To report my neighbours XL bully, it is ruining my life

There's a bit of a XLs are going to kill everyone they meet/XLs are lovely big babies binary on this thread. I'd argue that if you are one of those who really likes XLs and argues that it's mainly the owner, then you should absolutely encourage the OP to report. I have a bully breed (not an XL) and it's owners like this one who let the dog jump up, don't muzzle, don't keep it secure that make life much more difficult for all bully breed owners, particularly the XL owners who are responsible (and there are some about).

Report it @TheLangyers Don't even think twice about it. And get your parents to get their dog some training.

Is your partner being deliberately disingenuous do you think? Is he trying to wind you up? It just sounds so bizarre that he is acting like this, he knows they have been banned doesn’t he? And he knows about all the attacks….

They aren't going to destroy a dog because it 'might' hurt you accidentally. It's never shown aggression towards you and you have no idea what happened with the child.

My child has been bitten by a family members dog and it was 100% DSs fault. He was messing about with the dog, encouraging it to jump on him, roll about and grab toys he was waving about for it. It missed the toy and got his hand. Complete accident.

Maybe nothing was done because they said that it was somebody else's dog that bit the child? They would never admit that their dog did it.

I'm a dog lover, but wouldn't trust one of these breeds which are bred for aggression. They are a ticking time bomb. Your partner is incredibly and dangerously stupid not to see the dangers. If I were you I'd move in with your mum until the danger is removed. I'd also reconsider whether your partner is going to be a responsible parent.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Wrong about breed behaviour - that's not a myth. Wrong about evidence - both OP and neighbour's grandson have already been assaulted by this dog. Wrong about being unfair - it is unfair that this dog is restricting OP's life, costing the rest of us in paying for A&E visits and potential police involvement, and putting the wider community at risk.

So sorry to hear youre having all this worry. I live in a rough area too, its hard when you want out but feel trapped. If I was you I'd move. It will hold up your goal of buying somewhere, but do you really want to be living next to trash like this when you have your baby. What about when they start toddling and your maybe in the garden. You'll constantly be on edge with that dog and its owners next to you. Even when these people get reported, they dont change, usually they get worse...defo move

There’s some stupid points in the thread regarding DNA and I agree that dogs are not somehow genetically predisposed to particular bite patterns. But regardless, the owner of this dog is not following the law re leashing and muzzling, she’s not trained the dog not to jump up at people and the dog has injured a child at least once. The owner is at fault and that’s what needs to be reported. If she cares about her pet the best way to keep it safe is to follow the law and be seen to be doing so.

À cocker poo can have cocker rage and could disfigure a child. I think it's valid to be worried about your neighbours dog, but it's actually more likely that your child would be hurt by the grandparents dog.
Your neighbour needs to keep her dog more secure and on a lead when out and you could do with making your garden more secure if the dog gets over the fence.

You may wish to strip metadata (exif, gps etc) from the photos before you share them. You can do this online or using an app. Without doing this, it is easy to identify when, where and by what device they were taken.

Did you not read the OP? The dog bit the owners grandson.

All dog breeds are not blank slates. Some breeds have been selected over time for aggression. Pit bulls which are connected to XL bullys were originally breed to fight other dogs that’s how they came about, so of course on the whole they’re going to be more aggressive than the average dog. Just like herding dogs like collies show behaviour that will would make them good at herding etc.

Take photos of the dog in the garden and being walked un leashed and un muzzeled, then report it, It could easily jump the fence and attack a child, anyone could report it.

Under UK law as of February 1, 2024, it is a criminal offence to have an XL Bully dog in a public place unmuzzled and off a lead.
GOV.UK +1
While a private, fully enclosed garden is generally considered private property, a front garden that is accessible to the public—such as one without a secure, high fence or gate preventing entry or escape—may be treated as a public place under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

• Blue Cross +1

Unless you have concrete evidence that the dog poses a danger - and they usually don't, it's usually a human who has trained them to be dangerous - please don't ruin other people's lives
Did you miss the bit where it bites its owner's 4 grandson?

XL Bullies are NOT 'wired to kill at any moment'. Please don't become one of those people. This is someone's pet. Unless you have concrete evidence that the dog poses a danger - and they usually don't, it's usually a human who has trained them to be dangerous - please don't ruin other people's lives. Are you sure you are not just being overly cautious because you are pregnant? If so, it's really unfair. Stop buying into the myth that all these dogs are dangerous.

