They also have a Border Collie who is older than Hobbes. Neither of these dogs has ever shown any signs of aggressive behavior. The clients live on 14 acres of land, but because of the way the parcel is configured, the clients actually have two sets of fairly close neighbors. Both of these neighbors have children that range in age from toddlers to teenagers. The children often come over to visit and play with the dogs.
All families take long walks, and the dogs usually go.
Whether they are on a lead depends on where the people are going. The bite occurred on the day the family was to return to France. They suddenly heard Hobbes growl and bark ferociously. The next sound they heard was the scream of the granddaughter. The child and dog were in the next room, and when the family arrived, Hobbes was still growling and holding the child by the head in his mouth.