We've all heard of the news stories about a dog who has killed a baby and almost immediately euthanized. I have to admit that I very strongly believe that these dogs (in many cases) do NOT deserve the death penalty. They say that once a dog has 'tasted blood' that it is forever changed. Here are my thoughts on this...
A dog has always had the desire to kill. A majority of breeds are bred for that purpose specifically. When we give a dog a toy with a squeaker in it, we find humor and amusement in the dog's ability to destroy the toy and rip out the noise maker not realizing it's part of their prey drive by providing a small object with a cry like sound. Is there a taste for blood? Not that we note. Do we get upset about the destroyed toy? Not really.
A step higher... a dog stalks and hunts a chirping cricket, finally grabbing the critter in it's chompers and effectively offing the poor bug. Again, we find humor and amusement in the dog's ability to destroy the cricket and clearing our surroundings of the pest. Is there a taste for blood? Not that we note. Do we get upset about the destroyed bug? Nope.
Another step higher... a dog engages in a game of tag with a taunting squirrel. We laugh as the dog gets outsmarted time and again until one day he successfully manages to snag it. Sadly, the critter is no more as we bury the remains of the furry nut eater. Is there a taste for blood? Not that we note. Do we get upset about the destroyed squirrel? Maybe a little at first... but nothing everlasting.
So at this point the dog has destroyed a squeaky/crying toy, taunted and killed a cricket, and victoriously murdered the neighborhood squirrel and yet at no point do we think that this dog has a permanent taste for blood even though it is a hunter.
The final straw... a newborn baby has been brought home. Mom mistakenly leaves the baby on the bed while tending to another task. Fido inspects this new moving thing that is only about twice the size of that squirrel. His cold nose touches the babies skin and the baby lets out a noise sounding very much like that squeaky toy. And every time the dog nudges the baby, it whines and cries a bit more. Not only that, but it squirms and moves! Why in the world does anyone think that a dog can tell the difference between this tiny, crying, moving baby and a large hairless squirrel that doesn't run? Don't hate me for saying this... but THEY CAN'T! Aside from having the same number of appendages, a baby has no similarity to us adults that a dog is used to!
So when I hear of these dogs being put down because of poor supervision on the guardian's side, I admit it... I get angry. The dog has no additional 'taste for blood' than it did with the cricket and the rodent. It is no different to them. The only thing that contributes to the change in the dog is the dog's OWNERS! They lost all trust and love for the animal in a split second and THAT is what the dog responds too. The immediate and seemingly unexplainable banishment and abandonment. NOT blood.
When I brought my daughter home to my 4 year old husky, I saw those dilated pupils in her eyes. Those were not just curiosities. My husky was not allowed to touch my daughter until she was 3 months old. Then she was allowed to sniff her while I held her in my arms. She got a bit pushy and out she went and we tried a month later. The process continued with much supervision and much correction until she finally lost those dilated pupils. She was a great canine companion to my daughter and even helped her walk on a few occasions. I have pictures of my daughter sleeping on her and even more with my husky's poor ears tied up in hair ties. But I have no doubt that had I been one of the neglectful/forgetful parents, I may have faced a similar scenario.
Our biggest mistake as dog owners is forgetting that our dogs are NOT people. They never will be. I 'joke' with my clients that they need to think of their dogs as tigers and bears. One does not attempt to place "spite" and "hate" on such strong creatures and too we should not attempt forcing our human emotions onto our dogs. In the end, a dog is a dog and this is not a bad thing! We should strive to be forever loving and loyal like them while maintaining a respect for what they are.
