InvisibleDuncan
Prominent Member
A few years ago I was out with a friend who had her dog (an alsatian) with her. She tied it to a rail outside a shop when we popped in, and we watched through the window in stunned surprise as a passing mother encouraged her little girl (3 or 4, maybe?) to pet the dog. The girl actually ran up to it from behind, where it couldn't see her coming, and flung her arms around its neck, then shrieked "Hello doggy!" in its ear.
Luckily, this was a very friendly, well-behaved dog and despite clearly being startled it didn't really react. My friend, though, was livid, and stormed out of the shop and gave the mother a real dressing down (one of those hissed, quiet ones so as not to humiliate her in front of her daughter). No matter how well-trained and good-natured a dog is, you can't predict how it will react when it's startled, and it could have torn the girl apart in no time if if it had reacted badly. Not only would the girl have been horribly scarred, possibly killed, but the dog would almost certainly have been put down as well.
Some people just don't think.
Luckily, this was a very friendly, well-behaved dog and despite clearly being startled it didn't really react. My friend, though, was livid, and stormed out of the shop and gave the mother a real dressing down (one of those hissed, quiet ones so as not to humiliate her in front of her daughter). No matter how well-trained and good-natured a dog is, you can't predict how it will react when it's startled, and it could have torn the girl apart in no time if if it had reacted badly. Not only would the girl have been horribly scarred, possibly killed, but the dog would almost certainly have been put down as well.
Some people just don't think.