cjhwillis, First off, I would like to point out that while a Doberman or a Rottie may not be a "Bully Dog" most people certainly consider them one. I work with a local Bully Breed rescue and trust me, any large mean looking dog is considered a Bully Breed by the general public. Point made since you are the first one to dispute this classification! :-) Also, when I was naming all the large breeds you mentioned I was doing so because the OP had stated that all dogs large enough to kill should be eradicated!!!!!! In addition, the Doberman also comes from Great Dane descent. There are also many, many dogs that have these different descents. I don't agree that because a breed has a bully breed in its descent that makes it a bully breed. Which brings me to my next point, (since we are getting down to specifics) you are misinformed on what technically is a Bully Breed. Mastiffs are one of the oldest breeds of dog dating back to Aristotle, Philip the Second, Alexander the Great, etc. / 400 - 300 B.C. Too many breeds to list have Mastiff in their ancestry. The only Mastiff that is considered a Bully Breed is the Bull Mastiff coming from a Mastiff and Bulldog descent. A bully breed has all to do with being of Bulldog descent, not Mastiff. Bulldogs were originally bred to fight Bulls in the Arena (hence their name) and was developed in the 13th century. Yes, they are of Asiatic Mastiff descent yet, as I mentioned, Mastiffs are one of the oldest breeds and there are too many dogs to list that are of their descent. Also, in your list of bully breeds you seemed partial to large breeds. You forgot to list the Boston Terrier which was originally called the Boston Bull and is from English White Terrier & English Bulldog descent. Avg. size 15 - 20 lbs. Also, the French Bulldog whose descent is from the Chincha Bulldog. Avg size is 22-28 pounds. Breeds that are classified as Bulldog Breeds (Bully Breeds) are as follows: Boxer, English Bulldog, Old Englishe Bulldogge, Amercian Bulldog, French Bulldog, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, Valley Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, Bull Mastiff, and Banter Bulldogge. You had listed the Cane Corso Itailiano as a Bully Breed, this breed is of direct descent of the Canis Pugnax (Roman Mollosian), no Bulldog in this breed. A great website for researching breeds is linked below. I recommend it to anyone looking to obtain a new pet dog, the information is invaluable. Cheers Sarah

I think that this post may help so many people, and the fact that the boy was almost 12 is also meaningful. Had he been 5 or so, he would have been down with the dog. Since he is 11, he must have reached down to the dog for the dog to have gotten his face. (Just guessing here) Isn't it true that fingers look like claws to dogs? In our dog training school we are taught to go up to one another's dogs using the back of our hands or even our fists. We go under the chin, not to the top of the head. After so many years, I had never been taught that most dogs don't want their heads petted (by strangers). Frankly I like the content of what so many people here say, but I wish they would be more respectful. When someone tells me that the Forum has spoken, and why don't I listen, I think I am communicating with a child. Truth does not come from the loudest screamer. When someone is so arrogant as to tell me that if I don't listen to him, I should take my dog to the pound, he negates all of the words that he wrote that could have been very informative. When we ask for advice, we get it. I am very interested in this forum, but we don't know each other, and to presume that we could be in another's shoes is not helpful. To me my dogs are almost human. I know that is a ridiculous thing to say, but it is true. I was shocked when my almost perfect puppy grabbed a bird, and wouldn't let it go. Yuck!! But he is a dog, and it is helpful for us to never forget that dogs are dogs. That is why experts who train Goldens (the only dog I am really familiar with) recommend that they not be left alone with young children. They are dogs and cannot be trusted. Also even though they can be trained perhaps better and faster than any other breed, we cannot trust them off lead - outside. It is helpful for us to hear about what has happened to others. We can spread this information, and help so many people. Don't we all think that dog information and education is lagging behind the year 2008? We don't have good publicity. We are concerned with backyard breeders and stray dogs, but we really have no type of education for the normal family that would like to have a puppy around. We have so much to learn from each other, but nice is a way to go on the forum if we want to learn from each other. I know that this is just my opinion, but I am accustomed to a forum where we do meet with each other from time to time, and we know each other's names. This forum is pretty anonymous, but we can pretend that we are friends. Sammy

I know that. It was just a county dog pound, actually. They don't do any testing. I've been asking around and getting advice. I actually volunteer at our no kill facility and will get advice. Lots of resources available, they just will cost me $$. Her former owner lost her home, had to move in w/ friends who were not allowed to have animals.....hid the dog at a friend's house who put the dog outside. It ran away & was picked up twice. Owner finally just surrendered the dog. Such a sad story and she's 9 so I knew she was going to be put down. She is sweet, and yes, I can get her healthy, and then look for a new home. thanks for all the advice.

Being upset and barking as you leave and while you are gone is a symptom of separation anxiety. Do you make a fuss and comfort him before you leave and greet him as you come home? Not good to do that. You have to teach him that it is no big thing for you to leave or to come back. The best way to do that is to just pick up your stuff and walk out the door and when you come home, take off your coat and start your activities and ignore the dog (except to let him out and back in). When he is calm and no longer excited about you coming home, you can talk to him and pet him. Trainers (I am not one - I just read a lot and have dogs) will tell you to practice leaving and coming home several times a day. The first time, pick up your usual things you take with you, walk out, shut the door and then come right back in, set things down, put your coat away, and go about your activities. Leave him alone until he calms down and then just pet him and calmly talk to him. No wrestling or ruffling his neck, just be calm. Later, not close to leaving or coming home, you can play rougher with him and encourage zoomies. Stay away a minute next time, walk to your car and back. The next time, get in the car and get out, and go back in. Next, get in the car and shut the door and open it again and get out and go back in the house. Then go out to the car, shut the door and start the engine. Turn it off and go calmly back in the house. Next time, drive away but return immediately. Each time you go, take with you what you would take to go to work or shopping. Never say goodbye, just stop what you are doing, put on your coat and pick up your stuff and leave. You can sometimes go backwards in this training and not go out as far as you did the last time, but don’t jump ahead. Each step teaches your dog that being alone that long is fine. Continue to extend trips until you are gone long enough to do grocery shopping. You are going to make you coming and going into an everyday thing that he does not have to think much about. It may eventually stop him barking at your leaving. If you crate the dog when you are gone, you start with crating him and letting him right out and work up to longer time and further away from the crate with each practice session before letting him out. Space sessions out, only a few a day. Once you are going away from the crate and toward the door, then do one where you put on your coat and take it off, then let him out. Then put on your coat and wear it a few minutes, then put on your coat and pick up your things. Next, coat, things, carry them around the house a few minutes and then put them away and walk calmly to the crate and let him out with no fuss. Next time, coat, things, open the door. Close the door, put down your things, hang up your coat and calmly walk over and let out the dog. Baby steps! Look for positive training books and videos. Learn clicker training. Use it to teach house manners, walking nicely on leash, all kinds of good behaviors.