Neighbour’s XL Bully

[Dente]

My neighbour has one of these dogs, which to be fair I always on a lead, but I’m so bloody scared of it when I am out walking my dog. He says it’s friendly and our dogs have sniffed each other and he while on leads, but I just feel so uneasy. I feel that if he slipped and that dog got loose it would be such a danger to everyone around. The area I live in is mainly families with young children and I just can’t understand why someone would get this kind of dog?

I understand all dogs can be aggressive, but all dogs don’t have this power and muscle that means they can easily kill!

Police dogs have very controlled 'Aggression'..Good front tooth grip, but are under great control of their handlers.
They are also ''Brave'' {Calm and bold}
Not every puppy specifically bred makes the grade...Some are too timid, but a good Army or Police dog is under close control, and is highly trained.

I’ll tell that to my rottie x German shep x staffy that’s laying infront of me. You’d have kittens!!!

Is that not due to the large number of them compared to XL Bullies?

The XL bullies that are killing people are not the ones being exercised and walked on a lead by what sounds like a responsible owner.

To be brutally honest my terrier x is prob more likely to show aggression to your dog than this big dog
Which is why mine is always on the lead unless when paying to use a private enclose dog park

@SemperIdem You actually can.Certain police dogs have lines of breeding for certain traits, nose for tracking, some that are missing person or rescue dogs etc. A lot of spaniels are hugely versatile and easy to shape and often the traits carry on in each generation. Not all collies or GSD's have all the right traits. Lots of them can be very 'busy and 'hot' so not good on certain things.

Ahhh so you’re a snob!!!! So unless they’re an upper class breed, they shouldn’t exist. Gotcha.

I'm a behaviourist by profession and specialise in aggression. It might surprise you that the breeds I work with most commonly are labradors, cockerpoos and collies.

The breed group you are describing are big dogs and therefore naturally pose more risk due to their strength and size but if this dog has not shown any signs of aggression, the garden is secure and it is walked on lead (which it does not have to be if it is otherwise under control - has recall and there is no reasonable fear of harm from the dog) then I am not sure why you are worried.

Some bullies, depending on individual dog, may be more wary of new people & dogs than others.

Hate these breeds so much. My dds stupid boyfriend has one and now his lives with my dd and my young grandson. I met the dog from a puppy and she's about 7 months old now and absolutely huge. I have dogs myself and always around dogs but this breed scares me for the fact it's a huge strong animal. My dd and her bf won't hear a word said against her. And to be fair she could go through her whole life not doing anything worrying. But I do understand where you're coming from op x

@B2B2022 Tell me you just heard that turn of phrase without telling me you heard that turn of phrase....

I don't know why people are arguing. The fact is that over half of the deaths recorded by dogs in the last few year have been by an XL Bully. One death is too many - 7 or 8 is ridiculous.
Everyone can say their dog is the gentlest, softest childlovingest Angel. But just like us a dog can snap. The XL Bully is a huge machine of a creature and no child (or pensioner, one victim was in her 80s) could match its power.
Maybe dog owners need a licence to keep a dog - show they are capable.

Do you realise that according to the Kennel club the dog that has the most attacks to its name in the UK is the labrador?

I completely agree with this. Every bite\nip\growl I have had from unknown dogs has been a lab. They are not the innocent looking family pet everyone thinks they are.

I should say that this...

Some bullies, depending on individual dog, may be more wary of new people & dogs than others.

...can apply to any dog. But certain large bullies, such as English mastiffs, were used for guarding once upon a time and therefore they can be more cautious around new people to the home for example. That isn't a given but it's a genetic possibility.
There are plenty of other non muscular breeds that were also used for guarding once, or still are.

The fact is that over half of the deaths recorded by dogs in the last few year have been by an XL Bully. One death is too many - 7 or 8 is ridiculous.

Can you provide statistics that evidence over 50% of recorded fatalities in the last 3 years were caused by an 'xl bully'? Which isn't even a breed, by the way, you may need to be more specific.

Labrador caused fatalities are zero.

People don’t report “attacks” by breeds like American Bully’s because they don’t “growl/nip” - they kill people.

Sadly it'll be the responsible owners who buy a licence..the people who are drawn to these aggressive types won't buy a licence.
They want to strut about {Usually being dragged about} and probably have a dog this size as they are lacking in some way.

It's often the children or elderly that are killed, but here the owner herself was killed and her partner nearly so.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-mauled-death-xl-bully-24514864

Bigdamnheroes · Today 21:45
So let me get this straight. This dog has never shown any aggression towards you or your dog, has never done anything to make you think it has anything but a stable temperament?

It is always on a lead or otherwise contained on your neighbours property? The only thing it has done is exist, basically?

You are scared of it because it is large and muscular and living near you? Jesus Christ, I hope you don't live in the countryside. Cows, horses, you'd be a nervous wreck.

Agree with this!

Read the thread on statistics @stormywaves Christ. Of course there's more records- there's more Labradors.....😏

I had a 50kg+ rottweiler when I moved in to my home, she accidentally 'broke' inti my neighbours garden 1 night, she was black so I didn't see her walk through the cozy coupe cars we'd used to block the 5ft gap in the bushes.
My neighbour was terrified of dogs, didn't realise she had wandered off n and sat beside he while he was on his phone until I called her in.

He now has a cocker spaniel than since having a fence fitted on the back has bitten 2 of my 3 children while walking into OUR home!

DON'T BLAME THE BREED BLAME THE OWNER!

It’s not really surprising at all.

The type of owners who have the breeds you regularly see are not the sort of people who would value having a poorly behaved and dangerous dog. So will seek to correct undesirable behaviour.

Surprised that as a professional, it hadn’t crossed your mind.

I also fail to see the attraction to this breed of dog, and I would be concerned if one was living in my street. This one seems to be under control with a sensible owner, but it only takes one mistake...

I agree that bull breeds should be banned and probably so would the families who have lost loved ones to their attacks.

A PP mentioned disliking cats - how many times has a cat attacked and killed??!!

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/jack-lis-beast-dog-attack-24198668.amp

Spot on, @SemperIdem
Yer average XL Bully owner wouldn't even consider getting a 'Trainer', let alone a 'Behaviourist'.

Those are beloved by people who cannot train their own dogs but WANT a trained dog, and will happily pay for the privilege.

It's not hard to train a dog so it is polite and obedient IF the owner chooses a dog suitable for their lifestyle and activity levels.

Sadly there are way too many hopeless dog owners who buy dogs that slowly go mad with frustration, and don't follow the simplest of requests.

Tbh all dogs are potentially dangerous. The kennel clubs view is

However, we believe that breed-specific legislation ignores the most important factors that contribute to biting incidents – primarily anti-social behaviour by irresponsible dog owners who train their dogs to be aggressive or do not train their dogs adequately.

Labs are just as dangerous as any other breeds when trained by irresponsible owners. Bully breeds just tend to attract these idiots. Look at the husky which killed a baby a while ago.

I would quite happily see some form of licensing for all dog owners - regardless of breed to control the irresponsible owners.