Three-year-old toddler devastated by guard dog who only understood German commands

A guard dog that only understood commands in German and was recently bought by a rescue center devastated a three-year-old girl at Barry Sidings Countryside Park in Pontypridd, a court heard

A German-trained guard dog who couldn’t understand commands in English devastated a three-year-old girl whose owners couldn’t stop her.

The little girl was at a country park with her grandparents when she was grabbed by the dog and convulsed in its powerful jaws.

A court heard the Dutch herding dog — much like an Alsatian — was trained in Germany for protection and security work, reports Wales Online.

The dog, named Chief, was adopted by a rescue center just four days earlier with warnings that he was “not good” with children.

His new owner, who does not speak German, was walking the dog in a park when he pounced on the girl.

It sank its teeth into her neck and back, leaving scars that will stay with her until she is a teenager.

The young girl required surgery under general anesthesia and was in Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales for four days.

Her mother said she was afraid of animals with claws and still had flashbacks and nightmares.

Owner Daniel Barge, 33, was immediately sentenced to jail after admitting to being responsible for a dangerously runaway dog ​​in a public place.

Prosecutor Jeff Jones said: “The dog was trained in Germany and the new owner was told he could easily overshoot. He was told to keep it away from children’s playgrounds and sandboxes because it was not good for children.

“Barge was walking the dog around the park on a harness when he knocked the little girl off her feet. It grabbed her back and neck and began shaking her for about 15 seconds as she lay on the floor. Passers-by and the girl’s grandfather all struggled to free the dog from her, his grip was so tight.”

Barge and other people in the park yelled at the dog, but the only English commands he understood were “heel” and “sit.”

The court heard that Barge and his mother, Melanie Harries, paid the Llanelli rescue center £150 for the 10-year-old dog.

Mr Jones added: “This dog was known to have had a past – it had been trained to be aggressive and was used as a guard and as a security dog.”

The horrific attack happened at Barry Sidings Countryside Park in Pontypridd in August last year.

A victim statement from the tot’s mother said she was afraid of animals with claws and still had flashbacks and nightmares.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard the horrific incident caused Barge to have a nervous breakdown and he spent 10 weeks in a psychiatric hospital.

Peter Donnison, defending himself, said Barge was “deeply saddened and remorseful” and arranged for the dog to be euthanized immediately after the attack.

Barge was given a two-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay the girl £500 in compensation for her injuries.

Judge Richard Twomlow told him: “This was a terrible incident for the little girl and for her grandparents who were with her. They had no reason to believe that the dog would behave in such an extreme way.

“But given the victim’s age and her injuries, this exceeds the detention threshold. A prison sentence is imposed, but it is suspended on probation.”

The judge said the £500 award was not meant to reflect the seriousness of the little girl’s injuries.