervened with his dog as well. He should have noticed his dog's body language and pulled him back or asked the news anchor to give the dog some space. If anyone needs to be punished it is the owner. Now that we know that our dog can get protective with some people we are much more careful when introducing him to new people. We had another Mastiff before this one, and he was sweet as can be too, but they can definitely be protective. They LOVE their families, and we love them (R.I.P. Opie- always in our hearts & We love you Jericho!).

PeaceLoveVeggies

OMG do not get me started! I have seen the video & the dog was screaming BACK OFF...his body language was unmistakable. Poor dog was just rescued from icy water, air lifted out & then he comes on this show with lights and people and weird loud noises and smells & then this STUPID woman gets all up in his face and then HE gets the blame. He isn't a pit bull by the way...a mastiff. Approaching ANY dog the way she did is dangerous. As a vet, believe me...the small dogs are just as dangerous if they are scared. Ridiculous....just unbelievable...

I know he isn't a pit bull lol. I'm saying that people in the comments are saying that he was a pit bull - and he resembles one so much, of course it landed on the news. I hate ignorance.

AmeChops

Kinda looks like the dog was trying to back away and move his head from her petting to me. Dogs don't have 'reasoning' skills...if it's pi$$ing them off and they've tried to be nice about it then they'll lash out...some dogs quicker than others - regardless of breed.

If I was the owner I wouldn't have put my dog in that position anyway, but I would have read the signs it was trying to give me.

If I was the anchor lady I wouldn't have got that close to it for that long.

Feel sorry for her that she got bit but it's kinda her own fault I'm afraid.

Tuffjourney

OMG do not get me started! I have seen the video & the dog was screaming BACK OFF...his body language was unmistakable. Poor dog was just rescued from icy water, air lifted out & then he comes on this show with lights and people and weird loud noises and smells & then this STUPID woman gets all up in his face and then HE gets the blame. He isn't a pit bull by the way...a mastiff. Approaching ANY dog the way she did is dangerous. As a vet, believe me...the small dogs are just as dangerous if they are scared. Ridiculous....just unbelievable...

I saw the video, and there was no doubt the dog gave her a warning to back off. :noway:

hypersensitiveb

We had a dog attack recently in our area too baby ended up dead due to these stupid people. The only good thing is the dog got a new home. www.post-gazette.com/pg/12047/1210668-100.stm?cmpid=latest... - 26k