To have xl bully stay

[Worndownbyit]

My daughter has 2 dogs, one of which is an xl bully she has recently taken on. Personally I don't mind the xl, but I've grown up with animals, my husband hates the dog and has said that he doesn't want the dog coming when she comes to visit with our grandchildren.
I know this is going to cause a row and my daughter is likely to say she won't come down...(she lives at the opposite end of the country)
AIBU to tell her she can't bring the xl when she comes to visit or should my husband just suck it up?

Please listen. Having worked in canine welfare, I can guarantee you that there are some extremely honest and ethical people who genuinely have to surrender their dog and it will have no problems or issues. BUT, more often than not, those who are doing so are doing it because it HAS got issues and they are either not totally honest about them or downright lying. Your husband is being the sensible one here.

I'm a dog-lover, but I'd neve allow an XL bully in my home. I'd be very worried about the safety of your grandchildren in their own home, as well, but obviously you can't control your daughter's choices.

If it makes the conversation less awkward, I'd ban all visiting dogs, but the honest truth would be that the breed is the problem, in this case. I just don't feel comfortable with those dogs in my home. I'd feel the same about any large breed frequently associated with serious, life-threatening attacks on humans.

And if an XL bully bit your face. How would that have gone?

Granted, they are not a breed. They are muts. No doubt, too, many of them will never 'turn' during the whole course of their lives.

But they are reactive. They only have to get it wrong once. And if they do, the damage they are capable of inflicting comes significantly down on the side of risk as opposed to benefit.

No way on earth would I allow one on these things near me if I could help it, much less staying under my roof. They are dangerous.

@zusje I'm not a dog expert by any means but I understand that certain breeds have certain genetic traits , so sheepdogs herd , even if they haven't been raised with sheep, lurchers chase etc . Do you think that bully breeds are the same but with aggression being their trait or is this not the case because they are cross breeds . Would a pedigree pit bull be genetically aggressive ? I haven't explained it very well but I hope you get the gist.

I think the point of the post is getting a bit lost here.
Whether they are big softies or vicious killers is not even the point.

He doesn't want it in his house, full stop

Is it just a coincidence that '2' posters who are vehemently defending these dangerous dogs have used the exact same phrase to describe the dogs?

That does not look like a lab to me.

I agree with your husband also why your daughter would want to take on such a large dog,when she hasn't had it from a puppy, so does not know all its background and she has small children is beyond me.
I'd be having strong words with her if she was my daughter.

“It’s not based on facts.Its based on media hype”.
What are you talking about….so all these attacks on humans and other dogs have just been invented. Not based on facts you say…next you will be coming out with that other little beaut these breed apologists come out with “educate yourself “ PMSL.

She should claim the £200 for having it PTS, XLs around bullies, mine's lovely, until it isn't. I don't get why anyone wants one.

I agree with your husband.

@caringcarer he is a lab x bull.
Classed as type and he’s safe

Did you miss the part where the dog is exempted? You can’t claim £200 🤔

I have read the guidance as well as Defra's gudance and have attended a remote meeting from my company with guidance/advise and discussion about our concerns following this new legislation. You seem to try and imply I'm lying about being a veterinarian, and I'm not quite sure why? Are you a veterinary professional that disagrees with what I'm saying? It's ok if you are, I just don't get the tone/hostility from your post.

I personally disagree that I need fewer staff to deal with smaller breeds, personally I'm far more likely to require the nurse's assistance with a small breed dog (or a cat) than a large breed dog, but that might just be my personal experience and the fact I'm known to be taking more risks with my personal safety that I probably should (still got all 10 toes and fingers though!). Or perhaps the fact that we are more likely to take precautions sooner with a larger breed (or the owner will by bring the dog in muzzled or requesting one before the exam starts). Also, I really find your comment about how I don't value the safety of my staff (or the implication at least) quite aggressive and offensive, unless we've worked together and I intentionally allowed a dog to cause you harm I'll let my tons of previous colleagues vouch for me and my ability to do my job safely, correctly and with compassion for both animal, owner and colleagues. Again I have no way to prove this to you, so I suppose you're just gonna have to take me at my word...or not.

When it comes to "99% of personnel", it's obviously a hyperbole, but I can honestly say that having talked to many different veterinary professionals (from reception to clinical directors and heads of wellfare for major coorporates) I haven't found one that confidently and with absolute conviction has said they think the ban is a good idea or they are in support of it. While a lot of us do get and agree with some of the points the pro-ban camp makes regarding the increased number of attacks and the dangerousness of these dogs if uncontrolled (statistics rarely lie after all) the law as it exists has many major flaws, (ie the enforced castration at a young age of an already reactive/fear aggressive dog that is far more likely to make it dangerous based on current behaviourist advice regarding the castration of reactive/anxious dogs) and the fact we have to keep banning a new breed every few years, to me, proves the problem isn't going away with dog breed bans and a more serious and well thought out solution needs to be found. But we can agree to disagree if you feel differently, I will now stop derailing the OP's post.

