Originally Posted by
HeatherRae
I mean...socialization is probably a huge issue right there.
I think I've told this story before, but my mom has a really good friend who has been a dog groomer for forever. Been around tons of dogs . Knows how dogs are. Understands dogs. Has a Great Dane.
No one ever hears bad things about Great Danes, right?
Never socialized dog. Did not neuter dog. Did not train dog. Dog is a fucking menace - a 200lb menace. He's vicious. He's uncontrollable. He's bigger than she is - and he knows it, which is a huge problem.
The dog is a walking time bomb, but so far has not actually gotten loose to attack anyone. So, technically, Great Danes are not "vicious" dogs and he hasn't actually attacked anyone yet, so nothing can be done, even though anyone with half a brain and any experience with dogs can tell the dog is a fatality waiting to happen.
Contrast with my half-Rott, half-Pitt, who was socialized extensively as a puppy, neutered at 3 months old, given obedience training, and has never been allowed to put his mouth on anything or push anyone around (it's cute as a puppy until it's not cute as a 100lb dog). He's calm, friendly, likes people. Would I leave him alone with a small child? No. But I wouldn't leave any dog alone with a small child, because that's just asking for trouble.
People underrate the effects of socialization, spay/neutering, and not having multiple dogs.