Dogs can be trained not to attack living beings too.
Not necessarily, at least not unless you've had personal control over the bloodline for a few generations. We used to have an English Mastiff in the family. Big, cute, and raised by my eldest brother, who loves dogs a whole bunch. With the guidance of two vet friends and a past experience of three dog ownerships throughout his life, not to mention friends-with-dogs and the like, he raised Ramona (the dog!) and kept her well acquainted with other dogs and animals and children during her childhood. She was great with kids, but had a tendency to... well, play a little rough with the little dogs that sniffed her butt. Nothing agressive, not out for blood (If you've met a mastiff you know their nature. Big, mopey, dopey things).
She once attacked a man without warning while my brother was sitting on a park bench. He had her on a leash, and she just lunged at him. My brother stopped her, but the man was notably scared. 100-odd pounds of dog is little laughing matter.
About three weeks later, she decided to attack a lady's little poodle or... one of those fluffy little dogs. The lady panicked and hit Ramona, so Ramona scratched her or pawed her or something. The details aren't clear, just the lady got a scratch on her arm.
Noone pressed charges, but recurrance of incidents inspired my brother to put her down, to prevent a REAL problem.
Yeah. Raised right and clean, her family bloodline couldn't be trained out (Her mom was a farm dog, had killed a few cats. Her brother had the same mean streak, just faar more evident. Both were put down before Ramona was)
P.S. Thanks much for the links, guys! Helps out a bunch, great amount of reading and looking to do now.