how do you protect yourself? Question for protection/bitework trained dog owners - Page 1

Hello,
My Question is how do you protect yourself on your own property against stupid people with your personal protection and bitework trained dogs? Do you post signs? Do you have special insurance on these dogs? We are putting  up a fence at our new house and wondering about posting cautionary signs to warn people to not be stupid and put their fingers through the fence. My fear is if we post the signs could it make us a target for someone looking for a lawsuit.

what do you think?

If you post signs it's an open admission that your dogs may bite.  In the UK even a Beware of the dog sign is classed as an admission and could leave you open to prosecution if your dog bit a visitor to your property. 

I have no signs, I work on the basis of you'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind if you walked upto my front door and didn't know their were dogs on the property.  (but I am known as 'her with all them alsatians' so folks steer clear! and I'm not going to tell em I've only got 1 and I'd be more worried about those cute little blue dogs than my shepherd LOL)

Here in NY.. land of Liberals and Lawyers.. you best not post signs.  Even signs that say "Dogs in Yard" can buy you trouble if someone gets bitten. 

A warning sign becomes an admission of guilt if someone gets bitten.

how do I protect myself, I go outside and actually do stuff with my dogs.  They aren't just stuck out there alone, if something happens i'm there.  And I really dislike that people think that putting a sign up has no become an admission of guilt because of "liberals".  Please, I haven't met a person that wasn't willing to collect some cash any way they could.  Somehow I don't buy this is a trait unique to "liberals".  I guess I never realized only "liberals" took people to court or tried to sue for money.  Oh, and Lawyers don't work for themselves, somebody must hire them.  Why do people always want to blame someone else?

thanks for the input guys, i figured itd be best to not put signs. And even with a fenced yard i do not leave my dogs unattended i am out ther with them.

we keep very close eye on our dogs. our back yard has a wooden privacy fence so people cannot see our dogs. we also have a rather large umbrella insurance policy just in case.

We have a huge insurance policy ( I cringe every time I have to send a payment) but at least I know we are covered.  There is always some goof who wants to put fluffy up against the kennel fence to "meet" the dogs in the runs. ( what in heavens name is WRONG with people) Have not had any injuries to date but you know it's coming and a stern lecture doesnt seem to help these people either.  That and people MUST pet the dog on my table.  I had one lady get bitten in the face...  All I could say is I told you so.  I warned her like 5 times turned my back to grab something and whack she got it right in the lip! Remember if it is small and white it will most likely bite!

We have signs stating Protection trained dogs on site, and some others too but all state that dogs are trained to bite. As per our insurance company and my atty those are perfectly acceptable and will cover you in case of a bite.  Signs stating beware of dog are not acceptable because its not specifically stating that your dogs are trained to bite at least thats how I took it to mean.  Hope that helps but I'd recommend speaking to your insurance and attys. 
Amy

I do not like to give people any warning(s);  if they are stupid enough to go in my backyard well "yes" when I had my boy they would have gotten bit.  Tuff Shit. 

Also I did not put any warning on my van;  again if they were stupid enough to get near, and I mean even near my van they knew WAY ahead of time that it was guarded by my boy;  loved it.  Never had any problems with ANYONE even getting close to my van and if they did it started rocking and rolling and he was lunging.  So  no problems there.  Have a great day,  Nan

Insurance, that for people who have NO problems or issues as any one of them would cancel you in a heartbeat.  Now extra dog insurance like the kennel clubs have to carry is a diffrerent story;  it is setup for someone to get bit, not just in case someone MIGHT get bit.  Not cheap though.  BOL  Nan