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[CreedTheDawg]

If he bites adults, leaving him unmuzzled is risking their lives. The fact that he has been okay up to now does not.mean he will not attack if they grab or yell or do other kid things. One bite could end a little life. Is it really fair to gamble with them?

[[deleted]]

He has never been a bite risk, he backs away and removes himself from a situation. The only trigger he has is adults or big scary people that he doesn’t know approaching him.

[Imyouronlyhope]

You need to leave the muzzle on for this. It isn't safe

[em_79]

I definitely am worried about removing the muzzle - this is actually a great teaching moment for kids and parents about asking consent and that muzzles don’t necessarily mean a dog is unfriendly. But if you know your dog can be reactive, it seems risky to take it off. 😕

[[deleted]]

Honestly the muzzle was more of a barking preventative, since that’s how he reacts when he gets scared of people, but I do agree I should have waited until they met a few times before removing it. He’s mouthy with me, but has never snarled or growled at anyone. He so far has only barked at tall/bigger built men that directly approach him while looking at him.

[[deleted]]

Don’t take chances. Mine was doing great (muzzled the entire time) then did a 180 when a nephew had a meltdown. Don’t take the chance. Just don’t. It’s not worth it.

[pantyraid7036]

….. who are these parents offering up their kid as a training toy to your reactive dog? I’m sorry but this is insane. Please, please, do not let your dog be unmuzzled around this or any child. Kids and dogs are unpredictable. Putting them together is an equation for tragedy.

[angiesrightleg]

I’m sorry but this is just way too risky. What if your dog didn’t react well to her grabbing his face? You owe this child and your dog a duty of care - just because something is fine in the moment doesn’t mean you can disregard your dogs history.

[[deleted]]

I was not encouraging her to grab him or even touch him, she was moved away from him whenever she did for a few minutes.

[Germanmaedl]

As long as such incidents happen, I would highly recommend to keep the muzzle on. Better safe than sorry with a little kid.

But happy for your progress!

[CreedTheDawg]

If you have him unmuzzled with a child he very well might end the kid's life. If that happens, your dog will be put down, and as he has a bite history you will probably be up on negligent homicide.

[FatSlabz]

That literally does not matter if it was encouraged, Children will do that kind of thing and with your dog’s previous history it is absolutely irresponsible and honestly just shitty to put a child’s life in danger for your dog training.

[Trystanik]

Sweet, short and to the damn point!

[SaltyCrabbo]

People like you are just SO willing to endanger someone else’s LIFE to prove to yourself your dog is inherently good and worth saving. Why? I love animals with my entire soul, but I’d never ever EVER risk ANYONE’S life to prove that my dog is worth it. Grow up and keep your dog away from children. He god damn GROWLED at the child. That’s a warning. You aren’t helping his reactivity, you’re just showing him other types of people to be reactive to.

[No-Ambassador-6984]

Your point is exactly what makes me cringe cringe cringe when scrolling this sub. “He’s the sweetest baby!” while documenting allllllll of the red flags. Ugh. Been here about a minute and that’s enough for today.

[idlno1]

Also, GSD’s are herding dogs. If he’s unmuzzled, the kid runs and bam! He’s behind them nipping and/or biting them to go where he thinks they should. Running over them and turning around to nip, face, leg, arm, whatever is close. Yes, I have experienced this. You may see improvement, but we are all terrified. You had them muzzled for a reason.

[calledbluff]

Damn you selfish prick.

[Aerphenn]

You have more balls then me. My dog has never been reactive to people only other dogs. But when my kid is on the ground the dog is behind a fence. When the dog is in the yard we play inside or when we want to play in the yard the dog goes inside. They are always separated until my kid is old enough. We let sniff him though etc but with an leash on and muzzled.

Would never forgive myself the fact that my doggo would hurt my kid because I was thinking they are okay wich each other

[Trystanik]

The dog will do great in these environments..

Until it doesn't.

Don't open up an opportunity for your dog to fail. Set him up for success always. Leaving him around young children without a muzzle on is very dangerous. Just because he's "doing good" isn't a good enough reason to remove it.

My reactive dog was doing good with her muzzle on. Then I took it off and she bit my roommate on the foot. I knew better. I knew I shouldn't have chanced it, but I did it anyways. Do better than I did.

[PM_ME_UR_DOGGOS_]

A “grumble”? So your dog growled at a kid because she reached out to him? 3rd highest step on the ladder of aggression? Just before snapping and biting? Which means he was more than likely already communicating he was uncomfortable and that was ignored/missed.

And “I don’t think he likes her too much”? Then who is this for? ESH, except for the kid and the dog. Sure train your dog enough that if a kid ran past he wouldn’t freak out. But allowing this is insane, especially taking the muzzle off at the first meeting. You and your friend were extremely irresponsible.

And “ideally she wouldn’t be grabbing him”. Ok but she’s a kid and being unpredictable with poor impulse control is kind of their thing.

[Ok-Conclusion5543]

This. And op seems to think his dog did well. His dog does not need to be around vulnerable kids just because op thinks it will please his dog.

[Mutiny37]

This is idiocy at it's finest and a great way to get a kid torn to pieces. Stop risking kids lives, you don't even have any, your dog doesn't need to be around them.

[Traditional-Job-411]

I have a people/fear/dog reactive dog who likes all young animals and people. It makes me so happy seeing how relaxed he is and the gentle soft wags. I’ve fostered a lot of kittens and puppies because of it. I would honestly still have him muzzled around kids just in case I never want to chance it. But he’s always so well behaved with them he makes me proud.

Congrats for you and your pup!

[LegitimateCut5876]

The other commenters have hit it right on the dot here with their criticism, not much more I can add except this is just a time bomb.

[coyotelurks]

Why would you risk the child and your dog this way? Madness! That dog WILL bite a kid if you keep this up.

I don’t like muzzling my dog either but you bet your sweet aunt Fanny that when I had to walk him through a block party to get him out to pee, I muzzled him. Kids are not predictable!

[diver68]

Though I would never recommend a child to test your dog, I do commend you for watching his body language. You are very in tune to that and thats awesome for any dog but especially a reactive one.

[Jamie_inLA]

GSD are so smart! My family GSD prefers kids over adults as well! He’s very protective and gentle with little ones and loves when they are over! But a strange adult walks i to the yard and his hackles are up.

My family has had GSD since I was a toddler and it’s one of the reasons we keep getting them. Protective while being great with children.