Bull breeds 'Nanny Dog' myth

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This dangerous myth that bull breeds, originally bred for fighting, were historically known as 'Nanny Dogs' has to be countered. It is unfair on inexperienced owners and unfair on the dogs, who may not be cared for properly/dumped.

The 'Nanny Dog' myth came from Colby, a US breeder of fighting dogs, seeking to broaden his market. His dogs killed his nephew, so weren't exactly nannying him: https://blog.dogsbite.org/2010/05/1909-fatality-john-p-colbys-fighting.html

The 'Nanny Dog' myth is perpetuated by Pitbull advocates in the US and is occasionally also seen in the UK, with Battersea among those promoting it for Staffordshire Bull Terriers: https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-advice/finding-right-dog-you/staffies

There is now a social media campaign with owners seeking to 'show the soft side' of their XL Bullies. Some very inexperienced owners who got XL Bullies as their first dogs are speaking out on their dogs being 'misunderstood': https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12519333/My-American-Bully-XL-look-scary-trust-nine-month-old-heartbroken-owners-defend-giant-breed-banned-UK-spate-vicious-dog-attacks.html

Bull breeds are fighting dogs, with the instincts and capabilities to fight, putting children, adults and other animals at risk. Retrievers retrieve, pointers point, herders herd. An animal charity would not have a campaign describing border collies as couch potatoes that can be left alone all day in a flat. So why are bull breeds pushed as 'Nanny Dogs'. There needs to be pressure on those (particularly organisations and media) repeating the 'Nanny Dog' myth to be honest about the origins and capabilities of these dogs, as well as the requirements and responsibilities of owning them.

I’m actually a bit fan of Staffies, I think the “proper” ones (not the staffy type cross breeds) are lovely dogs. I agree these myths are dangerous. Bull breeds were bred for bull baiting and can be prone to agression towards other animals.
These myths damage the breed as they essentially “encourage” people do not supervise their children appropriately around dogs and that’s when disasters happen.

Certain characteristics are just inate. Coming from someone with a retriever who keeps bringing them gifts of rocks from the garden, pears and plums fresh off the tree. She looks so proud of herself as she presents them at my feet.

Agree I hate the “it’s how you raise them.” It’s not, genetics (and neurological issues from insane over breeding/inbreeding to meet supply which I imagine is prevalent in the XL bully trend) don’t count for nothing.
There is a reason greyhounds chase and collies herd!

I had a rescue Staffie who had been dumped after being used for fighting - his face was covered with scars. He was the most loving, caring dog I've owned. he adored children and was super friendly and gentle with everyone he met. He really was the most perfect natured dog despite his early life experiences. I trusted him 100% with everyone.

I’m very much a dog person and I’ve had a rescue staffy before who was just the most wonderful dog ever. Soppy as anything and scared of the dark. But dogs and small children are never a good combination, no matter what the breed. There will always be the potential for a dog to snap and attack. It’s innate. I don’t think that any breed of dog should be associated with being safe around young children because it encourages complacency.

Staffies were renowned for being good with children 50 years ago, before the XL Bully was even bred. They were recommended for families with kids when I was little. Most of the dogs called ‘Staffies’ now are not really Staffies anyway.

Bull breeds vary hugely. A bull mastiff is a bull breed. A little French bulldog is also a bull breed. So talking about ‘bull breeds’ as a single group is meaningless. At no point have I ever heard anyone describe all bull breeds as nanny dogs.

It’s like we are having to treat dogs the way we treat humans now and can’t possibly pass any judgement on them.
It is likely the breed as well of the owners, and the people who defend them often seem to be a certain type of person 🤨
Safer to ban them at this point, stop making excuses/allowances and not wait for the awful incidents to happen but to prevent them instead

And the videos showing them with kids how gentle they are, the dogs are clearly uncomfortable, their body language is screaming this.

Take the example with the baby
If we have an outright ban. Dog doesn't get near baby.
If we allow them and confiscate after an incident, that baby would be dead.
You cannot tell if someone WILL be a good owner
You cannot tell if a dog WILL get out of control
Allowing these dogs basically saying we can't protect you until it kills you.

