Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=okJL4x8NWrs

What do people make of this? I am a big fan of Victoria Stilwell and she is saying she strongly disagrees that this was a vicious dog attack and that the dog gave plenty of warnings and appeasement signals.

I agree with her to some extent (but I know a lot about dogs and dogs body language) but still think it was too quick to bite for my liking. Saying that I have a lab and wouldn't dream of having a mastiff. I also wouldn't dream of doing what the presenter did either so I am a bit on the fence on this one!

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

The woman got right in the dogs face. Saying that the dog didn't seem to be giving off warnings and just went, the dog needs some behavior training and maybe a muzzle when out in public. The presenter also needs some training to, no one in their right minds would get that close to a unknown dog in the first place.

My friend has a mastiff (Old English) and he is a beautiful balanced animal, I have met several labs who are not beautiful balanced animals, it's all in the training.

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

I think she was quite mad to try and kiss it. Dogo Argentine is a famously fierce dog, a step up from a pit bull, and this one, having been rescued by fire fighters, had an unknown history. That said, you can't have dogs that bite people so that has to be the end it.

Really though, kissing dogs? We're not in France.

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

A former neighbour has a boarding barn, mainly horses but there was a goat. She breeds mastiffs. The mastiffs always worried me, you can't even make eye contact with a mastiff. They worried me even more after they ate the boarded goat.

And then we moved here, and the neighbour had a mastiff, some sort of Brazilian thing. They had to walk it at night as, if it saw another dog, it would savage the dog and, even with a prong collar, they couldn't stop it.

These are dogs that'll keep your junkyard safe, if it's you to whom they're loyal, they're something of danger to every other person or animal.

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

The dog was in a strange studio environment. A stranger sticks her face right up to the dog's face and tries to kiss it. We're talking about a large powerful mastiff not a cute little fluffy puppy. The presenter was beyond stupid. :blink:

What is it with Americans...why do they like to kiss dogs on the mouths and let the dog lick their mouths? It's disgusting.

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

I think the dog gave off some warnings. Dogs smack their lips when stressed or over alert (mine does this but in a much more obvious manner - you can hear it its so obvious and usually a sign that a cat is around) - that dog did it but not as obviously.

It also tried to move it's head away but really was restrained by the owner so it probably was starting to feel cornered at that point.

Saying that she really was being in it's face and over the top. I still wouldn't put my face that close to a breed like that. I do have a friend that has 4 male rotties and kids in the same house and she is adamant they would never do anything...

I do agree a lot of it is in the training like you say - labs can be unbalanced too.

dbd33 - what you say about your neighbour and not being able to control the dog - I wonder whether the dog felt like it had to protect them? Our last dog was amazing with humans, kids and babies... but when out with walking with me would always go for another dog... but not when my husband walked him.... :confused:

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

I think this is the world over. We have neighbours who wait for it feed their boxer with their cutlery and then wonder why it thinks it's top dog and can't be let loose anywhere. Stupid thing went for me and my son on a school run!! :frown:

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

They adoped the dog from Poland where it had been abused, they knew it was not going to be an easy pet. The owner has a long history of keeping large dogs, Fila Brasilia, Catahoula, Dogo Argentinian and plainly enjoys keeping something that, rightly, terrifies passers-by. He said though that Bobo, the dog in question, became more and more possessive and fierce. I think it's the nature of those dogs that they're protective, the trick is to teach them that most people are not a threat to the owner and so don't need chomping.

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

It's got absolutely nothing to do with being American. Kissing dogs etc happens all over the UK and in other countries.

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

Good God man, be more specific. It may be that people kiss their dogs in England but only if they've just arrived, from France, or America. People like us do not do things like that.

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

Usually after 8 pints.

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

Really? Kissing a dog on the head is one thing...kissing it on the mouth or letting it lick your mouth...and even inside your mouth...is quite another. Even on TV people let dogs lick their mouth...*barf*...I've never seen anyone in the UK let a dog do that.

BTW I am a dog lover and have over the years had 9 dogs. Yes I kiss my dogs on top of their heads...however I would never kiss their mouths because I know where their mouths have been. Like wise I would never allow them to kiss my face...in fact I always train my dogs not to lick me or anyone else...period.

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

Shoot her !

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

:rofl:

Re: Presenter gets bitten by mastiff on live tv
 

<wonders how long before Caesar Milan steps in to rehabilitate the dog and train the owner>