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've worked in welfare and I'm absolutely in agreement with you that no child should be left alone with one of these dogs. They are even
More vulnerable in the home as the dogs don't have to be muzzled.
Saying that, I wouldn't let any children of mine around another families dog, unless I knew the dog and the family personally. I would stretch that out to any rescue dog too, (especially a foreign rescue - they often have had to scavenge for food/resource guard), again unless I knew it.
Better safe than sorry.

They are a herding breed, not a fighting breed, and are protective of their families, like a German Shepherd. Both breeds are not bred to fight other dogs, or people. It's not in their DNA, but yes both are big and powerful so again could be dangerous unless supervised. Saying that. I have known a few Pugs (mainly Pug X's) in welfare, who were extremely aggressive. Difference is, they can't kill.

I’m generally a ‘Deed not Breed’ subscriber but there are several issues with this breed that concern me.

1. Many are irresponsibly bred and raised to cash in on their rise in popularity.
2. There is a relatively narrow gene pool, which is problematic in itself, and aggressive dogs are not being removed from the breeding pool for the reasons above.
3. The sheer size and power of the dogs means that when those that are aggressive do turn, the damage they cause is catastrophic.

I'm sure there are lovely examples of the breed out there, but the potential risks are too great and I wouldn’t go myself, nor let my children visit a home with one, so I think your stance is perfectly reasonable. That said, I imagine you’ll want to get a handle on the anxiety about them if it’s impacting your every day life. I won’t patronise you though, as I don’t know how to achieve that.

tillytoodles1, because they're thick !!!

HerrenaHarridan, oven cleaner spray?

dahliadraws, the trouble with legislation is that the people to whom it applies are either too thick to care or have no regard for the law anyway!!!

The XL Bullies and their owners should be euthanised !!!

They are fucking awful things. My neighbour has one and I have told him in no uncertain terms to keep it away from me and my son. My friend who is an experienced dog owner went to stroke it and it went for her. She retreated immediately. Apparently it was "only playing". This dog is around a child too. He gets very defensive when I say anything but the dog is clearly aggressive. He does at least muzzle it outside the house. I worry that there is nothing I can do about this. It's registered as it should be. However, I will do anything to avoid it.

I'm sure it's been said already but Great Danes have also killed people.

I didn't say they hadn't. Though they're generally not an aggressive breed. They are large and very powerful however. Precisely why you'll find mine is well trained, I understand control and on lead around people. I'm unsure what you point is?

This exact situation happened with my cousin's XL bully. He ran out and ripped a small dog (that was on a walk with its elderly owner) apart.
She was one of the idiots that posted those “it's not the dog it's the owner" meme's, and photos of her "harmless softie” on FB.

Clearly the new law isn't working. Therefore a more harsh rule is needed and the breed is wiped out completely.

Better to be safe than sorry. I've crossed my kids/my dog over the road when I've seen an XL coming, the owner swore at us "he's fucking friendly, for fucks sake!". Yeah mate, I won't take my chances, thanks, just to save your feelings from being hurt.

Wow what’s their problem. What do they want from people????

I have one….

Personally I would support a public register of XLBs so you can check where any live close to you, and if you want to, avoid them

I would definitely avoid passing by houses where they live, particularly with my small breed dog

You were absolutely right to not let your daughter play at a house where there’s one of these dogs! As for the anxiety, maybe consider therapy? Dogs are bloody everywhere so can’t be avoided, but you can work on your response to them? X

It should not be on the public to avoid houses/streets where dangerous animals are housed. These dogs also get walked, how to you suggest the public avoid them then?

There needs to be much much harsher restrictions and penalties on the owners of the dogs, and the costs from managing those restrictions also passed directly onto the owners, so most will consider it no longer tenable to keep them.

I would support that as well.

Personally I would prefer they didn’t exist at all, and I am cautious on walks (no longer let my dog run off his lead in the park, which is sad).

Many attacks have also happened where a dog has bolted out of a front door or back garden.

For me, knowing how many live locally and where they are based would allow for additional precautions.

Wow that’s crazy. What victim is this? Was this the woman in Limerick?

@Thesunisanorange yes. She had them on her tiktok -;/the usual survivor bias rhetoric. They are grand if you are good to them etc. the attack was videoed too by CCTV and has been circulating. Horrendous.

@Crystalball84 It’s sad she learned the hard way :/ but it’s even worse if that dog had turned on an innocent bystander in the park as opposed to someone who actively took the risk to live with these dogs. It’s obviously still sad though.

Yes that is horrific - I didn’t know the attack was on cctv.

@Thesunisanorange yes. Lucky it wasn't a child etc
Apparently they had CCTV or maybe a ring doorbell or something. Dreadful.

I was curious so just read a few more articles about it. Not sure if it’s been mentioned upthread but apparently Nicola Morey - the victim- was also attacked by her Staffy which “joined in” after her xl bully attacked her.

The dog had to be shot four times at the scene. I’m so sorry she didn’t /couldn’t realise before it was too late.

The owner sounds just as delightful as his dog