To not want 5 year old around a dangerous dog breed...

[ponyclub1234]

My 5 year olds best friends family have got an American Bulldog, a huge dog that looks like pure muscle, they want DD to go for a play date but I am not comfortable with her being around this dog, expecially in light of the recent news story about the 7 year old killed by his friends American pitbull. I know they are not used to raising this type of breed either and will not have been responsible in socialising / training it correctly.

How can I politely decline on this basis??
I know theres no point making an excuse as they'll just ask to rearrange but I don't want to create conflict as I do get on with her mother and we are around each other a lot.

@Boopeedoop

I used to have an English mastiff, and as soppy as he was I understood friends discomfort with his size. He was always in a separate room with a solid wooden door when friends children were present.

Have a conversation with them, they may have a similar rule?

They are gorgeous dogs! I'd love one, but need to move to a bigger house first!!!

@Branleuse

Im wary of children with my staffie tbh despite the fact she is soppy and loves children, but i always watch like a hawk

Yes. My bull terrier has always proven calmer with small children and old people - we live between a nursery and a few sheltered housing schemes.

But there's no way in hell I will ever relax my vigilance. He's a dog!

And that's all anyone need ponder before making any decision about visiting A N Other.

Why do people want to own these dogs Which dogs?

A Heinz? A specific breed? A dog on the dangerous breed list? A dog they can train to be aggressive? Big dog? Teacup dog?

American bulldogs aren’t banned breeds. They were bred as farm dogs similar to collie dogs

They are still natural fighting dogs and can be very large. In the wrong hands they can be very dangerous.

YANBU at all. I would not let DS go to a home with that sort of dog and I love dogs. Even if they shut the dog away it only takes a second.

Just say you are sorry but you are not comfortable with the dog and they can have a play date at yours instead. If they don’t understand that then I don’t think it’s a friendship you’d want to encourage any way.

For God's sake people will continue to say its not the breed but let's all get real here it is. Its always the bully breeds that kill children. Its always these types of dog that are aggrssive and untrained

Here here

There have been so many occasions where they are not looked after properly. The problem with this breed is its capability of killing , rather than how the dog will behave if looked after properly. Much like we ban guns because they have the capability of killing in the wrong hands and have no real benefit to society.

There is clearly an issue where we the average person is unequipped to own and look after these big powerful dogs and as such more restriction should be put in place.

You frequently get dog owners who say my dog is a loveable scamp and has never bitten anyone which might be true until the first time they bite somebody and in which case it may be too late.

Bigger breeds have more capability to injure and kill, I bet there are loads of other dogs attacks daily that do not make the news because generally nobody dies from a Toy Fox Terrier getting a bit shirty. Compare this to the result of a Rottweier or American bulldog who could easily overpower an adult.

Remove the dogs that can be the most dangerous in the wrong hands and you remove most of the problem.

Just be honest with them. No way in the world would I let my 5 year old child be around that dog