To think this just sums up XL Bully owners?

[Ozarkz]

Look North last night. Peter Levy is interviewing a woman who owns two XL Bullys. Both cropped and docked which she says happened in another country before she got them (yeah, course it did).

Peter asks her “so why do people want these dogs in the first place, what’s the attraction for you?”

She replies “well I wanted dogs that were good with kids and famines and stuff so we got XL Bully’s cos they’re great with kids”

Wtf? If I didn’t know better I’d swear this was a spoof interview. Good with kids and families?? These dogs have been responsible for the most human deaths in dog attacks in the UK in recent years!!! Just last week an 11 year CHILD was attacked by one of these dogs … so when looking for a child friendly dog she bypasses the golden retriever etc and goes for the breed with the biggest track record of killing humans …

He then asked her if she will comply with the muzzle when the laws are changed - she said NO.

Then the cherry on the cake … he asked her “would you leave your child alone with these dogs?” And she said “yes, absolutely. I leave my two year old alone with them all the time whilst I’m busy making dinner etc”

Honestly the interview couldn’t have been any more gobsmacking.

This just sums up XL bully owners doesn’t it? Thick as pig shit with no regard to their own safety or the safety of others.

It’s usually children, often babies.
I assume they think it’s some sort of animal.

I've just checked the UK stats and it's hardly the regular occurence you describe. One case with just a Jack Russell, one in conjuction with a Staffie and one a Jack Russell cross. Last incident was 2012.

I work at a vets, in an 'interesting' area, and I see a lot of XL bully's, as well as every other breed.

I see owners who definitely perpetuate the stereotype in the OP. I see owners who do not relate to this stereotype at all.

Of all the dogs I have to be wary of, when they are brought in (and some we are instructed NOT to go out from behind the counter because the dog is so reactive and aggressive) I genuinely cannot think of one of our XL bully's who is like this. We have some that have to be given sedation before they come in, and wear a muzzle - we have that across the board for all breeds - from chihuahuas up.

The ones that are most reactive with other dogs are not the XL bully's.

They are extremely powerful dogs, and if they go off, it is not going to be pretty. I get that. I get frustrated with owners who have dogs they can barely maintain control of when the dog is calm - it's ridiculous. I see so many with labradors, german shepherds, Viszlas, etc, like this. And yes, XL bully's. But somehow, far less of the XL bully's, who tend to be some of the more placid of the bunch!

Anyway, I know this isn't going to make any difference, or change anyone's mind. But I do hate to see good dogs, and good owners (and there are good XL bully's, and good XL bully owners), demonised.

She shouldn't be responsible for a child yet we allow such lowlifes to breed.

Best and most intelligent and accurate comment on this thread.

@WillowCraft I could, but without the dogs they'd still be in house looking for them.

Though I accept that most dogs are a good deterrent.

I'm not denying the breed have a terrible name due to a certain type of owner. But it's sad imo, because with the right owners they are wonderful dogs. I know at least 6 other middle age professional women who own a similar breed and all of them responsible.

People are overlooking that every dog that has achieved this status previously, just as now is the 'it' dog fir a certain type of person who then create the issue with their behaviour.

Aw, I like him. His Wikipedia page seems to regularly get japed though - references to him being a keen collector of vintage underwear and that he has dated Carol Vorderman etc. It currently says that he likes bodysurfing.

The short version - she's a simpleton.

OP how can you judge someone for getting an XL bully when you have a Doberman.

A Doberman has a similar bite force as an American pit bull.
And they’re obviously very strong and powerful.

This is why they were seen as status dogs and used as guard dogs to scare people off.

Obviously now they’ve gone out of fashion you don’t hear of how dangerous they are any more.

Less people are attacked/killed by them, not because they’ve changed their temperament or bite force but because they’re not seen as cool and therefore not as many idiots are getting them.

I actually love Dobermans and XL bullies but many people my age and older would judge you in exactly the same way walking a Doberman as if you were an XL bully.

Tiny little woman at my dog training had a rhodesian ridgeback, up to her armpit. Ruined the class as it was prone to barking madly at the other dogs and she couldn't hold it. Why would she own that breed? Same with xl bullies. They don't just want a soppy dog. There is some weird power motive at play.
Agree, thick as pigshit move when it comes to understanding the role genetics play in dog behaviour or even what a dog IS. Accountant colleague may be good at maths but doesn't make him smart about dogs.

