XL Bully Around Children

It’s not just nurture and the owners that decide how dangerous these dogs are.

I can’t understand why we can say a collie is likely to be predisposed to herd, a greyhound to chase small animals, or a shepherd dog to guard, but when it comes to powerful dogs bred to fight and never back down we have to pretend there is nothing innate in that dog that makes it a liability.

Your SIL is a fool, OP. Stick to your guns and don’t risk your children.

@Popcornlassie28 Our Rottie is as soft as anything but I still wouldn't leave her unsupervised with kids, because you just never know. She's had training and is great with her commands and her recall is pretty good too - she's the absolute light of my life, I love her to bits - but a dog is still a dog at the end of the day and I want to be a responsible owner.

She's done the school runs with me since she was allowed out at 12 weeks old and she loves people, and 99% of people love her too. It's a genuine shame that the remaining 1% have some form of prejudice against the breed and/or are genuinely scared of her (for whatever reason, but I get it, not everyone likes dogs)

Your SIL is a moron. Lets hope she takes the time to train this puppy and be a responsible owner!

I really hope your sister is winding you up. Why would anyone get a XL Bully, discounted pup or not? Is your sister a drug dealer or a scumbag? They're the only kind of people want those type of dogs.

I wouldn't let my kids visit and I wouldn't visit myself either. Those dogs are killers.

Is this your husband's sister. Is he likely to undermine you and take the kids to visit without your knowledge?

She must be completely mad. YANBU. Plus if she’s got such utterly terrible judgment I wouldn’t be trusting my kids alone with her in any other capacity.

Suggest muzzle for SIL or just ignore her. If she does stuff like this for a wind up then you are better off

Any dog can bite. As I see it you have 2 main variables that would dictate how comfortable I would be to have any given dog near my child.

1. How much damage they are likely to inflict if they do bite. This is largely breed and size specific.
2. How much I trust the owner to have (a) trained and socialised the dog and (b) be able to read the dog's cues and remove them/the child from any situation where a bite could occur.

I wouldn't completely dismiss any dog based on (1) but I would need a much higher level of trust that the owner would manage the situation (2).

I would be very wary of any owner who insists their dog 'will be fine' with your child as it implies they will not be cautiously watching their dog and the child ready to jump in if necessary.

YANBU. I would have the same expectations and ultimately you need to keep your children safe.

There’s a reason these dogs are being banned. Your sil is being completely irresponsible and there’s no way I would be visiting.

Not a chance I'd take that risk,no matter whose feelings were hurt.

She sounds like a complete idiot. Also, there seems to be advice floating around social media for dog owners to use other people's children as a training opportunity. So they take them to playgrounds or schools at hometime to 'socialise' the dog. It's incredibly selfish, arrogant behaviour and you are never obliged to have your children around any dog you don’t want near them - because of breed, or disposition, or foolishness of owner. Your SIL should get used to parents keeping their kids away from her house and her dog now she's made such a ridiculous decision - any parent with an inkling of common sense would keep their children well away from this breed, and anyone reckless enough to own one.

I’d not let my children visit, nor would I ever visit.

Your sil is stupid. The reason we are in this situation is because most people who choose these dogs are stupid.

Regardless of the chances of any XL bully being dangerous, this specific one has....

a) been sold at a discount because of a ban everyone saw coming; suggesting a 'breeder' that hasn't a fucking clue - so assume poor breeding
b) been bought by someone, despite knowing the very limited life it will have to live as a result of the ban; suggesting an owner that hasn't a fucking clue - so assume poor training and socialisation

Neither of those add up to a dog that is likely to have the right nature and nurture for a long, safe, happy life.

Sorry just saw you said it was a "discounted" puppy. Christ.

Very much doubt she's getting one. She's winding you up. IF, and it's a big IF she does get one, then she won't have a choice but to muzzle it outside of the home.

You are absolutely right. Does she have form for being contrary and oppositional like this? It seems particularly perverse to seek out a dog like this RIGHT as they are about to be banned, and you mention dog, not puppy, so it sounds like she is buying someone else's adult dog, and God only knows how it was brought up.

If she has a contrary nature, raising objections will probably cause her to dig her heels in even more, and this will end up causing a rift, but a perfectly reasonable one (from a safety perspective).

Has she actually bought it? Is there anyone in the family she listens to and respects, like your parents/her parents?

I wouldn’t go round- I wouldn’t go round even it was muzzled tbh. No sane person puts a child around such a beast.

Under no circumstances would I allow her to bring that dog to my house, children or no children. You are totally justified in banning it.

My precious children would never be around creatures like that.

She can stay outside with her people eater in that case

I grew up with big dogs, I've got a dog, and I won't let my daughter anywhere near an XL bully.

Not even twenty minutes ago one ran up to my little on-lead dog in the park and started snapping and putting it's paw on her head, and the man who was with it couldn't even get it to look at him never mind come back to him. He had to drag it away. I don't trust them and I've never seen anyone who has one, be able to control it.

Buy a muzzle. I expect she'll turn up with the dog one day to 'convince' you.

Why has she bought a dog that will need to spend its entire life leashed and muzzled out of the house?

She's an idiot and YANBU.