Sassy, I'm so sorry to hear about your nephew, and so glad he is ok today.
So many stories about dogs. My sister has a border collie eskimo mix, which has to be the most neurotic dog I've seen. It is fine with a few members of my family and not with others. Now that she has future step children, two of the family members who get along with the dog, have to keep her every other weekend.
I was bit by a chow once, although it was my fault. I was trying to bring her inside..... I went to tap her with my foot not thinking, and she really dug into my knee. She never attacked a human, but she and the male she was mated with a few times ( owner had both ) tore apart a racoon in the driveway. She actually died from having a heart attack while barking at the door at someone.... She was barking pretty furiously (sp?), and it was a friend of her owner.....
As far as Dobs go....... A friend of mine, who is now a groomer, used to breed horses..... Spook, was by far the gentlest large dog I have ever seen. This dob had a better temperment than all of the Goldens I have ever been around. Including my own fathers....... She took that dog every year to the Kentucky Derby, all over the hotel. owners younger sis. I could sit and wrap my arms around this dogs neck and hold it for a long long hug.
I think a good percentage of this has to do with the dogs temperament regardless of breed and owners respsonibility or lack of..... Irresponsible pet owners of any kind bother me tremendously.