Xl bullies

[StrangerThings1992]

Let me start by saying I don't think all these type of dogs are bad but I do have massive anxiety over them, especially when a fatal attack is in the news. I was diagnosed with OCD and GAD so I do tend to obsess over things and catastrophise everything but, everytime I'm out lately I seem to be on the alert thinking an off leash one is going to come and maul my kids and how powerless I would be to stop it.
I like dogs in general but I just feel so uneasy if I ever see one out and I'm with my kids. Even if it's on a lead it still makes me feel sick. I realise this may be an over reaction but I can't help it.
I even stopped my 9 year old going to her best friends house because they got one of these dogs. She works all the time so it's left alone most the day and I felt like she wasn't safe so she's no longer allowed there.

If there's any dog experts here, what would be the best way to protect yourself and your child if this situation did happen?

I share your concerns, OP.

And I'm amazed at how popular they are.

Several of the children in my class have dogs. And the majority of them have these! They all have aggressive names (eg Thug) and the kids talk proudly about how their parents got them because of the aggressive image they have too. Some have more than one. It's literally mind-boggling.

I wouldn't go to a house with one. I certainly wouldn't want my kids near one. It's not a function of your anxiety. It's normal and a rational fear.

I saw a girl who couldn't have been more than 8 walking an enormous, unmuzzled XL Bully today. I just can't understand how any parent could be so fucking stupid as to encourage or allow that. It's criminal stupidity. What exactly is going to happen when that thing almost inevitably loses its shit? A couple a few weeks ago had one go bounding off its lead into a maze that a lot of local kids at our park like to play in. Again, what the fuck would have happened if it got aggressive in there? I couldn't believe it, and the besotted "dog parents" were beaming like absolute idiots at how supposedly adorable it was. I just honestly feel nothing but contempt for these people, and a fair amount of fear for my own safety and that of my family knowing they walk among us.

Every owner of these things should be properly criminally liable for any damage they cause. Like, if the dog kills somebody it should be a manslaughter charge not a slap on the wrist.

Not allowing your DC to go to a house where there’s an XL Bully is responsible parenting. In accordance with the law the dogs aren’t required to be muzzled within their own home so if the owner complies with all aspects of the legislation then seeing the dog in its home is where anyone is most vulnerable.

Ugh I am so worried about these dogs, one of our neighbour’s has one and walks it off lead every day with a can of beer in his hand. The dog weighs about 50 kg and it’s chest is broader than mine, the day it decides to turn, there’s literally nothing he will be able to do about it, I avoid them like the plague so no you’re not being unreasonable with this

Yanbu and I don't think it's your GAD or OCD! It's just a completely normal response to seeing so many people losing their lives to those things. I'm baffled by the people who defend their right to own an absolute weapon of an animal. A child local to us was left with such horrific injuries from an XL bully I don't even want to describe them.
The problem is now with the ban, people have moved onto Cane Corsos. Funny how it's always got to be a big intimidating looking breed isn't it..

”…I don't think all these type of dogs are bad…”

Yes they are - they are a horror movie on legs. But you are right to keep your DC well away.

I had to look up Cane Corso. Bloody hell. I'm sure there's someone near us that has one of them, it's never on a lead and not muzzled either. I struggle to tell the difference between XL bully type dogs and other large pit bulls. Basically none of them are muzzled round here.

I thought I was the only one who felt like this, clearly not! If I happen to read about an XL bully attack whilst I'm scrolling my phone at night, I end up lying awake thinking all the thoughts you've described and imagine coming across a loose one whilst out with my children and it terrifies me! During the day it doesn't take much of my thoughts but I must admit if I saw one I would definitely give it a wide birth... and I have a 'scary' German shepherd , been around rotties , staffys.
but these dogs are something else!

I would also be the same as you as not let one of my children in a house with one, friends or not. Like a PP said would rather be seen as a weirdo and have DC in one piece!

Wish they didn't exist , hate them !

You're asking for help with your fears, but they're all completely rational.

If you were fixated on germs and washing your hands, avoiding leaving the house etc there could be steps to reduce your anxiety, but honestly, a fear of XL Bulldogs seems legit.

Any family leaving one alone all day is storing up trouble (as well as being borderline animal abusers).

