JE-UK

Anyone else see this story about a dog who bit a TV reporter in the middle of an on-air segment? The full video is on Youtube.

I think there were several failures here:

- The owner failing to see signs of stress in his dog
- The owner failing to see that the way he was physically restraining the dog was adding to his stress
- The reporter, for manhandling a strange dog and then STICKING HER FACE IN HIS FACE
- The owner (again), for failing to control the interaction

I DON'T see any failures by the dog. The circumstances and his owner gave him no other options (i.e. escaping the scary TV lady), the bite was relatively controlled, and once the woman got out of his face, he was fine.

And when you add in that it's a Dogo, a breed not known for gentle tolerance of either strangers or handling, I'd say the dog did very well.

__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes is so much important than No." Dominique Barbier

fjm

One very interesting comment I saw asked why there was no one in attendance who understood dog behaviour, and could ensure everything was safe. It is a requirement for film making etc - perhaps it shold be a requirement for all television appearances, as well.

__________________

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace.

~ Milan Kundera

tortoise

It's not the first reporter to stick his/her face in the dog's face and get bitten. The reporters need some training before going live with a dog. The dog has no idea it's a touchy feely happy mushy story. The dog just knows a stranger is invading its space in a stressful place. Back off lady! (good dog)

CT Girl

I could see that bite coming a mile away. I am amazed no one picked up on the obvious signs of distress that dog was exhibiting. When you consider the very stressful situation the dog had been through the day before and add in hot lights and cameras and a strange lady sticking her face in the dog's space while he was being restrained it is a wonder that reporter has a face left.

JE-UK

In the aftermath of the story of the dog who bit the reporter on air, the same station is running a series on dog safety, proper greeting, etc.

What a result! I'm so sorry the reporter was bitten, but very happy they are taking the opportunity to educate people.

What the dog is trying to say: How to say hello | 9news.com

__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes is so much important than No." Dominique Barbier

CT Girl

It is great that 9news used this incident as an opportunity to make people more aware of dog safety and how to properly greet a strange dog. Hopefully this will hlep prevent people from getting bit.

Keithsomething

That has GOT to be the light at the end of this tunnel!!

I think your initial observations were spot on and exactly what I saw when I watched it, I own freaking POODLES and I'd never let someone that doesn't know my dogs well enough to shove their faces into their faces!!
It aggravates me that the owner...while on tv and that might be the cause of his lapse in judgement...allowed for the reporter to be that close to the dogs face, and it annoys me that more people just don't know how to react/greet/be around a strange dog!!

Respect is paramount when dealing with dogs!

__________________