SEATTLE - As a young Seattle boy recovers from a dog attack this week, parents are reminded to take extra precautions with their pets and children.

5-year-old Angelo Johnston was mauled by a relative's Doberman Pinscher a week ago. He has scars and stitches all over his face.

The attack may have happened when the child got too close to the dog's bone.

"The dog would have killed him if somebody had not ran out and pushed the dog - kicked the dog off him," said his mother, Kristamarie Johnston. "He would have killed him."

Angelo had five hours of surgery.

On the day of the attack, his mom says he was going outside to play and did something that made the dog highly aggressive and agitated.

"He either walked too closely to the dog or attempted to pet the dog while it had the bone," Kristamarie said.

Even as Angelo ran away, the dog chased him down and pinned him to the ground.

It was a dog that he had been around many times before.

Dog Trainer Grisha Stewart says it's natural for dogs to protect their property.

"They grow into this problem rather than growing out of it," she said.

Some pets can be bigger "resource guarders" than others.

She says it's up to pet owners to work with the animals and let them know sharing can be good, especially if a treat is involved.

"Train the child as much as possible," Stewart said.  Don't let them around the dog's most high-valued item. They don't necessarily guard everything. But they guard certain items from children."

In the meantime, the Johnston family is waiting to see how well Angelo's injuries will heal. 

The dog is currently under quarantine at the county's animal shelter.

The animal's owners will decide if it should be put to sleep