I've had many bullmastiffs and even to me these XL bullies are terryfying. . I met one on a walk and my god it had a head the size of a washing machine and was just solid muscle . If it went rogue there would be no-one capable of controlling it .

I work in a pretty rough area of a local town (industrial estate backing onto very old and run down council housing) and one of the houses has got an XL bully that's just had 6 pups. Owner clearly has no respect for the new laws. They have a low chain fence around the garden and it's always getting out. I've reported it to the council, RSPCA and the Police repeatedly but nothing ever happens. We have a fire escape that is left open during the day for ventilation but we've had to have a metal grille installed over it as this dog is too dangerous to take any chances with. The worst part is that there are 2 toddlers in the house

The town has a huge population of them, always off lead and never muzzled. The issue is that you can't enforce laws onto the lawless, and sadly in the main that's who own these dogs.

Yep another vile breed.

In my ideal world bull breeds just wouldn't exist in any form and yes I will put the Staffordshire Bull Terrier in there too. Even Jack Russel Terriers can be aggressive little shits.

Mastiffs wouldn't exist either.

You have absolutely minimal chance of this working. The Limerick case yesterday there were a number of adults on the scene within minutes, including police. A fit 23 year old adult is dead. Not a child, not an old person, a strong adult women who lived with the dog and 3 others. Nobody could actually stop it killing her.
We have absolutely no real understanding of animal instinct and fighting triggers of dogs and it's really entitled to think we can understand animal instincts. All we can know is the evidence that we see. The evidence is that there is a high probability that something will trigger this breed of dog at some stage to act extremely aggressively, irrespective of how well it is looked after or 'understood' by it's owner. It's build and strength mean that when it does there is a very serious risk to human life. Literally anything else that poses this risk to members of the public would be banned. Time to stop the excuses and ban them completely. Absolutely no excuses left now.

I always carry a cheap scent spray ie Impulse. Any aggression and I'll attempt to spray in a dogs face.

Absolutely feel the same way

The one in Limerick was shot. That's how a group of fit male adults managed to stop it killing more people than the one it had already killed. So anything about spreading its legs, poking it in the eye, strangling it, just isn't on as an option. There was one where it didn't stop ripping a child to shreds even as an adult male crushed its skull with a concrete block. That's instinct for you.

I thought so before I got my cats, and understand now how innocent these dogs are and how valuable their lives are. There isn't an easy answer

These dogs are bred for game. That means attack and hang on in the face of anything thrown at it. It doesn’t matter what you do, short of killing it, you’re not getting it off. No
spray or choking it (they hardly even have necks to choke) will work.

I work with dogs, mostly dangerous dogs. These hideous things (and many other bull breeds) can’t die out fast enough. If I see I have to work with one my stomach sinks every single time.

Our village FB page recently - a woman on there was mithering about how many people seem to cross the road or pull their dogs away from her 'soft as butter' XL. Even when muzzled.

Then came photos of the dog in her house with the cat and the kids ect. Then with the muzzle on looking all sad 🙄

102 replies - A HUNDRED AND TWO - all saying ooooh she's so lovely how awful to have to muzzle that lovely face, i'd happily walk with her, i'd happily pat her and let my kids pat her and how bad is the law making this fuss and we all know which are the bad owners and you aren't, and these dogs are just big softies, and what's the drama for, ect ect ect.

I was disappointed and rather sad that the IQ of so many of my fellow villagers is obviously a lot lower than average ! 😔

I would never let my child go to such a house, either, whether the owner was there or not. If not there, it's an insane idea.

Dd also had a friend with one and she’s not allowed to her house. These dogs could rip your throat out. I don’t think I’m over reacting

I don't think I had ever heard of XL bullies before they started killing people a few years ago, but no way would I let my DD visit a house with one. I'm not sure I've ever seen one out and about tbh. My friend does have a staffie who is absolutely lovely

Could you elaborate a bit?

I like dogs well enough, find many breeds interesting or impressive to look at, but also have a fundamental mistrust of any dog big enough that controlling it if it flipped out would be an issue.

Wouldn’t personally own anything more than bichon size and absolutely would not allow my child in a home which had an xl bully in it. Not a chance. They are not a breed I find appealing or impressive in any way shape or form. They should be culled.

I mean I have a better understanding of animals, and have more compassion for them now I have my own pets