[CybrSage]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Why euthanize a dog whose owner has chosen not to train it? Maybe euthanize the owner, and let the dog have a better home.

As for me, I'm not afraid of dogs. I'm respectful of their "territory" which includes a perimeter around whoever is on the other end of the leash. If I'm passing someone walking their dog, I just pass them. If they're in the middle of the sidewalk - well unless they have a corso or St. Bernard, there's still probably enough room for me to pass them on one side or another. I ignore the growls. They're warning me not to get cozy. I'm not intending to get cozy, so I just keep walking and minding my own business.

I've been lunged at by three dogs in my entire life, never bitten by any. The first that lunged at me was a chihuahua. He snapped his jaw toward me. I put my hand across its lower jaw, palm facing down, and clamped onto it. The dog was 100% helpless at that moment, and whimpered until I was damned ready to let it go. And then it scurried away from me like the little freakish dog-rat that they are.

Second was another chihuahua. They're just nasty creatures. Same response, same reaction.

Third was a Ridgeback. It was my fault, I reached to pet her without asking permission from her handler. She lunged in defense. I backed off and sat on the ground, head down, submitting. She took a few sniffs, and ignored me again, and all was well.

This is a great example of why a great many people like dogs and dislike humans.