Report it, please. It's endangering you and everyone else who lives nearby.
Follow up the safeguarding report you've made about the child.
And honestly, your partner sounds a bit thick.

Would your landlord/lady put in a complaint? It's going to affect who they can rent the house out to.

Jeez that's horrendous.

OP, you must report this dog. Make sure you mention this incident. I am a dog owner and dog lover but this dog does need to be destroyed.

Imagine it jumping up at your pram.

As clichéd as it's become to say 'I'm not one who reflexively says ltb', I'm gonna say it.
Leave him. He's clearly a berk.

For balance they can also be owned by silly women who think all they have to do is love it and "all will be OK, hun x."

I'm actually really pissed off that these dogs weren't all humanely destroyed.
They should be shot on sight in as humane a way as possible.

I loathe people who have them. Sorry but I do.
(For balance to my earlier post, I'm not saying that everyone on a council estate had a dog like this at all-far from it! -I did in fact see a few clearly well off women in naice areas have such animals- which could have easily killed them as they were very slim- but it was a more rare event.)

Indeed my well - educated sister would, in theory, have one if she'd had raised it from puppy hood. Ffs.

This sort of thing really sorts those with common sense from those that don't whatever their background or where they live.

The dh sounds a berk who clearly has no protective instincts towards his partner and child and I'd advise OP to move ASAP.
No matter what the cost.
No different to having a tiger next door. Not being hyperbolic here. I mean it.

Op report the damn dog.

Aside from the Council Estate, that type of dog is usually kept by undesirables ….inadequate people needing to make a point.
A status symbol, “don’t mess with me” vibe.

Why would anyone choose to have such an ugly beast!
Leave it two weeks then report, play nice a she’ll not know anyway.

The thing shouldn't be loose in an unsecured front garden and able to jump on passers by, XL bully or not.
I’d be bloody annoyed if any unrestrained dog jumped on me.

Dog owners should learn manners but then again those feral owners would consider themselves exempt from societal rules.

I'd consider leaving a partner over this gaslighting and dismissal of my concerns. However I wouldn't trust him to keep my child safe if I wasn't there to supervise as he's a fucking idiot. Was he not present during the times you heard the dog hurting the 4 year old? Also how much evidence does he need that these dogs, some often described as gentle giants, can turn on a dime especially on young kids if their prey instinct kicks in?

Right now don't say anything more to your partner, he's not on your side, pretend you've dropped the subject and be good with the neighbour. But in a week I would report. If that dog has been hurting the 4 year old in their care and they've been covering it up, they need reporting for the sake of safeguarding. Please write down as many incidents as you can think of to tell the LA. Don't tell your partner you intend to report or that you have, his enthusiasm for the dog will work as cover.

Keep safe OP and I agree with your mum, get out and rent elsewhere even if it puts your savings back a bit, its not worth living with the stress of having to live next door to dickheads.

Also everyone who's giving you shit for mentioning you live on a council estate whilst they live in a quiet suburb can fuck right off. Wealthy people policing how poorer people describe their circumstances because they dare mention it are massive cunts. I grew up on a council estate and know exactly where you're coming from, there are some of the loveliest, most generous people you'll ever meet, but there is also a concentration of depravation and crab bucket mentality that can make life hell (that succesive governments have allowed to rot and fester by removing services for austerity). Those judgy twats can offer you a house swap if they think life on certain estates are no issue.

Okay, as you can't move and don't want a night our hate campaign, I'd wait a few weeks and report her. Could you get any pictures sneakily on the dog walking witbout a muzzle, have you got a doorcam?

The other issue is inthink you're being extra protective because you're pregnant, which is normal, I was the same, stopped cycling as soon as I got pregnant and was extra cautious etc, however it's making you feel worse and I worry that when the baby comes you'll never leave the house without your husband which will be very isolating.

He needs to stop encouraging the dog, as you can't put up a bigger fence as it's a rental he needs to make sure the dog isn't encouraged at least. Post partum when baby is here you will need to feel as safe as possible, it's a hard enough time as it is! You need to feel you can walk out with your pram, alone and not be accosted.

Not being unreasonable at all.
Is there any way you can film it walking to the friends? From a window or your car maybe? Is there any pattern to when they go round so you can just happen to be sat in your car pretending to text or face time but actually filming? Or could your mum or friend do it, if the neighbour won't recognise them?

Why isn't your partner bothered that the grandchild next door got hurt?