Neighbours have an XL Bully dog

[Mayxo]

Hello there,

I wanted some advice as I have a little concern.

My husband, our two children, and I are moving to our new home within two months. We went over to view it and we bumped into our soon-to-be next-door neighbors. They were very kind, told us about the street, parking and things but they did say they have an XL Bully. They said she's lovely and would lick you all over, etc.

Now, I am a strong believer that owners are the reason for badly behaved dogs. Judging by how they were with us, they seemed so lovely that I doubt they would treat their dog badly. But I can't help but worry about my children playing in the garden. What if she digs under or jumps over the fence? Not to mention we have a rescue cat. He's only two years old, so I fear he will jump over and get hurt or worse.

I know I may seem like I'm overreacting. It's just that you hear so many stories; it worries me.

Is there any way I can make my garden safer on a very low budget? It would be much appreciated if someone could help me and give me some ideas xx

Am also a firm believer that a dog's behaviour is down to the owners. To a point. I would never trust an xl bully. Their instincts are too strong.

Regarding making your garden ''safer''- these are incredibly powerful dogs.

They can and do dig out from under fences and smash through them.

The responsibility surely is for the neighbours to keep the dog securely contained so it cannot possibly escape by digging under, or jumping over, or breaking through a fence.

A normal lightweight ''wood panel'' larch-lap type garden fence won't be strong enough.

I wouldn't move there. As others have said, it's not worth the risk. I also wouldn't want to live near someone who chooses to have one of those dogs.

We have always had large bull breed dogs and would not go to a house with an xl or move next to one.

You are not over reacting.

My dog would also devour a cat if one came close enough!

This! I'm sick to death of uneducated unqualified people saying "But, but it's the owners, it's the owners!" when DOCTORS of Veterinary Science have proven beyond any comprehensible doubt that this behaviour exists within their DNA! 🙄 Just like Labs make the best Guide Dogs and Collies make the best Sheep dogs.
Dogs have behavioural tendencies within their DNA > this is a proven fact. Proven.

@Mayxo Can you pull out of the sale?
It could be that the dog is the reason the last people moved {or are selling}

Endless barking and the threat of it injuring someone.

Granted any dog can bark and be a noisy pain, but the aggression with children and the cat would be my biggest concern.

Chicken wire won't keep an XL out- they can bust out of crates. Weld mesh just might.

They are often kept in crates that look more like jail cells - The owner of this one bought a strong ''cell'' as the large Pitbull type was breaking out of normal wire cages.

Horrible way to keep any animal.

Apart from strengthening or replacing any existing fences and ensuring that there is no chance of the dog diggging under them, you can get special safety netting that will keep a cat contained within your garden.

It’s attached to posts (or screwed to the fence) that extend up above the fence line, and the net is secured to the top of the fence so there are no gaps. The very top of this security system angles inwards so it’s harder for the cat to climb out, and with some versions the cat’s weight will make the angled section drop inwards.

There are various versions of this, some can be easily installed or the companies will install them for you.

I’ve also just seen a totally different system that involves wooden poles that rotate, along the top of the fences which prevent the cat from getting purchase.

Well said. You definitely aren’t overreacting.

I wouldn’t pull out in your shoes as it’s obviously a good housing solution and you need somewhere to live. But I would tell my children that it was a dangerous breed and they should give it a wide berth. I’d also investigate any protective measure I could take. I wouldn’t be befriending anyone who owned one. Personally I have seen a toddler attacked in the street (unknown to me) decades ago and I will never forget it. It was terrifying.

However, it's all down to the training and socialisation and you will probably get an idea of that very quickly.

This is incredibly naive @RatherBeRiding.

I would be extremely worried for my DC, my cat and myself if I were you OP.

I would raise concerns with the council/HA, they are a banned breed now after all. it seems harsh that they would put you to the bottom of the list for such a genuine concern.

Also. would it be possible to chat with other neighbours? The XL bully owners may have seemed superficially nice but that can change, Did they mention why the previous tenants left?

Years ago we had hell with a neighbour with an aggressive Rottweiler , DS was very young too, it was scary sometimes, the HA were useless, we left for a private rental as soon as we could afford it.

I'd be having a firm but polite word with the HA. It's not acceptable to expect a tenant to expose their family to potential dangers in one of their properties.

An XL bully turning is just as much, if not more to do with it's breeding as it is too do with it's upbringing.

I'm sure they are all fine until they are not.

Obviously you've said you can't pull out, so I'd take your best precautions.

If you have to move there, could you watch the owners like a hawk and report them immediately for any minor breach of the rules relating to XLs - maybe if there are enough incidents the dog would be destroyed?

No fucking way would I move next door to that dog if I had young kids.
"Now, I am a strong believer that owners are the reason for badly behaved dogs" - that's so naive.
So no dog can behave badly unless it has a bad owner? Wrong.
Especially these dogs.

I didn't see your photo before it got withdrawn OP but I think in your situation you should accept the house.
Talk to your HA about your concerns over the dog though. If the neighbour is a tenant also then the HA should be making sure they are following all the rules.

Don't miss this opportunity for your family to be housed, just take all the precautions you can.
I'm sorry you are in this situation and hope things turn out well for you

If I was buying I'd pull out, I would not want to live next door to a big dog like that.

They're not buying. It's a HA home. I think this is a lot of over reaction here because if they don't want the house, someone else will.

@Mayxo have you checked with the housing association if they allow breeds who have restrictions on them as many don’t. They may not know the neighbours have this dog if the house is rented from them.

I would ask the landlord lots of questions about it. Perhaps it’s the reason the previous tenants moved? Ask if any issues have been reported about the neighbour’s XL bully dog? are there any obligations on landlord to keep you safe and maintain/repair fences & within what timeframe? And ask the local police. Find out whether the dog’s been registered and what is required - should it be muzzled in the garden etc.
If you still feel uncomfortable then make it clear to the landlord that this is the reason you’re turning it down and that you will not accept to lose your place on the list as it would be putting your family’s safety at risk.
The dogs are fighters and no amount of training or responsible ownership can stop them.

it seems harsh that they would put you to the bottom of the list for such a genuine concern.

Probably because it’s not a genuine concern. If you raise this as a reason not to take the property, they will likely laugh in your face and take you off the housing list. Even if the dog is liable to turn because of its breed (it’s not), it will still be contained within your neighbour’s home so they will have to deal with it. It’s not going to suddenly burst through the fence or dig under the garden. As for your cat, I would be more concerned if you had said it was a sighthound, not an XL. The vilification of these dogs is really sad to read, you’d think they were the devil itself, and I think this definitely adds to the problem. Take a chill pill and enjoy your new home. I think I would rather my neighbours had an XL as they would be forced to be responsible or have their dog seized, whereas the lab owner next door can just do whatever the fuck he likes. He has five labs that are constantly escaping from the garden, wondering the street, attacking my dog and shitting on my drive.

Except...

XL bully isn’t a breed, it’s a shape. One that can be made up of a lot of different combinations of breeds.

I think you just have to take precautions with your cat. He / she must not be able to get into the XL's garden as that is where I see a problem happening .

I met my first XL bully on a walk the other day . He was in a muzzle and owned by a lovely couple who also had a spaniel and a staffie . He was built like a brick shithouse but very calm and no signs of aggression at all .

They are all perfectly fine, lovely dogs until they're not. If your medium sized dog turns on you for unknown reason, it's very unlikely you'll die. XLs - clue's in the name- are massive heaps of muscle and strength with jaws designed not to let go. XLs have killed fully grown adults. They aren't safe for anyone to own.