Hey, ever see the movie Cujo about the kindly Saint Bernard turned killer? Admittedly, that is a Stephen King story and he may have taken liberties but it just goes to show you can never be sure the breed you have is perfect until you consider all the factors below:

Untrained dogs. If a dog has no boundaries, and has never been taught how to behave, he is more likely to injure someone, perhaps by accident.

Fearful dogs. Dogs who are scared or nervous may panic and act aggressively in order to protect themselves. Being afraid is at the root of more canine aggression than any other factor.

Unpredictable dogs. If a dog’s behavior is confusing and does not follow any obvious pattern, it’s easy to be taken off guard by their actions or inadvertently do something that upsets him.

Tired or sick dogs. Just like people, dogs are not at their best when they don’t feel well and most would prefer not to be bothered. Dogs don’t have many ways to let us know they want to be left alone. They sometimes resort to a growl, snap or bite, especially if they’ve already tried to walk away and go off by themselves, and that didn’t get the message across.

And let’s not forget unfamiliar dogs. Some pooches need a period to know unacquainted people. They do not want a person running up to them within minutes of being introduced or crowded in oe when everyone is new and are putting hands on them.

It’s not that they are mean but simply overwhelmed and nervous.

Thank you to The Bark for bringing about this interesting subject. Remember, a dog wants to be loved but love at first sight may not necessarily be reciprocated!