You be the judge......... - Page 2

That handler , and the reporter were dumb as rocks. I can't believe either one of them have ever been around a dog before of any kind. I like the dog and see that as not a fault in him. He did everything to Warn him except write him a note. And neither one of those guys were smart enough to see it.
Hank

I agree with Don the C...First off...I have no idea if the handler is an experienced handler or not...but he certainly doesn't know how his k-9 partner will react in different situations...The viedeo says that Pedro is a new partner to his handler and is only 15 months old...
I certainly wouldn't comdemn the dog for doing anything wrong...He's only doing what comes naturally to him...And as far as the Reporter goes...I consider it the responsibility of the k-9 handler as to know what his partner will or won't do...l
Flat out I think it's the handler's fault for not knowing what his k-9 partner will do in different situations...If he doesn't know what to expect..."then don't do it"...
I mean do you send a Police k-9 into harms way when they haven't been trained to do so or haven't been put in these situations before...
Number 1 rule when dealing with k-9's...is never expect them to do something that you haven't already put them in the position to do or to train in before....

~Bob~

I had a GSD that hated anyone getting in her face like that. She would have done exactly the same thing, only since she was my dog, and I knew her body language, I would have pulled her away from the reporter long before she got uncomfortable enough to bite. She never seriously hurt anyone, though one girl got a small cut on her lip. I asked a trainer about it, and she said if my dog were really dangerous, I'd would have been looking at a trip to the E.R. and multiple stitches, instead of just a drop or two of blood.

Police dogs are NOT 100% reliable. I had my picture taken with an RCMP officer and his dog once, and the officer warned me not to get too close to the dog. I didn't try to pet it, just stood beside the dog and officer as my husband snapped the photo.

They are NOT pets, and you have to respect that.

AS HE MOVED CLOSER TO THE DOG I KNEW IT WAS A MATTER OF TIME. THE DOG ,I THINK, REACTED AS HE IS SUPPOSED TO DO. HE DID GIVE EVERY WARNING AND WAS TOTALLY IGNORED.HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GOOD CHRISTMAS.

Most experienced K9 officers will not allow "civilians" to get so close to a dog or put themselves in that position (in the dogs' face, in his immediate space) in such a way that the dog could make contact if it did choose to bite - even if the dog is friendly.  Liability for the police department.  This handler was just not thinking.  His mistake, a big one.  Made the dog, himself, and his department look bad, and could have opened the door to a liability suit against them.

Perhaps if the partners would have been given more time to get to know each other BEFORE the interview, this may not have happened....Gotta wonder who approved this interview. Had to come from higher authority, so maybe thats where the blame should be placed.....JMO

I watched the video and they stated the dog was brand new, just gotten as a potential K-9.  I'm gathering the dog had minimal training and was not certified at that point. 

This is why you never,ever,never let anyone you don't know and trust pet your Police K-9.  Or, if he is like my dog, no one ever pets him period except other handlers. 

The handler has to accept the responsibility, the dog was correct IMO.  You have to remember that most people are stupid, plain and simple.  I was at a City Fair with thousands of people working with my dog.  Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a guy kneeling down saying to his 4 year old daughter: "Do you want to pet the Police Dog?  Go ahead run up and pet the dog. Give him a hug."  They were about 10 feet away in a crowd and the father sent his daughter to "hug" my dog.  We stopped the kid and let the father know how inappropriate it was.  

I will never understand why people have the impression that all Police Dogs are like "Lassie" or "Fluffy" the poodle?  Then when the K-9 barks at an adult or kid who runs up and tries to get in the dogs face, there must be something wrong with the dog.  It's very frustrating at times dealing with all of the people who say "dogs love me, he won't bite me. I can pet him."  

JMO,

Jim

I would not call the handler in video a pardner. He was not comfortable with the dog from the beginning. There was no excuse for that to have ever happened. The handler should first of all not put his dog in that kind of compromising situation. Most people would have culled the dog had he not defended himself. I know I sound ratical but that is just plain stupidity. The first things you teach little kids is not to get in a dogs face. Anyone can make a wrong judgement call, but this is just common sense. Unfortunatly stuff like this happens alot . Police k9 magazine had a article about trying to socialize dogs so they can be around kids at schools and show and tell type scenarios, and that is fine as long as a EXPERIENCED handler also educates the public as he does it.
Hank

 I don't understand the appeal in trying to pet the dog. 

They all feel the damn same. Its not like a police dog feels any better than a regular dog. 

Do you feel extra badass petting a dog who has bitten someone before? Do you like the adrenaline rush? I'll bet you think twice about petting a police dog/protection dog, and how your body language looks to one next time.

I think everyone BUT the dog are at faults here. The handler, the department manager, the reporter.

This entire situation is complete and udder stupidity. 

I hope their dicks feel nice and big after this one hit the media.