Close encounter with an XL bully.. Well that has put the wind up me.

[DanianaBanana]

Every few months I go for a root touch up and trim with a really nice stylist who works from home. He and his husband have one of those XL bully dogs.

When I first started going he asked if I was OK with dogs and I said of course, I love them (bare in mind this was before all the news coverage of attacks). The dog would greet me as I came in and I'd give him a fuss. He'd jump up which was a bit much as he's huge but he was always really friendly.

After a few times I noticed every time I went "Fido" was in his crate and "John" said he thought it best as he'd been snapping at other dogs on walks and being a bit iffy. He took him to the vet to rule out anything health related.

I was there yesterday getting my hair done, John's DH must have left Fido loose after a walk as when we came out of the salon room he was in the hallway infront and came over to say hello.

He was happily wagging his tail and jumped up. I think this was where I messed up.

Given his height we were pretty much face to face and I couldn't help but notice how striking his eyes were so I was remarking what beautiful eyes he had whilst staring him straight in them.

His temperament shifted. I can't articulate it very well but but he stiffened up, his ears went back and the excitement switched to what I'd call an intense stare. I felt really nervous.

John clocked the change straight away and dragged him down by the collar and quickly shut him in the kitchen telling him "no, I don't trust you mate"

My legs were like jelly walking back to the car and I felt quite shaken up for a couple of hours after about what a close call it could have been.

I'm wondering if my fear is justified or whether you think perhaps I've let the recent news coverage colour my view too much?

Also, for anybody that knows about dog behaviour - do you think my hunch is right and that the dog would have been unsettled by the eye contact? In hindsight I'm sure I read somewhere that you shouldn't do that.

Regular poster but NC incase people think I'm being a total wimp.

What should I say to the hair dresser? I'm already booked in for my next visit, we always arrange that at the end of an appointment. I don't want to leave it too long to cancel and would rather get it out of the way with now and let him know, in a non confrontational way, that the dog is the reason.

Our paths are likely to cross semi often so I don't want any awkwardness and I don't know how defensive he'll be.

My labrador was killed by an XL bully, people don’t realise that many of these dogs change when they hit full maturity. DH wouldn’t risk himself nor the staff in having to deal with one and many aren’t muzzle trained, he doesn’t treat any large bully breeds now. We’ve had so many calls from owners of XL bully’s, mostly people with litters they can’t sell…

Just be honest, you felt unsafe with the dog around. The bottom line is if he’s doing hair at his home he’s probably lost a few customers already with that dog in the house.

That's so sad, I'm sorry 😞

Those bloody dogs.

Just because it's a dog, doesn't mean it's a 'pet dog'. I'd honestly rather a wolf in my home than an XL Bully.

Send this

you may be doing him a favour as he will lose business ..

Hi John
really sorry but I’ll need to cancel my next appointment with you
I must be totally frank with you ,

I was really frightened when your dog jumped up and me unexpectedly , and I could tell you were worried too , especially when I heard you tell the dog you didn’t trust it
I could tell the dog was unpredictable when I looked into it’s eyes , which with hindsight was silly of me ,

I really love how you do my hair , however I’d be a fool to put myself at risk for a hair do ,
Having your hair done is meant to be relaxing , and that will now prove impossible with the dog being loose in your house

I totally understand that it’s your house and your dog , but as you are unable to guarantee my safety I’m left with no choice unfortunately.

If you do home visits I’d be totally up for that ?

That's a good message thank you I'll send him that.

I don’t know… I stare at my Lab 🤣he just thumps his tail.

Well yes. That's like saying 'If I hug my child it's fine, so why would he be bothered if a total stranger hugged him in the street?' If I or any of my family or anyone my dog knows and likes could do that and he'd be totally fine and wag his tail. If a stranger or another dog did it, he would not be happy at all.

I would not be going back there they put you at risk they would not be able to stop it if attacked you. There was another attack in Salford quays yesterday a little 7 year old on a school trip. By the time police came the the owners and dog had left.

I’ve spoken to DH since I made this comment. I’m going to say something here, many vets are being requested to euthanise XL bully puppies that have been born because owners can’t sell them! We know many other practices have been asked to do the same. Some owners are asking vets to change the “breed” of dogs on their systems too.

Vets have known about these dogs for a few years, it’s common knowledge. Yes, I lost my lab and my assistance dog, that was a medical alert dog. I have epilepsy and when I go out on my own he made my life semi normal.

I’ve made many posts on here about what happened that day and yes DH drowned that dog, neither of us regret that. It’s one less dog in the world that could attack another dog or a child.

What I will say to XL bully owners is have you checked your dogs DNA? Do you REALLY know what it’s been cross bred with as most are cross bred.

I’m going to hide this thread now as far too many people own these dogs and imo they are status symbols.

That wonderful that he's standing by his principles

Was it an XL bully?

What in the world ? She would have deserved an attack just because she looked him in the eyes ??

I work in Veterinary and have for 15 years. I also have canine behaviour qualifications.

