I tried to pet an English Bloodhound once over a fence. He bit me on the hand, he did it as a defensive act. I know they will bite, but I would still feel safe to raise one from a pup. I had one when I was about six years old. I named him Duke. He was a good looking dog. One day when he was about a year old he came walking up to Grandpa's house looking for a place to plop. Grandpa was in his eighties and his memory wasn't as good as it used to be...thought Duke was a stray...and shot him with rock salt. I havn't seen Duke since.

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David Upton