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

The dog in the OP dog bit a child
The owners said the dog was friendly and the child let the dog sniff his hand first, as instructed.

nexus63

my niece has a huskie and an alaskan malamute, she got them as puppies from a dog breeder, they are huge and very loving, she has 4 children. some people think because they are big then they are dangerous, you are more likley to get a bite from one of those snippy little terriers that bark at everything.

The most vicious dog I've ever known was a Jack Russell, which would bite anyone who got within reach of it (and I know not all Jack Russells are like that - blame the deed, not the breed!), whereas in contrast, one of the softest, most loving dogs I've had the pleasure to know was a nine-stone Rottweiler.

my niece has a huskie and an alaskan malamute, she got them as puppies from a dog breeder, they are huge and very loving, she has 4 children. some people think because they are big then they are dangerous, you are more likley to get a bite from one of those snippy little terriers that bark at everything.

I don't understand it either. There is one in our town, and it looks terrifying, even if it isn't.

I know people that have larger breed dogs, and there are limitations to where they can take them, and who will look after them, even some kennels will take only take dogs up to a certain size. Why get a dog that looks intimidating?

It's a magnificent looking dog but perhaps not my choice for a family dog. I'd be wary of taking into a crowded space too. I tend not to talk to dogs until I've spoken to the owners for a bit and the dogs know I'm OK.

There's one around here. Not the breed in the picture but a large mastiff type with massive jaws. The couple walk about with a small baby in a pushchair and the dog's lead tied to the pushchair. It makes my blood run cold. If the dog bolted, the child would go with it. Irresponsible.

At first glance, I thought it was a bear!

This is something I feel strongly about. It amazes me that parents of young children want to risk having a large/fierce dog in the house
And I was in a pub recently too where there were a couple with a new born tiny adorable baby, AND two dogs! One was a Jack Russell, lively dogs aren't they. The other was huge, really overweight but with short legs and had bulldog features.I don't know what breed that is. I was horrified and longed to say something. Even if the dogs were good natured, the large one could roll on the baby and smother it to death. The friend I was with pointed out that it was none of my business, but I had trouble keeping my mouth shut.

but the owners every time, it doesn’t resemble a canary to me it certainly doesn't!
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Originating from the Canary Islands - Islas Canarias, Island of Dogs

Oh my word it’s half a camel! We own guard breeds working dogs! They do not go to pubs and we wouldn’t allow anyone to come up and touch them! Beautiful dog but so many people have dogs because the can afford them, they don’t research and then there’s trouble no fault of the dogs, but the owners every time, it doesn’t resemble a canary to me, And to be bitten must be so scary, incidentally we never let any of our children touch any dogs apart from our own wouldn’t take any notice of any owners due to the fact my son when around ten was bitten by a jack russel he had asked the owner who said yes it’s fine loves people I wasn’t there at the time it bit him, so lesson learned

It's unfortunate that the mastiff looks quite forbidding. I agree with GSM
I wouldn't say it was 'gross'. Much as I love dogs I think it unwise to take a dog of that size into an environment such as a pub. There would be nowhere it could find a quiet spot away from human interest. Owners have a responsibility to their dogs and to the public to keep them safe.

As I said, all dogs should be muzzled by law in public places. It would save both people and other dogs from injury.

Love dogs - have had dozens.
That looks a beast and a half!
It reminds me of the guard dog in Harry Potter.
It’s not what I’d term a family pet.

Not all dog lovers judge by looks, Lucky. I certainly don’t, other than to look carefully at a German shepherd’s eyes when choosing, which can tell you a lot about its temperament. Fortunately only a small minority want to mutilate or indiscriminately cross-breed them.

I don't think we should judge a dog by what it looks like
I think we're judging it by the fact that it was in a pub (why?), bit a child and is a banned breed in other countries because it is bred to be an aggressive fighting dog.

As for cats on tables, I will avoid that cafe!
We went to friends' house once, all took food for a buffet later and then they found the cat on the dining table, tucking in.

I don't think we should judge a dog by what it looks like - but all dog "lovers" judge by their looks - this is why tails get docked, ears get cut, in-breeding goes on so we get grotesque animals with inherent health problems. I find it impossible to equate this with the idea of loving dogs.

Afternoon tea with a side order of Tiddles anyone?

People and their dogs! Defies belief.
From those whose little darlings are treated like human babies to those who want to terrify the neighbourhood with monsters such as the one in the photo.
I used to enjoy camping but since campsites have become the preserve of dog owners, it is no fun anymore.
A simple walk to the toilet block and you get barked and snarled at.
I had to tell someone she couldn't bring her dog into the food store where I work and she was really offended.

Oh, I've just realised, I have seen those dogs on YouTube before.

They need very careful, consistent, and constant training.

Their instinct is to protect their "pack' and territory.
They aren't really pets, as such, more like owning an exotic 'companion' animal.

I don't think we should judge a dog by what it looks like and I don't subscribe to the idea that certain breeds are inherently dangerous. It does however seem to me that all dogs can be grumpy, have a bad day, get irate by constant attention or misunderstand something and then if they do bite someone their life is on the line. If they are huge, with strong jaws and sharp teeth the whole issue is more serious. There is always a slight risk with having a dog, and it doesn't seem very sensible to me to combine this sort of dog, or the Bully XL type with young children.

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?

I have to be very strict with my minded children on the school run, there are loads of dogs who are brought along by the parents.
One girl (6y) would sink to her knees and hug and kiss every dog she saw, she was a nightmare. I've trained all the children now to leave the dogs alone but it's been a real battle.

Why would anyone risk a dog like that being around children?

It's beyond me.

Apparently it has a natural instinct to guard and protect. The breed is potentially dangerous if handled badly and should only be taken on by experience handlers. They are bred to defend livestock but we’re also used as fighting dogs. So says timeforpaws.co.uk. They are not recognised by The Kennel Club.

What a horrible experience for your dgs Witzend. Thank goodness it wasn’t worse than a bite which is bad enough.Such dogs should not be allowed to be kept as pets.

Poor thing looks like it has had its ears ‘trimmed’. Looks terrifying!

I would think cat cafés give pleasure to a lot of people, especially those unable to have a pet of their own. They also promote animal welfare. The cats wouldn’t be there if they weren’t regularly groomed, fully vaccinated and given regular treatments to prevent fleas etc. Cats are by nature very clean animals.