I wouldn't allow one of those dogs in my house. I think people are really cheeky if they expect this type of dog to stay. They have been labelled a dangerous breed. No wonder folk do not want to entertain them.

Purchase a large dog cage in case the dog comes to visit unexpectantly. Dog has to wear muzzle and lead, to and fro, the cage.
Does the dog wear a muzzle?

Say, 'No, Daddy will not abide the new dog, you'll have to leave it in a doggie motel, either here or near your place.'

If your daughter chooses not to visit, it is her children and you who suffer and she is putting a dangerous dog above the welfare of her family.

He’s safe. But what about the child who annoys him? Are they safe?

@Allthegoodnamesarechosen that applies to any breed of dog.

I get what you are trying to say and I'm going to be honest and say that I'm not a behaviourist (but do have an interest in behaviour) nor a genealogist so it would be difficult for me to answer this with 100% conviction as I honestly don't feel I know enough regarding genetics in specific breeds. I do think they are dogs with a strong sense of protection (owner, property, self?) and also less likely to be able to be controlled once in attack mode (also due to size/strenght)

My personal view is that a large, strong dog is not more likely to be aggressive than a small dog (as I've said before in the thread, in my experience I find the opposite, but again this is personal experience and opnion), the thing is if a GSD, a Rottweiler, a Great Dane, an XL Bully etc goes for you, you're in trouble. And hence the need to breed carefully (and being done by reputable breeders who should show they have an understanding of the breed they are trying to breed, a breeder's license if you wll) and with behaviour in mind (do not breed from parents who are known to be reactive/anxious or too young to be able to assess behaviour/character, same way you shouldn't be breeding from dogs with know hip dysplasia/hernias/cryptorhidism and other unwanted characteristics that can affect health, both emotional and physical of the animal) and have stricter rules/regulations about who can own the breed and make certain things mandatory for pet ownership in general but larger breed dog ownership in partcular (ie muzzle training, third liability insurance, lead training and strong recall training, secure fencing etc, again an owners bootcamp if you will where you have to show an understanding of the breed you are taking on and how to safely handle it).

You have to take multiple lessons to be able to drive a car or use certain power tools but everyone can go out and buy a 40+kg dog with no restriction and no way to control if there have been issues before (neglect, backyard breeding, aggressive dog ownership etc). That is my own personal opinion and in my view a much more effective way to control problem dogs (but also nothing will ever be 100% safe and that's something we need to keep in mind as well when choosing a breed, they are animals at the end of the day, no matter how well trained they can always react unexpectadly for various reasons and that should be taken into account when deciding to share your life and home with any animal, ok maybe not fish).

That would be a firm NO!

I grew up with dogs - we bred and trained working Labradors and Spaniels (I 'worked' with the puppies from the age of about four and this was used as a testimony as to how family friendly our dogs were!).

We also regularly boarded working and former police dogs, including German Shepherds, Dobermans and Rottweilers, so I am very used to large breeds.

Our next door neighbours were sheep farmers, so there were Border Collies around most of the time.

However, I would sooner remove my own eyes with a spoon than have a bull breed in my house or around children or smaller animals.

Yes, some bull breeds are lovely, blah blah, but one of the big issues is that they aren't very bright: this means they aren't very trainable, unlike GAs/Dobermans etc, which are bred for intelligence and bidability.

(Incidentally, I'm not a fan of Dalmatians, either: skittish, strong and bred to bite.)

@zusje thank you , my friend has a tiny chihuahua and I'm scared of him ! You can be stroking him one minute and then he'll suddenly growl and go for you , obviously he doesn't do much damage but he's very unpredictable.

How despise the "my yorky (insert small dog breed of choice) is more vicious than my pet lion who is just a big fluff ball" brigade.

How difficult is it to understand that it's the damage a dog can do that's the issue.
How many shall dogs can kill an adult man?
Seriously.

For all of you wailing “ I would never” I can only assume you don’t live with a man? Because, statistically, you, and any children you have, regardless of gender, are far, far more likely to be killed or injured by the man in your house, than by a dog, of any breed. That is a fact, which ever way you might want to slice it.
Thousands of dogs will die tomorrow, for nothing. I am ashamed of my species.