Not all bullys are big dogs. Frenchies are part of the bully breed.
There are ours if irresponsible breeders and irresponsible people buying XLs but there are also a lot of examples of scrupulous breeders and skilled owners in this breed. Mumsnet won’t like that though.
The XL will be banned and then those who want status dogs and those who want to make quick money will find another big breed to manipulate.My money is on cane corsos btw who are far less people friendly on the whole than XL bullys and lethal in the wrong hands
what we should be doing is ensuring better breeding and owning laws and tougher penailties for all dogs to prevent tradgedies happening

My dear old dad always said that if you were thinking of getting a dog, then look at what it was bred for. Hunting dogs will hunt, no matter what, ratters will do just that, dogs bred for fighting will fight, dogs that were bred for tracking do that , all instinctively. And, even more importantly when the owner doesn't want it to. I tend to agree with him. I think the problem with fighting dogs i.e those bred to do that, is that their jaws clamp once they have bitten, they don't let go. A dog bred to bait bulls , has to have a very strong bite and hold, so disaster strikes when they do just that , when they aren't supposed to.

’I trusted him 100% with everyone’

I am very wary of anyone who says this stuff. Dogs, just like people and young kids, are unpredictable. Nobody should trust their dog ‘100%’. Dogs can get scared or unwell and react in unexpected ways. And good owners know that.

*there are lots of

Isn't the cane corso a banned breed?

I agree. It's naive at best.

Cane Corsos are not banned in the UK, no.

That baby's terrified face in the picture says it all, lol. Good thing they are banned.

This whole thing has dampened my view of rescue centres / shelters, tbh. I always thought the dodgy backyard breeders were shady and still do, but a lot of the nanny dog propaganda comes from no-kill shelters who are trying to get these "crosses" off their books.

I love dogs, but they aren't human, and humanely PTS is a legitimate option and preferable in my opinion for dogs with traumatic histories than convincing unsuspecting young families that it's good and ethical to take them on.

Also agree that a dog is a dog regardless of breed and caution should always be exercised around dogs and children.

I don’t understand the argument that banning the bully xl will be ineffective as a new breed will then become associated with dog attacks. Isn’t this like saying we shouldn’t ban guns because people will just turn to knife crime?

I have an Olde English Bulldog so part of the ‘bull breed’ category however he’s so far from an XL Bully it’s crazy. He’s fabulous with my children and our other dog, friendly on walks with all animals he meets but I never forget that if he chose to bite it would be deadly. It’s about respecting the breed, ensuring it’s under control and never leaving children alone with any dog (treat my wee cocker spaniel exactly the same).

I trusted him 100% with everyone.

No animal should be trusted 100% of the time with everyone, especially with vulnerable small children and babies, who cannot easily get themselves out of a situation.

I find this phrase really worrying for any pet owner to say. No animal can be trusted all of the time, in all situations.

And bulldogs (NOT XL Bullies) are absolutely excellent with children, as are Staffies as they have a naturally very patient temperament.

Well you can’t really compare guns to dogs.
Im just saying that any large breed ( or even small breed dog) in the wrong hands is a threat. It’s about time the humans that are responsible for them are given more restrictions and take more responsibility for them.
We have already banned several breeds and fatal attacks still happen- it’s about time we started digging a bit deeper imo

Just up the road from were I live there's cane corsos mixed with pit. The owners know that they can't have any incidents or complaints, so actually look after them and exercise them sensibly. At least what's being proposed will get the dogs welfare thought about. If you are a dog person, you'd no more want the slaughter in the streets of these dogs when they've attacked. Or the necessary attacks in them if they bite. The picture of the toddler standing in between the dogs who killed Ian Price, is bloody scary. Manslaughter charges are appropriate. I don't think that posters realise that the dogs will still be about, just neutered. So it will take ten years to be free of the breed.

They don't pose the same threat. I could pick up my GS. Rottweilers are similar to cows, there's a point on their head that can be hit with a hammer and they'll go out cold. Then there's the viciousness. The XL Bully doesn't respond to the owner once they've gone into attack mode. There's a disconnect in them that is very rare to find in other breeds. Terriers have a similar thing but their pick up and shake gives time to distract and the jaw shape/grip means that they haven't instantly killed. There the lack of warning with the XL Bully as well.