One month and a few days post bite. I do need to make a correction from my first post in this thread. The bite was actually 11.7cm x almost 9cm and nearly an inch deep in places... forgive the misinformation due to morphine and the angels of mercy that administered in the ER.
For a month, I have been agonizing about posting the picture of this bite. I do NOT want to be seen as sensationalizing this one bit. It matters not what breed of dog this was, or who the owner was... folks, this is what a dog bite can be. This is the damage that can be inflicted by a dog the size of a rottweiler with the power of a rottweiler. This is not as bad as it gets, but it ain't pretty either. At least I did not suffer tendon/ligament damage, nor broken bone.
Warning: Graphic image
There has been a large influx of newbies on the board, that are newbies to the breed, and working dogs in general. There are a lot of people who anthromorphize their dogs, and 'furbaby' them to death.
People, if you are going to own ANY type of dog, do yourself and your dog and the general public a favor and learn. Learn about dog behavior. Learn the difference between a grumble and a growl. Learn body language. Learn control. Learn to train your dogs positively, but do not be afraid to use correction (not nagging) or compulsion, if necessary. LEARN LEARN LEARN.
Put a fire in your belly, and UNDERSTAND why your dog does this or that. Put your dogs to work. YOU run the house instead of tiptoeing around 'Brutus' or 'Fang' or 'Spot'. Learn HOW to deal with your dogs in a fair and truthful manner, and allow them to be dogs, and coincide with you and humankind peacefully.
Still, I urge you to take stock in YOU, YOUR DOG, YOUR SITUATION, and do not ever be afraid to seek knowledge. It's the only thing that will continue allowing us to own whatever breed we choose to own. Be honest with yourself. Not everyone is cut out to own a dog of this kind. When in doubt... ASK someone. Put the time into your dog that will repay you with..... a dog worth spending time with. A dog lost his life because of this. I could have too. He just missed a major artery when the flesh pulled off my arm.
I am one of the lucky ones. I survived. I was injured badly, and will have a scar for life. I am one of the lucky ones. I have mobility of my hand. I am one of the lucky ones. I keep telling myself that, as I sit in my house with tubes coming out of my arm a month later.
Take your 'furbaby' hats off, and put your dog owner hats on, folks.