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Play date in XL Bully house

457 replies

Bonneylass · 07/11/2024 00:37

School mum has invited my son over to play. They own an XL bully. Apparently it’s a lovely dog and they have 3 kids at home. I really don’t want him to go, I just don’t think it’s worth the risk. Is it best to make up an excuse or just be honest? Interested to hear from owners of XL bullies how you would react to this. She’s a lovely lady and ideally I don’t want to piss her off.

OP posts:
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Coldautumnmornings · 08/11/2024 20:30

Not a chance and I would be totally honest. I would have very little respect for anyone who thought having one of these dogs and children was OK.

Hunglikeapolevaulter · 08/11/2024 20:27

Plenty of people have them in America with no issues, it's not the dog's fault that people in the UK are fucking idiots. You are NOT an animal lover if you think an entire breed should be culled.

Untrue, pits and xls also attack, main and sometimes kill in the US. And it's a recently created monstrosity of a "breed", whose wholesale culling would make the world a better place.

Mrsgreen100 · 08/11/2024 20:27

Hard NO if it was my child

ihaveliterallynoidea · 08/11/2024 20:22

Never.

eastegg · 08/11/2024 20:16

Thistlewoman · 08/11/2024 20:10

Actually I think Funinthesun is spot on.

Me too.

eastegg · 08/11/2024 20:11

curiousS · 07/11/2024 03:31

@NeverFastAlwaysFurious in south London. There's a guy I see regularly walking his, granted with a lead but not muzzled.
I've seen two running in the local park off lead.
There are videos online of them running up to people in parks too.

Yes, same. In fact I wonder if we are in the same little bit of south London.

Thistlewoman · 08/11/2024 20:10

AnotherChildFreeCatLady · 08/11/2024 19:48

What an idiotic comment.

Actually I think Funinthesun is spot on.

eastegg · 08/11/2024 20:08

NeverFastAlwaysFurious · 07/11/2024 03:19

Where do you live that there are so many and they're off the lead? I know there are always rule breakers but I'd be confident they're not XL bully's. I've seen about 3 and they've all been correctly muzzled and on lead since the laws changed. Those who are breaking that rule is exactly who this law is meant to protect us from.

There are quite a few in my immediate area, sadly. I know from another thread that some people are surprised and horrified by that, which is understandable, but unfortunately it’s true.

WeeOrcadian · 08/11/2024 20:07

Not a fucking chance

NRTFT

Havinganamechange · 08/11/2024 19:54

I would be honest with her and tell her you just don’t feel comfortable. It’s an absolute no no for me.

AnotherChildFreeCatLady · 08/11/2024 19:51

Duckingella · 07/11/2024 00:44

Even as the owner of a very large Rottweiler and mum of large dog savvy kids;not a fucking chance.

There's been far too incidents surrounding these dogs.

They should all be culled and I say that as a huge dog/animal lover.

Plenty of people have them in America with no issues, it's not the dog's fault that people in the UK are fucking idiots. You are NOT an animal lover if you think an entire breed should be culled. What about shitty kids who do shitty things bc they have horrible parents? Maybe we should cull all shitty kids too, that would certainly make the world a significantly better place than culling an innocent dog.

AhBiscuits · 08/11/2024 19:51

Hell would freeze over before my kids set foot in that house and I'd just just be honest with her about it.

HellofromJohnCraven · 08/11/2024 19:49

Feck no.
Donkeys years ago a childminder of ours got a staffy. We just turned up one day and there it was. A rescue staffy.
I simply left with my daughter and didn't return. I heard 3rd hand through the playground chat how utterly unreasonable she thought I was, how she would be there and never let anything happen. She didn't have any reflection on how off her judgement was.

AnotherChildFreeCatLady · 08/11/2024 19:48

funinthesun19 · 08/11/2024 19:11

I’d say no and I’d be honest about why. And that is that I don’t want me child to be around an XL bully because I’m not taking any risks.
But happy to meet up somewhere or for her child to come to our house instead.

She’s probably another XL bully owner who is completely in denial about how dangerous they are. If she was aware of how dangerous they are then she definitely wouldn’t be inviting other people’s children to her house. It’s very worrying that other children could potentially go in to their house.