@Ozarkz she is our third. Rehomed as the previous owners 'had no time' she is the best dog ever. But strong and needs some lead education. She runs all day on our farm. I'm a professional, no face tattoos 🤣

The person that had her before us also had XL bullies. Pics of newborn baby sat with the dog on the sofa. She'd bred litters from our girl and then handed her off. No vaccines. No chip. She's in her forever home now.

She is a strong dog. I put a harness on and a collar so she has double leads. I won't ever let her off the lead. She runs free at home. I would be happy to put a muzzle on her if told to on walks but it would make me sad not to see her enjoying the sights and sounds.

She is due to be spayed soon as she does not need to have any more babies and I don't want them falling into the wrong hands or passed around. That's the risk.

Yeh I completely get what you’re saying. My point is that from birth, these dogs were all capable of being normal, functioning, non violent dogs that don’t kill people. But their breed characteristics in combination with the types of people who generally (and that is a generalisation- not all) want these dogs make them sadly more liable to be in this situation.
I don’t object to the measures being put in place, it’s safer for everyone and the dogs.

They can be sharp and they can bite, but how many people have been killed by collies? Genuine question - there's loads of collies and collie crosses around, but I don't recall them ever being in the press for killing anyone, or for savagely attacking and killing other dogs.

I find your statement offensive and ignorant

What about a law saying you can't own a dog you aren't physically strong enough to hang onto?

I mean, there are some soppy lions out there who are bonded with humans. Still no good having one on a lead down the park.

Look at that, you very nearly came up with a sensible, well thought out post.

Just let yourself down at the end, there.

Put me up against the aggressive collie any day over one of these massive things. Might as well go for a stroll in a lion enclosure, don’t stand a chance if they turn.

Again, even when Dobermanns were at the height of popularity- deaths by them were extremely rare. A Dobermann is not bread to fight. It is bred to guard, but not fight. Big difference.

i know, couldn’t help myself.

Im rather passionate about this

Sensible xl bully owners will have to take the hit for the stupid ones. Might not be fair but that’s life, there are a lot of things we can’t all do because some idiot took it too far.

What happens to the dogs already in circulation if a ban is implemented?

I still get moments of rage thinking back to when my neighbours off leash dog tried to jump on me the second day in a row in our apartment building.

I said to the owner please make sure your dog doesn’t jump on me again (it had jumped on me and scratched me the day before).

She gestured to the parcels in her hands and shrugged and said she can’t help it ie. Essentially she was saying she can’t hold her dog as her hands were full and it clearly had no recall.

The fact she basically admitted her dog was out of control and she didn’t have intend on getting control over it was absolutely wild.

Imagine if her dog had tried to bite me?!
I reported it to the housing management and thankfully they issued a notice to her and all dog owners about keeping their dog on a leash within the flat building. A few days later a dog pissed in the lift - it wasn’t even the same dog. But they had to issue out another warning to dog owners then too.

I have to say I don’t think much of the housing manager for allowing residents in the third floor of a flat to own dogs and then not bothering to issue guidelines to dog owners.

The problem in this country is they’re too reactive, they wait for someone to be injured or complain before they do something.

I rehomed one from a charity when she was 6 months old (previously only rehomed Staffie’s). She’s great on the farm around all live stock, including chickens and horses (just to give a little and large scale) and gets on great with other dogs.
I mention staffie’s as they were often the offensive breed before XL bully’s.
We had Dobermans growing up.. the offensive breed before them.
I never leave any dog unattended around children but I just wanted to point out, when are we going to start blaming the owners instead of the breed?
We would never blame a child for being fostered/put in to care.. that stops with the parents so what’s different?
Obviously I don’t agree with the excessive breeding of any animal (hence I always rehome) but honestly, like with most things, humans are to blame. Totally.

Absolute arsehole

Dobermann’s are great dogs but they do need careful handling. I wouldn’t leave any dog alone with kids (no matter what breed).

my Dobermann is never off lead in public, she’s double leaded in case one fails (one to a collar and one to a harness) and she’s muzzle trained. She’s also spayed as I’m not knowledgable enough to breed and my dog isn’t the best example of the breed bless her.

I wouldn’t have another Dobermann after this one, after the whole XL thing I wouldn’t ever get another big guarding breed. Golden retriever for me next time!

List of fatalities by breed.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofffataldoggattacksinntheUniteddKingdom

Read the right hand column also for full context