Why would someone classify a certain breed of dog to be a danger around children?

Question

I just saw a question asked yesterday, but already closed to new answers, where the woman asked if you would allow your children to be around a Siberian Husky. The person who got the best answer commented that they would not because Huskies are part wolf and can turn on someone in a heartbeat. This question struck a nerve with me, because I have 4 Siberian Huskies and they have never been violent or dangerous to me or anyone else, including my children. Also because Huskies are no more "part wolf" than any other breed of dog. That is a myth. I understand peoples fear about Pit Bulls, since you hear so many stories of them being breed to fight and that they have attacked people, but why would someone assume based on the looks of a peticular dog, that they are unsafe to be around children?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlMNTqF8y8chtZkaHst06ot87hR.?qid=20070402091224AAEC0dY

This is the question I am referring too. I understand the concern over a dog that size being around kids, but alot of a dogs behavior has to do with how it is raised or what brings about an attack. Owning Huskies myself, I don't believe they are any more likely to attack a child than any other breed.

laenaneer: (Hope I spelled that right) It cracks me up how people say that Huskies look like wolves. I have watched the Discovery Channel numerous times and Huskies do not look like wolves. You can take a Husky and a wolf and stand them side by side, and it is very, very obvious who the wolf is. Only my oldest male even has the coloring of a wolf (Grey, black and white). The others are red and white or tan and white. Even though they look more like a wolf than most dogs, doesn't mean they are wolves. Not unless, like you said, they are hybrids.

Answer 1

As an animal lover who has worked with animals and have 2 dogs of my own that question irritates me!!!!!!!! If you can put racist in a breed of dog that's where that question should be categorized. Even pit bulls can be great pets around children. It all depends on the dogs personality and the owner.
I have a few examples. My husband and I used to have a beagle who I would never leave alone with a child. He was simply grumpy. Loving to us, he was my baby but grumpy. Now beagles are supposedly the best family dog due to their personality. Well, he was not. We now have 2 beagles, brother and sister and an 18 month old daughter. They are fantastic with her.
My sister has a dog who was a stray, she's a pure bread mutt who at the shelter was classified as a dog that should not be around children. She LOVES my daughter. This dog does not give out kisses freely but whenever my daughter walks in the room she has to kiss her. I would never turn my back on the two, just in case but that's just being a mother who is also respectful of the fact that this dog has had bad experiences with children.
As for "part wolf" whether true or untrue think back about the story of Romulus and Remus.

Answer 2

First off, I can't believe people still think that Siberian Huskies are part wolf! If anything, any Husky is one of the best dogs to have around children. I grew up with a German Shepherd-Husky mix and she was the best dog I've ever known.
But, on a second note, there are a few dogs I would never own:

Pit Bull
Rotweiller
Chow

This is probably because I've had personal bad experiences with them all. When we were kids and walked to the bus stop, we had to take spray bottles of onion water to protect ourselves from the pit bulls at the corner. They would chase us all the way onto the bus! Yes, the dog would come on the bus. I don't trust Rotweiller's for some reason. And, if you own one here, your house insurance goes up. They are very protective over their own "children" but sometimes are TOO protective and can be aggressive with other people. And, we had a Chow as a puppy and he would attack my niece and nephew. Teeth bared, growling, snarling, and nipping at them. He would literally chase them around. I sincerely blame this on the breed because we got him at 6 wks and raised him in a very loving home. It's just a personal thing and a trust issue with them. IMO - any dog can turn if provoked to a point. I'm not saying ALL pit bulls, rotweillers, and chows act this way, but personally I wouldn't feel comfortable having them around my children.

Answer 3

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

I have a Husky mix, and I have worked with sled teams... The ignorance of some people is astounding. Yes, most sled dogs have stronger, hmmm, instincts than do many other breeds, they were strictly for working longer than other breeds, but ALL domestics dogs come from wild ones.

There is NO breed that is dangerous to be around anything or anyone, only INDIVIDUAL dogs that are dangerous. Some breeds are most likely to BE dangerous, but the breed itself is not.

More people are bitten by Shel ties, Collies, Dalmatians and "toys" of various breeds, than by "Pits."

Your point is vary funny to me. Like I say, I have a Husky mix (crossed Eurasier, like anyone in North American knows what that is) but people think he is a) cross G. Sheppard or b) cross Coyote. People will ask if their child can pet my mini shih-tzu and ask that the bigger one be "held tightly"... Its the mini I'd be more worried about. He has no concept of "gentle". The bigger one is MUCH more socialized to children - I've seen toddlers walking holding his tail for support!

Makes me wonder, if people judge dogs that much by what they look like, what do they really think of other people?

Now if you look at the genome, you may find more alleles, in common between wolves and huskies, as oppose to wolves and a pug, BUT DOGS are all the same species, regardless of breed. To say a husky is more "wolf" is like saying "a while person is more chimpanzee".