And if nobody else agrees to a play date at their house, then she will just have to accept that her child misses out on play dates at home. That’s the consequences of owning a dangerous dog. I feel sorry for your DD’s friend living with an XL bully. They should be banned in all houses where children live, and if they are discovered it should be grounds for a referral to social services/police for child neglect as her parents are neglecting her safety.

Edited

What an idiotic comment.

Swivelhead · 08/11/2024 19:48

I have a dog of an old, stable family breed that never features in any bite stats, and has never been known to kill anyone, ever (they dont have the jaws or the instinct for it) -- but I still invoke her to gently discourage other people's kids from coming round. Ah, peace and quiet.

AnotherChildFreeCatLady · 08/11/2024 19:47

They aren't bad dogs they just have notoriously shitty owners. No such thing as bad dogs just dickbag people. You're making a big issue out of nothing and I hope she realises her dog is more important than judgmental and misinformed people.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 08/11/2024 19:44

LpPp · 08/11/2024 18:47

We have a very big dog… not an XL, but mixed with a breed banned in other countries and visibly that ‘sort’ of feared dog. and she’s lovely, great with kids etc.

but when they want to bring new friends round I always explain to the parent that we have a big dog, she’s friendly, great with kids etc, and never would I be offended if they said No.

Until she isn’t.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 08/11/2024 19:42

HARD no. And tell her why. She’s an absolute idiot.

Rhaenys · 08/11/2024 19:25

I think it’s best to be honest. Just say that you’re sorry but you don’t feel comfortable. I doubt she’ll be offended by that.

Tryonemoretime · 08/11/2024 19:17

Bloatedbelly · 07/11/2024 00:44

I would just tell her, honesty is the best policy in this case. Just explain you are sure nothing would happen and it’s a lovely dog - but it’s on the news all the time where the family bully xl suddenly attacks out the blue and kills someone. They’ve been identified as a dangerous breed as a reason and you can’t put your son in potential risk.

Say days out etc are all fine as long as the dog isn’t there.

I'm a real dog lover, but I totally agree. I'd never let an XL Bully or any doberman or rottweiler anywhere near my grandchildren. They're all lovely dogs - until they're not! Children are too precious to risk their lives.

funinthesun19 · 08/11/2024 19:11

I’d say no and I’d be honest about why. And that is that I don’t want me child to be around an XL bully because I’m not taking any risks.
But happy to meet up somewhere or for her child to come to our house instead.

She’s probably another XL bully owner who is completely in denial about how dangerous they are. If she was aware of how dangerous they are then she definitely wouldn’t be inviting other people’s children to her house. It’s very worrying that other children could potentially go in to their house.

And if nobody else agrees to a play date at their house, then she will just have to accept that her child misses out on play dates at home. That’s the consequences of owning a dangerous dog. I feel sorry for your DD’s friend living with an XL bully. They should be banned in all houses where children live, and if they are discovered it should be grounds for a referral to social services/police for child neglect as her parents are neglecting her safety.

Thistlewoman · 08/11/2024 18:55

Whatever it takes-do NOT go on a play date-nor visit that household for any other reason. XLBs are killing machines with a hair trigger.
Tell her the truth-and at least you won't be asked to visit again; if you make up an excuse you'll be asked again.
Don't play Russian roulette with your child/children's lives-nor yours either.

HereForTheFreeLunch · 08/11/2024 18:53

'Great with kids' until they are not. Dd is autistic. In doggy view there is something just off about her. Maybe she moves funny or talks funny.

So many times people have been telling me their dogs are friendly, never hurt a fly... and then they jump and nip at her. They are shocked but I am not - it's happened so many times.

No way would I let her near something that powerful, irrespective of how lovely it is.

LpPp · 08/11/2024 18:47

We have a very big dog… not an XL, but mixed with a breed banned in other countries and visibly that ‘sort’ of feared dog. and she’s lovely, great with kids etc.

but when they want to bring new friends round I always explain to the parent that we have a big dog, she’s friendly, great with kids etc, and never would I be offended if they said No.

Judecb · 08/11/2024 18:35

Absolutely no way. These dogs are friendly and playful, until they're not.