I'm glad this thread is called "Rules for Dog Owners." I can never understand why people think it's "the animals" fault when something goes wrong.
Quick story: I have a friend in Chicago that had a dog trained for bodily protection. Guard dog. Well one day his niece, who he adores, 4 years old, jumped into his bed as he was napping to surprise him. (Her mother should have known better.) The dog attacked the little girl. 40 stitches in forehead. The mother demanded that he put the dog down, but he said "NO. He was just doing his job." And I respected him for that. Fast forward, that little girl who is now in her 30's, is a vet assistant and adores animals. No fear. That's the happy ending. But it could have been really bad. I blame the mother, not the dog.
Point is, animals will be animals. Train the people! Some people should just not own animals.
I have to say, just as my own rule of thumb, I can't trust and don't trust people that do not like animals.