Re:Ask HN: Taking care of someone's dog, things to consider?
by rl3 on Sunday March 05, 2023 @10:12PM
(#35037116)
Ask if the dog bites, and if so what to do to avoid that.
Some dogs are super sweet but they'll otherwise maul you in very specific circumstances. Examples include handling them the wrong way (e.g. trying to pick them up), or guarding behavior (food, bones, toys). Tends to be more common in rescues/adoptions, since some dogs have had rougher lives than others where they've literally had to compete for food while on their own. Dementia can also play a part.
This isn't meant to scare you, and it's probably a non-issue, but it doesn't hurt to cover the bases to avoid tragedy.
Some dogs are super sweet but they'll otherwise maul you in very specific circumstances. Examples include handling them the wrong way (e.g. trying to pick them up), or guarding behavior (food, bones, toys). Tends to be more common in rescues/adoptions, since some dogs have had rougher lives than others where they've literally had to compete for food while on their own. Dementia can also play a part.
This isn't meant to scare you, and it's probably a non-issue, but it doesn't hurt to cover the bases to avoid tragedy.