Why would any family with children have a dog like this??

Banned breed in Australia and NZ.

My thoughts exactly Pantglas. I wouldn’t allow a child of mine to ask to touch a strange dog, and something this size is obviously a potential danger, but then so are all dogs given the right circumstances. It’s not ok for the owners to permit the dog to be touched or to allow a child to ask to touch it - for whatever reason the dog may not want to be touched. We all have our grumpy days; would we like to be submitted to a stranger touching us? Also it’s the natural instinct of many breeds to act to protect their family from a perceived danger - you can’t attribute to a dog the ability to realise that a child is unlikely to be a danger.
No, it’s not a dog I would choose simply because I don’t know the breed. I have never chosen any pet for its looks and would never describe any dog as ‘a gross creature’. If I did have such a dog and took it into a pub where dogs are permitted I certainly wouldn’t allow a stranger to touch it.

We were brought up never to touch someone else’s dog, whatever it’s size, ever….with or without owners permission.

Let’s never forget, when these incidents happen, it’s the dog that gets put down!

I would keep little ones well clear of an animal like that. It has the potential to cause huge damage within seconds.

I believe that dogs should be muzzled in public areas. It would keep everybody safe, and prevent attacks on other dogs too which happens all too often.

i don't think dogs should be allowed where food is served, except perhaps outdoors.
i wouldn't go in any indoor premises where dogs were allowed.
hope the child is ok ; guess they went to get tetanus jab etc, can't be too careful with any bite, inc human, infection risk.

To be entirely fair, the owners were shocked too - let’s hope that’ll be a lesson for the future - their dog is NOT reliable with other people’s children! And very likely not with any unfamiliar adults, either.

That would terrify me.

Wow, I'm very doggy but never seen one of these! Fantastic beast but not to be taken to pubs.

Sorry, dogs especially huge ones like that, should not be allowed in family pubs. They are animals and quite frankly, I wouldn’t let my GC pet a stranger’s dog. There are so many tragic stories…

I agree - even if the dog thought he/she was doing it's job and protecting its family. It's not a case of being friendly. Dogs are animals not humans.
The owners need to be educated. It's not the dog's fault.

I guess there is that element of ‘ oh my dog would never etc etc’
Best safe guard is for some breeds /size of dogs to wear a muzzle when out in public.

It beggars belief that anyone would want such a gross creature in their family home at all, never mind with children around. What is this about? I just don't get it.