Play date in XL Bully house

I’m a huge dog lover and an ex dog walker and I would be wary of many unknown dogs with kids under a certain age. Not sure how old your child is but I just don’t think many kids understand the necessary behaviour needed until they get a bit older. Also, as an extremely vigilant and knowledgable owner I just wouldn’t trust many other owners to be as careful as I am.
I’ve seen and experienced too many terrible and ignorant owners. I definitely would say no to this and maybe explain it’s partly about the breed but also the lack of experience/age of your child. Can they come to you instead?

@catscalledbeanz I assume you’ve not seen the news reports of children who have been killed by their own family XL bully.

I would absolutely say no and be honest about the reason why.

As an owner of big soft retrievers, I'd still say no way. I love dogs but they're dogs and even the most placid ones can at times be unpredictable. XL Bullies are so big and powerful an adult would struggle to stop one. It won't be an easy conversation but your child's safety is paramount.

No way I love dogs and have my own but I would not let my child around that breed though Im sure most of them are lovely I just could not take the chance.

Definite no from me. I’ve always had largish dogs, Great Dane, boxer, alsation I would never have contact willingly with xl bully or bully type and for children it would be a huge no. Even with my Great Dane he turned on a child that came to play. Didn’t bite just charged after him which frightened the life out of us all. The dog didn’t recall; no more children came round to play and that was the decision I made and stuck to. It only takes once….dont take the risk would be my advice.

nope sorry-cos you have dog.

I wouldn't let my child go. The thing may react badly to a new child in the house. The mother must be mad to have such a creation the house. They're always "lovely animals" until the kill or maim someone

A woman got killed by one earlier this year. She was an advocate for them and told everyone how great and nice they are.
It's negligence to allow your kids near one in my book.

Just be honest about your concerns. They're all lovely dogs till they kill someone. And yes I know it's usually down to bad owners but if you own a massive dog that can do damage like maiming and killing it can and could turn on anyone at anytime. It happened to me with a supposedly lovely bully when I was just sitting minding my own business so if she gets annoyed don't worry. Better to have someone a bit annoyed at you than something happen or you worrying.

Absolutely no. It is simply not a breed I would trust around any child.

And I say that as a dog owner myself.

Never in a month of Sundays, not even for 5 mins.

Please don’t, he’s new to the dog. It just isn’t worth the risk.

Kinell. The mum in that article COMPLETELY failed in her duty of care to that little boy and his sisters who witnessed the mauling by taking him to a house with a dog like that. It says the bite through his back was very close to puncturing his lungs. She should be charged with negligence as well. It's not as though the dangers aren't well known.

They were also reportedly at a friends house where one of these beasts resides.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/xl-bully-attack-leaves-scots-34059418

Not a chance in hell would I let my dc around one.

Well that seems to be one of the issues with them, fine for years then suddenly turn like that. Poor child

The breed is irrelevant to a degree, I wouldn’t be offended if a parent were nervous of my dog. We have had play dates where I’ve kept my dog separate - for his own safety. He’s old, he needs his bed, rest and gets too excited. Just say you are a bit concerned about the dog- if she’s a good friend she will understand.

Children can do silly things, a younger sibling if a friend got in my dog’s bed once - with him and had a screaming tantrum I shit you not. Obviously child was swiftly removed by me- the parent just sat there doing the gentle parenting thing. Idiot. My dog is soft as a brush but he couldn’t get away from the screaming or flailing limbs.

In my opinion as someone who has walked them (volunteer/rescue) they are incredibly strong, yet very nervous and a bit unstable. The two traits don’t mix well. Again I’m sure some are well rounded dogs - no offence met to anyone who has a lovely XL.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/05/xl-bully-dog-put-down-after-fatal-attack-on-north-yorkshire-girl-10

apparently this dog was lovely too 🙄

I’m a huge animal lover and there’s no way no how. These dogs are on a hair trigger and when they go from “lovely soppy” to “murder mode” there’s no one and nothing will stop them. I suspect there may be a rage syndrome in the breed as in several others. The aggressive outcrossing of XL Bully into various Mastiffs and what we are currently calling the Cane Corso means I’d also give a huge no to these dogs too.

FWIW I keep our dog separate from any visiting children and she weighs 9kg.

No no no no no! Is it really worth the risk? I'd say you're balancing saving face and safety here; I know which I'd pick !

As an aside, I have two small dogs (dachshunds) and when my 3yo has play dates I keep them separate. Other people's children and dogs are not a good mix !

A play date is not worth my child's life. Absolutely not and I wouldn't care if she was pissed off. And this is from someone with 3 dogs.

I wouldn’t be friendly with anyone who owned one of these dogs.

Bad enough if they don’t have children.

With children in the home even more incomprehensible.

A friend of mine saw a man trying to walk one of them. It was muzzled and on a lead but was too strong for him and he couldn’t control it. Even muzzled it could have damaged a passerby, certainly knocked them over.

NO

NO

NO

Do not accept and tell her the truth. She should not be inviting other kids over with the dog there.

What photo?

Absolutely no chance!

Your son would be in far more danger than his friend, too, as a stranger in the dog's home.

It would be utterly crazy to allow it and I'd tell his mother why, OP.