We like you, Hil! I always get nervous when too many people start liking me 8) . I think you have to be careful for some of the same reasons Al and others stated in the bitework thread, but if it's a break-in, and the bite occurs on your property (in your house) you have a better chance of not being sued. In some states this is a gray area, though. :?
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Thats what I was afraid of 
In my county here in Florida (I think the whole state) the statutes basically say that if your dog bites while being provoked or by an intruder trespassing on your property, the dog, trained or not, is allowed to bite and is considered justifiable. What really happens as far as a legal PROCESS I don't know, never happened to me before. However, from what I understand of the Florida statutes, a dog that bites is not automatically put down, rather the dog is classified as a \"dangerous dog\" and suitable accomodations for the dog become legally required. The dog must forever be confined in certain conditions as set forth by the Florida statutes.
Every state, and probably most counties, have their own set of laws on what they want to do with a dog that bites, and I'm sure that even though the statutes in Florida are pretty straight forward, if the situation ever really did happen, there'd probably be a whole legal process you need to go thru, perhaps quarantine of your dog may be involved, I don't know. But I'm sure it'd cost alot on hiring a lawyer to protect your dog.... I guess all the hassle is worth it in the end if the dog saved your life, but I personally feel that a dog is more of a deterrent than a security measure, if someone is prepared to come into your house with a barking german shepherd (or dutch shepherd or malinois or any other large aggressive dog) at the door, then you have bigger problems to worry about and should probably own a gun
Every state, and probably most counties, have their own set of laws on what they want to do with a dog that bites, and I'm sure that even though the statutes in Florida are pretty straight forward, if the situation ever really did happen, there'd probably be a whole legal process you need to go thru, perhaps quarantine of your dog may be involved, I don't know. But I'm sure it'd cost alot on hiring a lawyer to protect your dog.... I guess all the hassle is worth it in the end if the dog saved your life, but I personally feel that a dog is more of a deterrent than a security measure, if someone is prepared to come into your house with a barking german shepherd (or dutch shepherd or malinois or any other large aggressive dog) at the door, then you have bigger problems to worry about and should probably own a gun
In a way that's good -- then all the people who keep whining about \"oh that dog won't bite for real\", \"oh that dog's not gonna really bite if someone comes into your house\" can shut up because their dog doesn't need to bite anyway But I don't like laws that protect criminals.
So, because of the laws, does this make having a dog a less effective deterrent? Here if someone sees a german shepherd barking in the window, the chances are they will break into the neighbors house who has no dog... but if it's illegal for the dog to defend the house in Holland, does this lessen the effect of owning a big dog? Will people intentionally break into a house that has a dog knowing that they can be compensated by insurance companies if the dog bites them?
But I don't like laws that protect criminals.So, because of the laws, does this make having a dog a less effective deterrent? Here if someone sees a german shepherd barking in the window, the chances are they will break into the neighbors house who has no dog... but if it's illegal for the dog to defend the house in Holland, does this lessen the effect of owning a big dog? Will people intentionally break into a house that has a dog knowing that they can be compensated by insurance companies if the dog bites them?
Here in Maine they say it is better not to use a \"Beware of dog\" sign on your property because if someone breaks in and is bitten then they can argue that you knew you had a dangerous dog and acknowledged it by posting a sign.
But I haven't actually had it happen to me Its what I have been told.
I think... laws in general are geared to protect the criminal. Sad but true, which is why I think the bark and hold is just as useful if not more practical and less of a liability then the actual bite. There is nothing more intimidating then a dog that shows off his dental work while staring you down.
But I haven't actually had it happen to me Its what I have been told.
I think... laws in general are geared to protect the criminal. Sad but true, which is why I think the bark and hold is just as useful if not more practical and less of a liability then the actual bite. There is nothing more intimidating then a dog that shows off his dental work while staring you down.
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