Dog Attack – Who’s Fault Was It?

Recently my Facebook feed has been filled with cries of help to keep a Great Pyrenees that had allegedly attacked a child. There are passionate arguments on both sides, but maybe we should explore not only the instance but our relationship with dogs in general.

The alleged attack was reported in the local paper, accompanied by video footage of the incidence. The video is approximately 30 minutes and shows the scene at a family restaurant with the dog at the owner’s table. About the 7:45 mark a child runs near the table and falls, causing the dog to go on alert, barking and assuming an aggressive stance. For the next 15 minutes or so the dog seems restless and is pulled closer to the table and kept there. When two children walk close to the dog, possibly stepping on her tail, the dog reacts, seeming to pull one child under the table. A picture shows a 3-4 inch gash on the child’s forearm.

In reading the article there are a few things that bother me personally. The first is that the dog was wearing a prong collar.

These should be outlawed. Applying pain to an animal is not conducive to learning. This particular dog had already received her Canine Good Citizen certificate, so why was the prong collar even necessary? At one point in the video, the dog walks away from the table and is pulled back by the owner. By using a prong collar in this instance, the dog is “punished” for normal behavior. This happens several times.

In owning a Great Pyrenees, I can tell you that they are alert when away from their home territory. When we are away she is constantly looking to me for information on what is acceptable. She will also take cues from my other dog, a Golden Retriever. The dog in question acts nervous and unsettled during the first part of the video. She is sitting or standing, moving around and frequently has her head in a downward position.

The preferred stance of a Livestock Guardian Dog is laying while keeping a keen eye on her surroundings. When my dog is comfortable and relaxed she will be in a prone position, not sitting or standing. She is quick to act though when there is movement or if touched when she doesn’t see someone approach her. Many of these dogs attempt to watch from a higher vantage point and it is not unusual to see them on small hills, hay bales, furniture or even their dog houses.

What I believe went wrong with this poor dog is her owner’s inability to read the body language she was desperately displaying. In both instances of aggression, the child approached the dog from the rear and out of her line of sight. These dogs, in particular, depend on knowing what is going on at all times. They are used, successfully, by farmers and shepherds to guard their flocks against predators. Knowing what is out of place or unusual will save their lives and the lives of their charges.

On a larger scale, are we doing justice by our dogs or have we humanized them to the point that we just don’t see their unique qualities? These beautiful beings are actually very strong animals with teeth and claws and instincts that can get you killed. I trust my pyrenees fully. I rely on her instincts and pay attention to her seemingly random barking. We work in conjunction with each other, not in opposition. I was told by someone once that their dog was “by god gonna do what they said, when they said it”. I have to give huge credit to the dog realm for even attempting to be so cooperative. The Golden Retriever will try desperately to comply, the pyrenees…not so much.

The Great Pyrenees have been called “Gentle Giants”. Don’t let that fool you though. They are, gentle, goofy, stubborn and attentive. Their genetics also drive them to do a job they have been doing for thousands of years; keeping their charges safe. If a threat is perceived by them, listening to commands goes out the window.

Recent studies have shown dogs to have a similar intellect and emotional level to a 2-year-old human. Routinely we ask of our dogs, way more than we expect from our toddlers. We treat them with careless abandon, exposing them to situations that cause stress. Because we love them so we believe that others should as well and act accordingly. We rarely get down on our dogs level and try to understand what’s going on. We are doing them a huge disservice.

Your dog has overcome a lot to live in harmony with you in your world. You owe it to these animals to be responsible and accountable to them for their wellbeing both physically and emotionally. They look to you for clues as to how to act, what to do and who to admit into their circle. When they are unsure or stressed they will give you signals and you must be alert in seeing and reacting accordingly.

The dog in question has been court ordered to either re-home or be euthanized. I would be devastated to loose either of my dogs, but I take great care in assuring that they are under control and not put in a place that will stress them. The outcome is sad, made more so because it could have so easily been avoided if the owner was attentive to the body language the dog was exhibiting.

They have been our companions for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. It is time we repay the favor and take responsibility.