Would you be comfortable leaving near multiple XL bullies?

[BlackFriYay]

I live on the edge of a large estate and see three of them often. Two are owned by a young couple, they have shit recall and don't listen. They are often off lead running around by the newsagents (why would a young man spend much time hanging about near a newsagents, I wonder..)

The other one is also owned by a young man, early to mid 20's and clearly not big nor strong enough to control it. He's smaller than me.

It spooked us the other week as it stopped dead in it's tracks and stared when it clocked me crossing the road with my 5 year old. DS is autistic and scared of dogs. He was chased in the park last year and has never forgotten about it so can get quite stressed by approaching dogs, let alone ones that look like that.

Would you feel comfortable living close to these dogs or is my worry about my DC clouding my judgement?

It would worry me. Not massively as the odds of something happening to you or your son are still very low. But I catastrophise and find all possible things to panic about. So yes, I would worry. And I'd definitely avoid the newsagent.

I’d be comfortable. Many on here wouldn’t

Would not bother me but I would not letting a child anywhere near them. The ones with the off lead ones will have to legally muzzle them and keep them on a short lead when the ban comes in.

No I would not be happy at all. I’d be fucking terrified (Even more so if I didn’t have a vehicle). You’re probably going to get owners of dangerous dogs coming on and giving you shitty replies but just ignore it.
Personally I’d be finding a way to move. The law hasn’t changed yet and sadly, there’s nothing to effectively protect the public. When people are attacked/killed, still nothing is done and the ne’er do wells still try saying “but, but, it’s the owners not the dogs” despite Veterinary Professors having PROVEN that certain breeds carry certain traits & tendancies within their DNA (Like Collies are naturally great at being Sheepdogs & Labs at being Guide Dogs - it’s in their DNA).

There’s nothing else you can do to protect yourselves. Nothing. Even grown men have been killed by them.

Many won’t though and unless they’re spotted by an Officer, there’s no way of enforcing it. If I called the Police the call handler will just say there’s nothing they can do.

I’d hate it. I’ve got a dog and he’s quite anxious, but he will often bark or attract attention and I can imagine he will easily p off a Bully XL. I worry more about him than myself. I’m fairly good with dogs, usually have treats in my pocket but not sure that all save me!

Out of interest how do you know they are XL bully? I keep seeing dogs I think could be XL bully but I'm never sure. I think any dog that could over power its owner (i.e the owner could not physically restrain if necessary) and displayed aggressive behaviour would put me on edge. From your post I can't tell if the dogs you're concerned about seem aggressive or are just badly trained.

I don't think the young couple are the sort of people to abide by the regulations when they come in unfortunately, so it's a case of waiting until it becomes illegal not to muzzle or leash them and then reporting - or until somebody gets hurt, whatever comes first.

Moving won't be an option for quite some time. We've lived here less than a year.

As PP said, if something happens I've got no chance of fending them off. We can't even buy pepper spray as a deterrent.

I mean it doesn’t sound great - if you can time your journeys/routes to avoid them, cross the street etc that’s a good idea. I was attacked by a leashed dog (ok not a bully but similar fighting dog vibe with an asshole incompetent owner) on my way to school as a teenager. I had already researched what to do because I didn’t trust the dog or the owner - I punched it in the face several times, which worked to stun it briefly while I then made a run for it. I felt sorry for the dog because it’s not it’s fault but what else was I supposed to do? The owner was kind of ‘apologetic’ and would actually make an effort to move away from me and my sister when we walked, which I was grateful for. I’m super wary to this day and keep my children close by, fists and legs ready when we pass any suspicious dog and we will also move to a safe distance. The kids know what to do as well, and would just get away while I deal.

It’s so difficult because you just never know… I recommend looking up what to do to make yourself feel and look more confident and although it’s annoying,
avoid the dogs/owners where possible. Do they seem like they would be open to working with you to avoid eachother/crossing the street etc?

i’d buy pepper spray anyway. i hate big dogs nevermind xl bullies. i live opposite a massive german shepherd who’s always jumping at the fence and barking when i come out and i absolutely hate it

I'm as sure as I can be in the absence of an official assessment. I've done alot of reading and alot of watching since I noticed them in the area - but you are right, it's hard to be certain.

The first two belonging to the couple are definitely poorly trained, not sure about aggressive as I haven't seen anything to suggest it at this point, it's just what they're capable of that worries me.

The lone one being walked by the owner is intimidating. It stops in its tracks and glares at you as if it's protecting it's territory. I know plenty of dogs are curious and glance at people but this is different, it's unnerving.

No I wouldn’t and TBH I’d revel in reporting them when the new laws come into force.

YANBU OP.

I saw one in the park a couple of weeks ago and it scared the life out of me when I realised what was standing four feet away. Toddler DD looked so little and... breakable as we passed it.

I think any responsible owners who bought one and didn't realise how dangerous they were would be muzzling them now they know from all the news coverage of deaths, imminent law change etc. The fact they need a law to make them do it says it all. And the fact their first response is "my XL bully would never, he's such a sweetheart, look at him shoved next to my toddler looking awful" instead of, "Oh shite, let's sort this out properly with training and a muzzle and such."

I mean to be fair anyone who looks at one and doesn't think, "Jesus that's a fecking bastard of an animal, I don't want one of those in my house, it might eat me if we run out of squeaky toys!" is beyond me. It's like those people who buy those stupid gigantic snakes. Just pointless.

Why can’t you buy pepper spray?

You live near large untrained dogs and may need to defend yourself.

Isn’t Pepper Spray considered a weapon?!

I would be terrified to walk past them and not just that breed but others as well. In fact, any large dog not on a lead would horrify me as I have been chased by one before. It was more than 30 years ago but I have never forgotten it.

Pepper spray isn't illegal, surely?

Report to the dog warden

i saw an xl in town with a man it seemed to be well trained to a point
sitting at rd crossing he was giving it instructions to sit and wait it followed them all
but when it set off he wasn’t a massive lad but the dog was pulling him and he was leaning back with his body weight to hold it back if it took off he’d have no chance

I’m guessing it was training in progress as the man was at all times Prompting and trying to get it to walk to heal

it was just the power of the dog that un nerved me

Urgh. They are disgusting. YANBU.

i’d rather gamble being caught with pepper spray than being attacked by a dog with no defence

These Monster dogs are a ‘weapon’.

I don't drive so we're always on foot when we see them which is shit.

I looked into the law on pepper spray and it falls under firearms, bizarrely. If being caught with it didn't run the risk of prison I'd be buying it in droves. There's literally nothing I can do is there?

I'm counting down the days until December 31st when I can report the loose ones, at least.

Edited to say; although it won't be straight forward reporting the owner as I don't know what block they live in or any of their names.

A friend of mine carries spray deodorant.

It’s not illegal to carry and trust me it hurts like a fucking b* if it gets in the eyes (I once sprayed myself in the eyes trying to stop forehead sweat when I was a teenager and v. Stupid).

I recon that’s a good alternative to pepper spray tbh

Do you live in the UK? Pepper spray is very illegal for civilians to own. It falls under firearms legislation, IIRC.

Hear me out, what if I were to carry around a bottle of mould and mildew remover? It stinks to high heaven and if you get that in your eyes you'll know about it.

Anybody who has dealt with mould will know the strength of the stuff 🤔