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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Worried about this XL bully

154 replies

brookie26 · 29/09/2023 16:18

We often park our car the back of our house rather than the front as we live on a busy lane. This means our back door is basically our front and we leave through the back majority of the time.

Anyway, today I was leaving my house to pick DC up. There are 2 women walking with an XL bully off the lead. The dog wasn't displaying any aggressive behaviour but I was still really cautious and got in my car quickly.

It turns out the dog lives on the street behind us as it entered via a back gate a few doors down at the bottom of our backstreet.

What worries me is the fact I have a 4 year old who will often run off as soon as we leave the house. I'm forever telling him not to run off in case of cars coming etc but he doesn't listen. I would hate for us to be leaving the house and the dog be there again, off the lead.

Am I worrying about nothing here?

OP posts:
Richvanilla · 29/09/2023 16:20

Yes. By your own admission, you were worried about a dog minding it's own business in your vague vicinity. You are being ridiculous.

mintich · 29/09/2023 16:21

I'd be worried too! No dog should be walking in the street off the lead, but especially not an XL Bully. If I owned one, I'd be making an effort to show it was under control. How can you control it when it's off a lead?

Pinkandredrose · 29/09/2023 16:22

It should be on a lead at least. Can’t wait for them to have to be on a lead and muzzled when in public

Cowlover89 · 29/09/2023 16:22

You're being ridiculous

Moveoverdarlin · 29/09/2023 16:22

I would also be worried about living anywhere near one. You are definitely not being ridiculous.

Original poster
brookie26 · 29/09/2023 16:22

@Richvanilla It wouldn't bother me as much if it was any other breed of dog, but given everything in the news lately and the fact it was off a lead did make me cautious. I have young DC to think about, if the dog got hold of my son he wouldn't stand a chance

OP posts:
35965a · 29/09/2023 16:23

I really dislike dogs being off the lead too, especially XL bullies. But as you say, it was minding its own business and you can’t control other random people - you can control your son though, so if he runs off hold his hand every single time you leave the house.

BennyBlancofromtheBronx · 29/09/2023 16:23

Your kid is more likely to be hit by a car.

YourNameGoesHere · 29/09/2023 16:23

It seems daft to me that you're more worried about the dog who by your own admission was doing nothing untoward than the cars which are very likely to hurt or even kill your child.

You need to concentrate on getting your 4 year old to not run off into the lane more than you do about the dog.

Original poster
brookie26 · 29/09/2023 16:24

There's also 2 primary schools in close proximity to my house. I just don't agree that it should be off the lead when there's kids about. No way the owners would be able to do anything if it lost control

OP posts:
CalistoNoSolo · 29/09/2023 16:25

Your son is four. Why can't you stop him running off by holding his hand? Or using reins?

Richvanilla · 29/09/2023 16:25

We have two tiny dogs and there are dozens of XL Bullies, generally off lead near us and whilst I am more cautious and aware of my surroundings, I wouldn't work myself up into a frenzy about 1 singular, seemingly well behaved dog nearby.

Original poster
brookie26 · 29/09/2023 16:25

@YourNameGoesHere Not as easy as that unfortunately. My son is autistic and it is a struggle to get him to understand danger. Where I can I hold his hand to guide him into the car but even doing this, the dog could potentially still get to him/us anyway.

OP posts:
ExtraOnions · 29/09/2023 16:25

Yea, it should be on a lead … and yes it is ok (and wise) to be cautions of a breed that is highly represented in fatal attacks.

The “doggo / fur baby / it’s not the breed it’s the owner” types will be along shortly, to tell you that you should be honoured that the dog wants to share the same space. Once the legislation is in place, if you see it off the lead, get it reported.

TomatoSandwiches · 29/09/2023 16:26

You need to worry about making sure your 4yr old is behaving appropriately around the roads more than this dog.
I would concentrate on teaching your DC road safety rules.

Original poster
brookie26 · 29/09/2023 16:26

@Richvanilla But yes they can be seemingly well behaved, doesn't mean that they can't turn at any time and become aggressive, especially towards strangers

OP posts:
Original poster
brookie26 · 29/09/2023 16:26

@TomatoSandwiches Please see my reply above

OP posts:
BoohooWoohoo · 29/09/2023 16:27

Yanbu

My kids are much older and I'd be concerned too. I hope that the new rules are enforced and not just lip service.

TomatoSandwiches · 29/09/2023 16:27

@brookie26 my own son has ASD and no safety awareness, we use harnesses or a specialist pushchair.

LolaJ87 · 29/09/2023 16:28

You're overreacting as a result of the news frenzy about bullies. This dog SHOULD have been on a lead (I think all dogs in busy areas should be) but from the sounds of things this dog was well-behaved and controlled.

It's easy to get carried away with media hype but this is really a non-issue. Nothing happened. Nothing even almost happened.

YourNameGoesHere · 29/09/2023 16:28

brookie26 · 29/09/2023 16:25

@YourNameGoesHere Not as easy as that unfortunately. My son is autistic and it is a struggle to get him to understand danger. Where I can I hold his hand to guide him into the car but even doing this, the dog could potentially still get to him/us anyway.

Honestly the fact he's autistic and impulsive is even more reason to get on top of it.

Stuff the dog honestly he's so much more likely to be hit by a car if he's blindly running where there are cars.

Travelfan2021 · 29/09/2023 16:28

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

Original poster
brookie26 · 29/09/2023 16:28

@TomatoSandwiches Wouldn't see the point of using a harness just to walk a few steps to the car. Plus we've tried them in the past and he hates them.

The problem is the owners of dangerous dogs not leashing their dog

OP posts:
Travelfan2021 · 29/09/2023 16:30

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

Original poster
brookie26 · 29/09/2023 16:30

For references DS doesnt run into the road anywhere else, for some reason he just likes to do it when we leave our back gate. Anywhere else he is either in a buggy or a trolley when we walk round shops etc

OP posts: