I wanted to ask this question on a different thread, because I really feel bad that a kid got bit by a dog, and I don't think that's right at all. But after reading some of yalls posts I want to ask yalls opinion. If I live in the middle of 300 acres, where you have to come down a mile long driveway to get to my house, am I around to have gaurd dogs that bite to protect my property from unwanted people. Morally and legally?

Sure, but they better know who is friend and who is foe. If they bite someone they aren’t supposed to, that’s on you.

That's a bit different than a homeowner walking a child into a known dangerous dog and allowing it to bite the child. I don't care what you have to defend your property. I'd prefer any guard dog know the difference between a child and an intruder.

My neighbors had a huge guard dog. Two of them. Had to get rid of one because they fought. It protected the livestock and even let the livestock toss it around. My son could walk up and pet that dog. It knew he was a child and not a threat. If I got within 20' of the fence without my neighbor with me, he'd go ballistic. Even though he knew me.

While any dog can and will bite, dog owners of certain breeds (Doberman, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Pit Bulls etc etc) have a responsibility to not put their dogs or other people in situations where the dog bites for no good reason. Trained protection dogs are a whole different story. I have 2 German Shepherds, one is very friendly and will knock you down just so he can get in your lap, the other doesn't really like other people besides us. He's never tried to bite anyone or went after anyone in any shape or form but when people come over I keep him under control just so he or the other people aren't put in a bad or uncomfortable situation. You have to know your dogs capabilities and temperament when it's around "strangers" to them.

I have two female Catahoulas that will bite a man if they come up in the yard without me outside. I like it because my wife works from home and my daughter watches my boys sometimes when me and the wife are gone. If they bit a random kid that wondered in the yard no matter the reason I'd kill the dogs asap. I had a guy helping me build a pad at my mother in-laws one time that reached over in my truck to pet my female Dixie and got his arm mangled up pretty bad. He shouldn't have done it but I have a dog box now so I don't have to worry about that happening again.

As a person who was attacked by a german shepherd at a public fishing lake as a kid, as in it broke from its owner and chased me down attacked, I have no use for any animal like that and will shoot one on sight if it comes after me or my family.

personally. I dont want or need a biting dog to protect me. I want them to bark and look scary. Anything else is a potential liability. He should never bite unless I am there and then only after specific commands. If your dog cant be stopped verbally mid attack, you dont want him using his teeth.

Given recent experience with a neighbors aggresive dogs and hearing in the news of children killed and injured by other aggresive dogs my view is changing on owner responsibilities. To me if you own an aggressive dog your responsibility is the same as owning a firearm. If you as the owner are negligent in maintaning 100% control of your aggressive animal then you are at fault if an innocent child or person is injured or killed.

i almost shot a guy at millers ferry bc he had a crazy dog at the campground and almost bit my son

I don’t want a dog that will bite. I love a dog who will bark at strangers and knows who should be there and who shouldn’t but no biting.
That being said I got one right now that may or may not bite and another up and comer that is suspect. The up and comer will not even let my son ride his bike if she is out she stops him. She is smarter than most people I interact with and she wants to protect my son at all costs. I like that but it could become a problem one day.

I have always thought a person who felt the need for a bitting dog to protect them was a little on the extreme side, just a little different from 99% of society.

chasing bikes is pretty common in dogs, especially younger dogs. It stimulates prey drive. Its hard to stop in some dogs. But I would exercise the dog, till its tired. Put the dog on a leash and let my son ride his bike giving the No command when shows interest. Eventually moving to off leash doing the same thing. The dog doesn't know what he's supposed to do and results to genetic programing, so you should teach him what its supposed to do in certain situations.

We are currently working on this. She’s just being a little hard headed with the whole bike thing.

I’m in the group of dogs should be mans best friend and not a weapon. Most of the time instincts will take over and they will attack whatever is attacking you. Aggressive natured dogs are far too dangerous for whatever variables could come to play. Imagine a lost child wandering your property and your dogs attack and kill it. It’s happened before.

For years my neighbors unfenced aggressive dogs have run at and barked at my granddaughters in a threatening manner. They are now age 7 and 9 and refuse to play outside. When they come to my house they won't get out of the car without knowing where the dogs are. The oldest had to go to a psychologist because she was so terrorized. I have seen these dogs bite a visitor next door and attack other dogs. They act especially aggresive with little kids running. They threaten anyone who walks by or delivers to the house and delivers are sometimes just left in my driveway. Going to my mailbox is always a risk. They have an underground fence but rarely wear their collars so how do I trust that with my granddaughters? It sucks that most of our grandparent time has to be spent indoors.

a shock collar will break one pretty quick. I'd rather the dog listen to my commands. If I can't break one from something, I'll implement the E collar. But I try to keep it to a minimum. Otherwise the dog will become dependent on the collar.
I practice walking my dogs on a leash alot. It gives them something to focus on besides the stimuli. I totally ignore everything else, so the dog learns to ignore everything else. My dogs will looks to me, if I ignore it, they ignore it. Non verbal ques are a big part of communication.
Keeping the dog calm in situations is key. Thats why I exercise them beforehand. It burns off the nervous or built up energy. Then we walk. Calmly and routinely.

If the bike rattles or makes noise, it'll make it more difficult. I would start at a distance, As the training progressed. I'd move the bike closer and have him ride slow and work your way up. Once I get them started, I like to take them to the park. Same principle. Exercise them, walk them in the yard. Go to the park, walk them away from everyone and settle down, move them closer.

Backwoods, you need to talk to your homeowner's insurance company and see how they feel about guard dogs. I bet you'll find that they are not worth what your insurance coverage would cost.

It’s a liability plain and simple. Contained guard dogs in a acreage is one thing.

Aggressive dogs in neighborhoods or may that interact with the Public are just a timedbomb ticking, it’s not if but when someone is attacked.

My child was attacked from behind and pulled off a bike when he was about 6 by a neighbors pit bull.

There was 1/2 dozen kids playing in the driveway when this happened in front of me and the owner.

I got to it first and saved my son but it got him on the leg and drew blood.

I took my son home and returned, I gave the owner an ultimatum that the dog was leaving our neighborhood today either with me or someone else or I was pressing charges.

Their dog was gone before days end.

Aggressive dogs and some breeds are a liability and if they bite the wrong person the owner could be wiped out financially if held responsible.

most homeowners policies cover all breeds now. The exception is trained protection dogs

I have the mindset that if it’s my property I can do what I want. With that being said, if there was any reservations about a dog with a child then the dog should be removed from the kids presence or vice versa. I do not believe that a kid should be bitten by a dog and I will put the dog down myself. On the other side, that’s why I have dogs. If I’m not home and someone tries to enter my house when I’m not there, I prefer the dog to bite. I would actually prefer to have a trained protection dog but don’t have that kinda of money or time. The job of a dog is to protect his territory when you’re not there. If it does that when you’re not there and you punish the animal for doing its job then that’s messed up. When it comes to dogs biting kids I think it’s black and white. When the dogs are protecting its home and territory, I think things can get gray.