XL Bully again

I think the fact that they are reportedly 'big softies' and affectionate, gentle animals 99% of the time is what's making them so lethal

Yes, this old quote gets wheeled out every single time an XL bully kills someone. Its become so common that I think anyone who hears this phrase should back away slowly from that person's dog because its very likely they'll be its next victim

I think the fact that they are reportedly 'big softies' and affectionate, gentle animals 99% of the time is what's making them so lethal, it's tragic for the dogs as well but they have been irresponsibly bred with a genetic issue where they switch randomly into kill mode and can't then be brought out of it.

An 'amnesty' type programme where there are all put to sleep would be the sensible way forward but I can't see it happening, as we're choosing to prioritise dogs over children.

People who pretend any dog can do this are idiots. Big dogs like retrievers or greyhounds don’t have killer instincts and generally even big dogs are not as big as bullys. Little snappy terriers can be dealt with by an ordinary adult or older child. Grown men have been killed by XL bullys. A woman was killed in her own home by a 13 stone bully and her own mother defended the dog (so soft - wouldn’t hurt anyone - except my own daughter who he’s just eaten). These dogs aren’t appropriate for people to have. It’s like having a lion (so soft, will lick you to death, never scratches the furniture).
A bully could kill a baby straight off the breast - no need for the baby to be left alone. Other dogs simply couldn’t do that.

I would extend the dog ban to all muscle dogs, some can probably just be neutered so they die out, and not need muzzles, just have Labradors and smaller you would get one death caused by a biting dog a decade, and a few more from being licked to death.

Well exactly. They are machines. I didn’t watch some of the more awful videos but I remember seeing one clip of the animal bolting down a street. They are extreme and it’s not normal to have them in a home.

How is anybody supposed to know on sight a bully that has come from a loving home and is gentle or a bully that is kept in a cage 16 hours a day and is reactive?

My child is at bully face height, I move them away from large dogs when I can but especially large bully breeds because they are the most likely breed to maul a kid to disability or death. (I also steer away from guard dog type breeds like malamutes, German shepherd's, doberman and rottweilers even though my brother had a lovely female rottweiler many years ago)

You can't be offended if people stay away from your dog, (edit: especially if their dog is reactive and barking they are trying to avoid a fight!) it reminds me of my male friend complaining that a woman crossed the street when she was walking home alone at night. People shouldn't be guilted into putting themselves in uncomfortable positions, even if the risk is low, to save someone else's feelings.

And I agree with PPs - their size means they aren’t safe even if they are being supervised by an adult!!

Of course it’s not their ‘fault’ - they’re dogs! Just because they are not ‘responsible’ in any real sense doesn’t mean they are safe.

I didnt realise how inbred they were. Seems like people are also lying on their papers about how inbred they are because they want to increase the muscular appearance of the dog.

Cruel to everyone, including the dog itself.

I can see others have posted the link regards to Kimbo. The genetic line from that dog can cause sudden onset rage syndrome. In my opinion all XL bullies should be culled. They are just far far too dangerous and unlike other dogs.

I have a dog - she’s a small to medium size and 15kg. Yes any dog can bite and you shouldn’t leave any dog alone with babies/kids. But the problem with XL bullies isn’t just that they can bite - it’s the sheer size and strength of them. They weigh around 30-60 kg. At the upper end that’s the weight of an adult human. You have absolutely zero chance of controlling them/stopping them if something goes wrong. That’s why they can and do kill and injure not just children but grown adults.

I can’t find the article now but you are right. A lot of these dogs were bred from one particular dog with a genetic issue and this has caused a massive problem

The reason for them being classed as dangerous dogs was that those already alive caused so many injuries (relative to other dogs). So exemptions being available is madness, it doesn't mean the dog is safer. Evidently.
They should all be euthanised, no exemptions available. This country is stupid when it comes to exemptions and it's created a nation full of ready excuses and whingers.
The poor baby.

As for the "increase penalities for the owners" - I'd agree. But there are two distinct camps of people who choose to own these beasts.

