After reading through all the posts I can't add anything about your situation except to say how sorry I am that your son had to go through it. But at least your son is old enough to realize that not all dogs are going to attack him. I'm glad it wasn't worse. And, yes, report the dog and report the doctor if you find out he should have been reporting all bites.

It's sad, but it looks as if Mastiffs may be going through similar temperament problems that Dobermans went through in the 1960's and 70's.

Hi Hayley. It sounds like you and I could talk for hours over similar situations! But because this is a dog forum, the others would be bored to tears if we chatted <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> !

Suffice it to say that Mama Bear is my name in my household (I'm not joking). I probably shouldn't write this but I ride the line called sanity when it comes to someone hurting my kids <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ! I never back down. This dog bite situation is for me far more about educating Jesse (17) and Kevin (19) on 2 main topics:

1) stay OUT of that house if the dog is there
2) educating them on dog behavior as best I can for the future and getting both to realize just how lucky Jesse was that the dog didn't go any further that night.

What I wanted from the board was ways to get info on rabies if it isn't readily available. You guys all helped me do that. I got the info. Thank you to all.

My 3rd and final headache is reporting the dog somehow. Whether by me or the ER or the doctor we saw last night, it will be done.

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It's sad, but it looks as if Mastiffs may be going through similar temperament problems that Dobermans went through in the 1960's and 70's.

this is an old problem for mastiffs. the breed overall is not unstable. but there are always a small percentage of unstable individuals in every generation, and good breeders are always on the lookout for them in their litters. this was just as true in the 60s and 70s as it is now.

the average mastiff temperament is completely trustworthy and loving. but don't expect that from a puppy that acts shy. our first mastiff, in the 1960s, was very shy but also extremely safe and trustworthy. however, one of her pups amplified that trait and had to be put down as an adult. shy mastiffs should never be bred.

i was very surprised and delighted to find on the legendary mastiffs site (i finally got the links to work by reading them in a different browser program), that the breeder/trainer has developed a program for overcoming shyness in mastiffs. i may even contact her to learn more about it.