[RebuildingMe]

I manage a claim department for a major US carrier. I have seen tragic dog mauling cases you wouldn’t believe. Horrific scaring to the face, the body, you name it. One case involved a dog literally biting the nose off of a 3 year old blonde haired blue eyed girl after hopping the fence from the neighbors yard. Dogs are animals and thus, extremely unpredictable. I would never have my little girl or boy around a 260 pound animal.

 

[RebuildingMe]

It's more than that... the OP says the dog is 260 pound English mastiff

That's bigger than most people, and it has big teeth, and very strong jaw.

I've had large dogs that were big babies.... Newfoundlander, and a Mongolian Mastiff / German Shepard mix.

But I can see why a small child would be afraid of the 260lb very powerful dog.

This sounds more like a bear than a dog, according to OP.