Either they are utterly thick and in denial, and think they have the one XL bully in a million who is as soft as butter, great with the kids and wouldn't hurt a fly. There is no reasoning with stupid.

OR, they know their animal is a ticking time bomb, but don't care.

We have a Staffy. He's the biggest, softest lump you could ever come across. He us such a gentle soul.
I'm a childminder. He was rigorously trained from 8 weeks, and the children are trained too. Supervised all the time- although he takes himself off to bed most of the day. He adores the children, they adore him. But he's an animal so I always err on the side of caution.
But an XL Bully.....no...just,no....

To be fair bull dogs/breeds were bred for bull baiting, pit fighting and blood sports. Not to be nannies for babies. We really need to dispel that myth as its a dangerous one, its just rewriting the history of the breed to make them sound friendlier when they were bred for a very specific reason. As lovely as your own dog is. Xx

Exactly- even if you are in the room with a baby and an XL bully are you suggesting the adults could do anything at all to stop it?- have you seen an XL bully. You've got no chance. There have been plenty of XL bully attacks whereby adults have tried to pull them off when attacking and not been able to.

These inbred dogs are not genetically wired correctly, what do people expect. Of course you will get individuals with more docile characters that probably won’t cause a problem but that doesn’t mean these dogs are safe and it’s ’just bad owners’. I’m fairly confident I could stop a jack russel, spaniel, staff etc if push came to shove, but not an xl bully, no one could. The government have been so reasonable with the rules of no breeding and you can keep the dog as long as it’s registered and muzzled in public. It’s astonishing that people are still claiming this is unfair, there are secure dog fields you can book if they need more freedom and enrichment, they could go with friends dogs so they can socialise. However this still doesn’t seem to be working, if it gets to the point where they have to be euthanised so be it, its down to the idiots breeding them and believing any dog is fine as long as you love it enough.

This is what I don’t get though.
People keep talking about leaving the dog alone with kids. It doesn’t MATTER if an adult was there supervising-there is no way they could control one of these dogs or overpower it. They kill grown adults. No amount of supervision in the world would have prevented this.

Too many people who know nothing about dogs getting dogs and don’t know how to train them

True, but the scary thing with XL bullies is that even owners who do know the breed and are aware of the risks are being killed. There have been a few owners campaigning to save the XL bully breed on social media and saying they know how to handle them and then a few months later they've been killed by their own dogs. Even when these dogs are trained properly they are still hugely unpredictable. Its like living with an active land mine in your home and saying "well it hasnt gone off so far so its all ok!"

Any dog can attack, however bigger and stronger dog attacks will be more serious.
Only an idiot would leave a dog and a baby alone, and it is a certain type of person who keeps these dogs.

Absolutely hate this breed after ds and I had an extremely lucky escape a few years ago. I've never been so terrified in my life. We need to stop pussyfooting around these idiots who insist on keeping them and destroy each and every one of them. Awful things.

Too many people who know nothing about dogs getting dogs and don’t know how to train them.
Gentle parenting doesn’t work with dogs.
I have never had a dog and that’s ok but I still know dogs and babies don’t mix and a responsible breeder or homing charity would not allow a dog to go to a family with youngsters for a reason.
Everytime I read about these stories I think how stupid of the parents to risk their baby with an animal known for killing babies and children, it’s like leaving them in a paddling pool and saying I didn’t know the water would kill my baby because it’s usually so calm - parents would be held responsible just like if they had baby in a lion enclosure or shark tank.

You're wrong about that. If you have an XL Bully it is a matter of time. There is no 'safe' way to own one. It is appaling and negilent parenting that should not be brushed under the carpet.

And anyone who has an XL Bully that kills someone should face 25 years in prison for murder. Yeah, that's what I said! Murder!

I do think penalties to the owners need to ramp up. It was one thing when people could plead that they didn't know, but now the problem with bullies is well established, anyone owning one needs to take more responsibility for that choice.