These dogs terrify me and I hate working with them. I avoid it at all costs. There’s something off about them, eerie almost. People say it’s individual dogs but no, it’s all of them. I’ve not met one I’ve liked and I’ve met more than your average excuser. The owners generally are not the most well equipt to handle them (being polite) as they have bought into the fashion or want a status dog…people who enjoy training dogs generally don’t want something like this. No need for them at all and I don’t blame you.

Yes @Thosesummernights - people saying blanket “no eye contact with dogs” is odd. In dog training you are taught to teach your dog a “look” command so it makes eye contact with you for reward.
My cockapoo loves staring into our eyes during strokes and will hold it for prolonged time. Or will come to us for something and look up and hold eye contact.

The fact the owners have a large dog that lets it jump up on people is the issue here. I’ve had friendly (not large) spaniels jump up at me and they’ve hurt my legs through my jeans. Same with labs. So an XL jumping up could hurt you even without intention.
the dog isn’t well trained and if it’s owners aren’t seemingly comfortable around it then that would scream alarm bells to me.

Our Ddog is similar. I can send him to sleep by very slowly shutting my eyes while he looks into mine and imitates me (a trick that I thought only worked on cats). Would slowly shutting your eyes work on a locked-on XLB?! Not sure I’d manage to shut my eyes with one so close to me!

Also does neutering reduce attack risk on humans of these sort of dogs? I know it can make males slightly more aggressive towards other dogs, at least until their hormones, or lack of, settle down.

I would message before your next appointment and ask thatvthevduh is out in the cage as you feel nervous around him.

@BellaAndDave I’m so sorry for the loss of your lovely lab. It’s utterly horrifying to read your account. Where on earth was the owner at the time?

From looking at it, I believe so. That's partly why I looked at it, had never seen one before round here.

The worst thing was, the guy was taking it over the road to a park full of small children. Made me feel sick. No way would he have been able to control it, if it had decided to attack someone. He was skinny as anything and smirking away proudly when his dog stopped to give me it's death stare. I really did wonder in that moment what was going to happen. Luckily nothing since the car beeping distracted us all. But it was a long moment.

I did feel so strongly that it was an accident waiting to happen that I contacted the local police (this was before the ban was announced). They said they would look out for the man and dog but unless it was dangerously out of control there isn't much they can do aside from a chat about careful handling.

He was in his camper van wild camping near our house and thought he was in a remote spot so had let the dog freely wander. He was charged as the dog bit DH but he never appeared at court. The last update we had was he was no longer at the address he gave the police so we’re assuming nothing more will come of it.

It's crazy all this 'a dog may attack if you so much as glance at it and it happens to be looking back' - normal, stable dogs just don't do this, well none of the dogs that I've had/dog sat ever have. If you happen too look too long and they feel uncomfortable they just look away.

If you own a big dog (especially) then the most very,very basic thing you need to teach it is that it doesn't get any attention unless it has all 4 feet on the ground. They will have encouraged this behaviour probably by coming home, the dog getting over excited and jumping all over them, them loving the fact that the dog is so pleased to see them and giving it lots of fuss and attention.

Can you just message the hairdresser to say that as the dog is so big and boisterous could he make sure it is kept safely in another room while you are there as you felt quite nervous last time when he jumped up at you. I'd give him the chance and if the dog is ever seen again then I wouldn't go back.

He's had his chance. There was a lapse of responsibility. It came as a warning. You were one step away from attack. There is no room now for a second chance. Do not go back, and do not feel you have to explain yourself. The dog's owner already knows. Trust and act on your instincts, exactly as the dog is, it knows it has supremacy over you in a conflict situation. Do not go back for this.

@DanianaBanana Today further information on the ''Dogs Trust '' XL Bully that was adopted and in a home for a month- before savaging it's new owner with no warning.
A 'flip', that so many are prone to.

''Denvor the XL Bully which attacked its owner at her home in Gately Road, Brisley, before being killed by police at Brisley Church of England Primary School (Image: Dogs Trust)
The victim suffered “horrendous” injuries, spending five days in intensive care at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
She still requires treatment for her injuries at the hospital three times a week.
The victim’s husband, who is also in his 60s and asked not to be named, said: “Both sides of her abdomen were torn open.
“One of her breasts was badly savaged and the other severely bruised. She had lacerations and bruising on both of her legs, and a puncture wound on her arm which went all the way down to the tendon.
“But alongside the physical injuries the psychological effect of the attack could last forever.
“When she shuts her eyes all she can see is it happening over and over again.”

I hope to goodness you have found a safer hairdresser to go to.

Why on earth would someone like your hairdresser choose to have a chav-hound? It’s so odd.

He must be losing customers, OP. Your cancellation won’t come as a shock. You’d be doing him a favour by being honest.

I didn't go back and have no intention to. I've had another tense interaction with another of those bloody dogs since I posted this thread. This one was a random dog being walked by the usual demographic of owner, young skinny guy with his pants half way down his backside. It almost mirrored a PP's encounter mentioned on an earlier page.

I was walking down the road minding my own business and along came the man and the dog crossing the road to join the same side as me. The dog stopped dead in its tracks in the middle of the road and glared at me. It took the owner a couple of seconds of tugging it's lead to snap it out of the stare. I turned around and speed walked back the way I had came. Thank god he had the sense to have it on a lead.

Horrible things. Roll on the ban.