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I have had all sorts of dogs, all my life.

When I was 8, I was at a friend's house. I had been there countless times. One day, while we were playing with his great dane, he was called in the house by his mom.

Once I was by myself with the dane, he seemed agitated. Not concerned, I didn't pay much attention when it was me he was growling at. Until he grit his teth and barked loudly at me.

I got up and began to run away. He chased me down and bit my back, drawing blood. He knoclked me to the ground and was only prevented frominjuring me more because I kicked the crap out of him as he lunged. My friend came out with his mom and draged the dog off me.

I had upper teeth mark near my neck and lower teeth half way down my back.

I said that to say this, dogs are dogs, and must be handled responsibly. I did not fear all dogs, and I did not feel all danes are killers, but I learned all dogs must be kept in control by someone capable of controlling them.

By all dogs, I mean all dogs, except Poms. Poms should be attached to a broom handle and used for mops, right, Clint?

BTW, Petey on the original Little Rascals was a Pitbull/AmStaff. They have been a recognized breed in the U. S> for about 100 years.

all dogs must be kept in control by someone capable of controlling them

Problem seems to be, what is meant by control? Two dogs growling, barking, biting over turf may not be acceptable to some people. To me, that kind of behavior is normal dog stuff and not a threat to humans or the life of the animals involved.

The difference with some dogs (sometimes referred to as "vicious dogs")is the aggressive nature of their attacks and the willingness to kill. That is what moves their potential for harm into the loss of other animals and possibly human beings.

I'm no dog authority, but Danes wouldn't be my first choice to have around children. Danes are a hunting dog bred to take down prey. I don't think they have the attributes of pitbulls which -- let's face it -- were bred to kill. I knew a St. Bernard once who was the most docile loving animal you'd ever want to see. It isn't just the size, it's the nature of the breed and that is not the fault of the animal. Human beings breed them for certain purposes.