# Cave Canem (Posting Beware of the Dog Signs) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 10, 2012, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583 "2012-12-10T09:12:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![qualityleashdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/9f8e36/32.png) [@qualityleashdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qualityleashdog)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/1 "2012-12-10T09:12:09Z")
Should they be placed? I remember a faint sign on a telephone pole when I was a child, it was of the classic orange on black, but faded out. I asked why it was not renewed, and my grandmother told me that placing such a sign placed the landowner at risk, since it stated they knew they owned a dangerous dog, and opened them up to lawsuits by the bitten/attacked. The faded sign was overgrown by a shrub, and I asked no more about it. I have a dog of pitbull mix now, and he likes to sleep the day away when we are on daytrips and visitors may not know he is there until they are at the front door (since his dogloo is placed next to it, and sometimes he is not awakened until you are right on him). I also like the fact that he spends his day in his house next to our front door, since it deters crime. But what of the Jehovah’s witnesses, Mormons, political candidates, salesmen? What if they are fool enough to open the gate and come into the yard? Should there be a Beware of Dog sign, or will it only serve as proof of a dog that could do them harm? I’m ready to post _Cave Canem_ but the spirit of my grandmother says otherwise. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/2 "2012-12-10T09:18:12Z")
As far as I understand it, your gran is right about the “Beware of the dog” sign. “Enter at own risk” is the preferred replacement, being that it puts the onus on the trespasser. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/3 "2012-12-10T10:14:40Z")
> [@qualityleashdog](#): > > I asked why it was not renewed, and my grandmother told me that placing such a sign placed the landowner at risk, since it stated they knew they owned a dangerous dog, and opened them up to lawsuits by the bitten/attacked. I could see how that might be true in a [“one bite rule” state](http://dogbitelaw.com/faq/which-are-the-one-bite-states.html), but most states have sensibly gone over to strict liability for dog bites. In those state, it’s the owner’s fault unless the bitee was provoking the dog or trespassing. > [@qualityleashdog](#): > > But what of the Jehovah’s witnesses, Mormons, political candidates, salesmen? What if they are fool enough to open the gate and come into the yard? Should there be a Beware of Dog sign, or will it only serve as proof of a dog that could do them harm? I’m ready to post _Cave Canem_ but the spirit of my grandmother says otherwise. What say you? People are allowed to come to your door to proselytize or campaign, so you can’t put them in harm’s way just for doing that (regardless of how satisfying it would be). If a dog bites people just for engaging in normal social activity, it needs to be in a place where there aren’t other people. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/4 "2012-12-10T12:59:46Z")
A lot of people have replaced “Beware of dog” signs with more neutral notices like “Dog on property.” In general, bully breeds (including pit bulls) make poor watchdogs because they’re trusting to strangers. Also, any outside dog is vulnerable to abuse by dog-haters, rogue teenagers, and miscreants; pit bulls are at higher risk of this than other breeds. I strongly advise people to leave a dog outside ONLY when they themselves are with said dog to supervise. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/6 "2022-02-21T23:06:17Z")
Oh, heck… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/7 "2022-02-21T23:17:12Z")
I almost responded to a zombie from '03 just now. Worth mentioning that in a Thurber story (“The Dog That Bit People”, probably), when the dog died they buried him along a lonely road with a simple board for a headstone, on which they’d carved “Cave Canem”. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/8 "2022-02-22T03:40:13Z")
After my dobies had guard dog training, we were advised to use signs saying “Keep Out, Guard Dogs on Premises.” As opposed to the beware signs. Which, the dog trainer said, were more of a suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/9 "2022-02-22T03:48:12Z")
If it’s unsafe to come onto your property because you have dangerous dogs loose, you need to stop people entering with a locked gate, not just a sign. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/10 "2022-02-23T21:10:30Z")
There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear. There’s a house with a sign over there Telling me I’ve got to beware [![](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ad/32/9d/ad329db39126bd8b259d93dafd57fed8--humor.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ad/32/9d/ad329db39126bd8b259d93dafd57fed8--humor.jpg) [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/animals-psychology-dogs-pets-dog_owners-dog_lovers-bron10_low.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/animals-psychology-dogs-pets-dog_owners-dog_lovers-bron10_low.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cave-canem-posting-beware-of-the-dog-signs/643583/11 "2022-02-25T13:38:10Z")
At the entrance to a ranch in Wyoming: Old dog young dog several stupid dogs exercise caution.