OT: And you thought the world was sane...

[Fyron]

I didn't say kill...

[dogscoff]

weight and intelligence to the contrary, unless you carry a gun, i think the advantage still goes to the dog.

Apparently (I don't know if this is true) you can kill any attacking dog by grabbing it's front legs and pulling them apart. This will pop the dog's heart open. Apparently.

But yeah, even without that (probably untrue) factoid and without a bat or a gun, I would make any dog that attacked me severely sorry. I'm sure I'd end up in hospital but I'd make bloody sure I didn't come off worse. I may lack the animalistic "killer instinct" but 101kg and a pair of size 12 stompin' boots goes a long way to making up for it...

[narf poit chez BOOM]

someone's trying to kill me and has a good chance, i'll try to kill them. why shouldn't i apply the same to large dogs?

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Tigbit:
Sorry, DavidG but it looks like you've still missed the main issue of the parent knowingly sending his child into a dangerous situation. Yes all possible precaution must be taken by owners of nasty animals but it is still the job of the parent to instill a healthy sense of self-preservation. Agreed?

Agreed. I don't think there is any doubt that the parent was an idiot (Assuming all the assumtions we've made here are true. ie he didn't know the dog, (maybe he did and it was friendly to him) and he could read English, the sign was clearly posted etc)
The parent certainly should not be able to turn this into some kind of lottery win for himself.

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Narrew:
I admit that a person should have the right to sue, BUT they should pay if they LOOSE

Right on! As a doctor my dad saw many frivilous lawsuits and most of them came from the very poor or the very rich with money to burn. The poor got Legal Aid so they had nothing to lose. The middle class rarely sued because it would cost them money.

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by dogscoff:
Apparently (I don't know if this is true) you can kill any attacking dog by grabbing it's front legs and pulling them apart. This will pop the dog's heart open. Apparently.

Well, I can't say whether this is true or not. This is the first I have ever heard of it. I suspect it's not something a child or a weak adult could do, unless it were a small dog. Muscle and tendon are pretty tough afterall.

But I guess if you try it and it doesn't work you won't have long to worry about it. If you think about the position you will be in with referance to the dog to attempt this manuver that would put you face to face with him, with your arms spread wide and his jaws a few inches from your neck. And he's likely to be a little ticked at you for spreading his front legs apart.

I have heard if you punch an attacking dog square on the nose its the canine equivalent to the old knee to the groin. That is what I have always heard is the best way to stun him long enough to get away.

But the best way to stop a dog attack is to not screw around with unfamilier dogs of course.

[Loser]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
I have heard if you punch an attacking dog square on the nose its the canine equivalent to the old knee to the groin. That is what I have always heard is the best way to stun him long enough to get away.

I don't think there's anything in creation that likes a punch in the nose. It seems we're all pretty tender there. But remember that a dog's mouth-eye coordination is, in all likelihood, superior to your hand-eye coordination. Unless you're a darn fast boxer you're just going to get your fist bit if you jab head on. Try swinging down fro mthe top.

The best time to hit a dog's nose is when he's got his mouth wrapped around something else... like some part of you in most cases, or maybe just your clothes if you're lucky. If you can't keep the dog from biting you, and you can make some choice, try to get your off forearm in his mouth so that the two bones in there are side-by-side, not over-under. Even the strongest-jawed canine is not going to be able to snap your arm in half right away, and this gives you some control over where his head is. You're going to get cut, likely torn-up, but at that point it was going to happen anyway. Also keep in mind that the animal is probably going to be whipping his head back and forth if he's got his mouth on you, and that his neck is about the strongest thing on him.

If you are able to strike hard on the place where the dog's snout meets the rest of his skull you can knock him out much the way a good sock to the jaw will a human. Usually a club of some kind is needed for this, but if you're the same guy who can punch the dog in the nose without getting bit, you probably have enough force in your fist to do the job.

As for the 'ripping their fore legs apart' thing, I've heard this before but have not seen any documentation. It may be true, but if a friend told me that in 'real life', I would level the following accusation at him: "You've been reading things on the Internet again, haven't you." Could be true, though.

All in all, you're better off not going to grappling with any animal, as a human your advantages and strengths lie elsewhere: stand back and throw rocks. Still, the best way to win a fight with a dog is to stay away from the dog.

I could be wrong on any of this, except for the Last part.