I don't know what happened, to be honest, I didn't see. The whole event was over as quick as it happened. Ever since we moved back, Tonka has had issues. We were living with my parents for a few months when we first got out of the military, before we got our own house here and I have some relatives and aquaintances to thank for these fear issues he has. There was always someone, my uncle, my dad or one of my brother's friends, who thought they would get a testosterone burst by intimidating the giant dog. My dad, thinking he has a total handle on Ceasar Milan's methods, would stare Tonka down and raise his voice until Tonka would cower, my uncle would do the same thing. My brothers friends would come over and stare him down and make barking sounds in his face. They thought it was hilarious to scare him, they would throw rocks on top of the tin car port so they could laugh as Tonka tucked his tail and ran for cover. They would run up at him barking, and if he barked back or growled, he would get started down and yelled at. I would get angry, I would tell them to cut the sh*t out and leave him alone. I told them they were going to make him fearul and they were putting my children at risk with the behavior they created and encouraged. They finally stopped, but they only stopped when I was watching, I would find out that they were still doing it all when I wasn't there. When we finally moved to our own house, the damage was obvious. Tonka was visibly afraid of all men, something that had never been a problem before. Female guests were always welcomed with leans and licks and excitement, men were met with caution, apprehension and fear. Even still, children were always Tonka's favorite guests. DD would have friends over regularly, at get togethers my friends children were always excited to play with Tonka, birthday parties were held and Tonka was always playful and affectionate. One day, on a walk, a neighbors daughter came running outside (she was 5) stood face to face with Tonka and screamed at the top of her lungs, not 5 inches from his face. Tonka buckled, he growled, barked and lunged at her. I yanked the leash and he immediately layed down, but that was the turning point with children. From that day forward, he feared children, if any came to the house he was apprehensive, he would growl at them and bark, I had to keep him seperated from visiting children after that day. MY children were never an issue, not once, especially Macey. Sam has always been supervised with Tonka, he is small and is still learning how to be gentle and careful with animals, but Tonka has never behaved negatively towards him.
Now, today, I am faced with this. Because I don't know what happened, I can't take any chances that there will be a next time. I want to make the right decision, I want to do right by Tonka, but I also know that I cannot pretend this didn't happen and have him do it again, to my kids or someone elses.
I am just so confused right now. I don't know if there is a right answer or a good outcome.