My brother watched a cop shoot a charging rottweiler several times in the frontal area with a .45 auto and the dog turned and went squalling heading back home and on to its porch! Everybody in the barber shop in town witnessed this event. I also know that officer well, I asked him what the hell happened? The weapon used was his .45 auto service pistol, he told me with it charging him he couldn't get a good solid head shot so he pumped as many rounds in the front of the dog as he had to to stop the situation!
BTDT with a 100+ pound Pit/Mastiff mix. Didn't even see the damn thing until it was maybe 16' out and it was boom-boom time by then. Took 4 to bust him down/turn him and 1 for the finish... .40/165/Golden Saber from a G-22.