Despite a few answers saying that parents should consider everything when it comes to their children, I think they should consider the FACTS not the rumour. Otherwise I might feed my child three meals a day only and be certain they are "seen and not heard".

And just because a dog is well behaved, it does not mean it will be good with children. They smell funny, act weird are little, move irradicately and rarely understand the communication signals an animal gives out. This is true of any breed.

Love your comment on here!

Answer 4

They're un educated morons who either have never owned a dog or have never owned a dog with children...

It is Malamues that are the wolf husky cross. And your child is more likely to get biten by a Chiuahau then a Rot Weiler.

It is how the dogs are treated and raised not the bread. Yes some are easier to teach how to be agressive. But I have never met a dog that was over agressive. And the ones that could even be considered temper mental were a result of there owners locking them up outside all year round and never paying attention to them.
Hell cats are more temer mental than dogs are.

Sure if it's a choice between a 10 lb Shitzu or a 80lb Rotty biting me well.... But I would trust a rotty over a Shitzu anyday

Answer 5

It really is more about the dog than the breed. Some dogs are just wretched beasts no matter what you do with them. That being said, most dog issues are people issues, meaning their person screwed them up. Small dogs are more likely to bite your child because they are little and their owners don't see the behavior as a problem and so don't teach them that is it unacceptable to bite. That isn't the dog's fault.

Different breeds are bread to have personality traits that make them more or less suitable to interact with children but that doesn't mean they can't be taught to be good with kids, it just means you have to work harder.

No animal is safe all the time. The best dog, cat, horse, etc in the world can have a bad day. Never take your pets for granted.

Answer 6

Wow aren't people silly. I agree with you, I don't believe that anyone breed is worse than another. I believe it is in the way the dogs are raised. Dogs who are raised by older people, rarely leaving the house and usually one person oriented are going to become more violent towards strangers no matter what the breed is. As well as dogs who are raised in violent environments, apposed to happier families.

My family had a pit bull when I was little and she was just as sweet as our two labs.

The only thing I would ever be weary of when having a dog around my children is if the dog was raised by someone else that I didn't know. I certainly wouldn't go to the pound and pick up and full grown abandoned dog no matter what the breed.

Im glad to hear someone else thinks the same way. Kudos!

Answer 7

It's just ignorance. Huskies are one of the smartest breeds, and excellent to have around kids. Huskies and labs are my top choices for family dogs. My uncle always had huskies, I had a husky, we have two friends with kids who have alaskan and siberian huskies.... they are excellent with children, kind, obedient, and smart.

I don't know what all this crap about wolves is - lol. This is the first I've heard of that. I do think some breeds should be sworn of as family pets just due to the inherent disposition of the breed (pits, dobermans), but that kind of reasoning is just silly, and stupid.

Please, go give your huskies a big hug for me - mine passed away several years ago, and I do miss those sweet eyes. Thanks for bringing up this great point. Have a great night.

Answer 8

Now you can NOT knock pit bulls when your trying to stick up for a Breed! First of all it's the OWNERS that make the dogs mean NOT the breed! I have a pit bull who is absolutely wonderful with children! We had a special needs child here for a week with her mother and my pit bull was that girls best friend! Letting this girl use his back to help stand. Sleeping at the foot on the floor of her bed to ensure she didn't get scared and he is wonderful with my 8 month old who climbs on him,drools on him,pulls his ears and he has never even filched! Like I said it's THE OWNERS who make a dog mean not the dog itself. And Yes I have heard all the horror stories but that is true with any breed.

Answer 9

Huskies are NOT part wolf. LMAO...Who came up with that? One of the first dogs my daughter ever had contact with was a husky. Her and "Alaska" had a great time together. The dog was owned by my ex's cousin, my daughter was about three and delighted in getting into the kennel with the dog as the dog had a bed that was big enough for my daughter to lie in and the dog delighted in having company. As far as Pit Bulls I've had contact with them for a number of years and the one's I've been in contact with were no more a threat to anyone than my Doxies. It is not the breed of dog that is the problem, it is how the dog is raised that is the problem. and the fact that Pit Bull's jaws lock when they bite down. I have slept with a pit bull big baby that he was. The worst that I ever got from him was when he knocked me over because I wasn't petting him enough. So he knocked me over, stood over me and drooled all over me until I started petting him...It's funny no one ever heard of the dog from the Our Gang Comedies (Little Rascals) ever attacking anyone and "Petey" was pure bred Pit Bull...I know because the Pits I had contact with were his offspring/issue of his offspring.
ALL dogs can attack when provoked. I have a friend who lost her nose (aka Michael Jackson) when her sweet lovable Yorkie bit it off. So I guess that would put Yorkies right up there with Pits...

Answer 10

I could not agree with you more. The only dogs that are truly part wolf are the hybrids. There are some cute little dogs that are not advisable to be around kids. If I have my facts right the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is one such breed or even better yet the Bedlington Terrier.