AGAIN! Something must be done

[Singersong]

Yes I know, another XL bulky thread. But seriously, this breed is like a mine field, randomly killing owners all over. You never know when/where it will happen next.

I truly can't wrap my head around people like this woman - may she rest in peace - who are all over the internet defending these KILLERS. They all think theirs is different, theirs would never kill, theirs is a big softy.

Is it time to do something more serious? The legislation brought in doesn't seem to have stopped deaths, although at least it does appear to be the owners (who are stupid enough to keep them) who are dying now instead of innocent members of the public.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/xl-bully-owner-celebrating-birthday-mauled-death-videos-defending-breed/

I'm not saying no rules are necessary, I do think the current rules create limitations on the dogs that will very likely increase their aggressive tendencies though.

I think they need to be allowed off lead if muzzled, perhaps, in designated areas that are both free to use and stimulating. We do need to permit the animals a decent quality of life, and a decent chance to remain stable too.

There is a massive amount of money to be made off dangerous dogs
@IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken yes, as ever "follow the money"

I do feel sorry for the dogs as it’s not their fault that they have been created.

I am hoping that in 15yrs time this will be pretty much over. Yes they will move on to another breed but hopefully that other breed won’t be as strong or determined.

I know if I was attacked by a German Shepherd, Rottie, Doberman etc that a good kick in the right area would cause it to back off. The XLs don’t seem to have the same self preservation that normal breeds have. Plus they look like it would really hurt your foot if you kicked them - solid masses of muscle.

I don’t think we should be banning or restricting large breed dogs though. There are so many wonderful and kind large breeds who would miss out. Newfoundlands, Bernese, St Bernards, Great Danes, Greyhounds - all great family pets who have existed alongside humans for a long time with very few issues.

You've completely missed the point.

No amount of good training will train bad genes out of a dog.

I am still haunted by the clip I saw of Ian Price's death.
In the clip he is seated on the ground, I think his legs are extended in front of him. One of the dogs has its jaws around his right hip/buttock area, it seems as if this is holding him to the ground. The other dog is sauntering around in playfull manner, it then starts to bite into his left shoulder.
Mr Price is subdued, he is not moving much. He cries out a little as the other dog bites into his shoulder. I suppose that he was in shock and had surrendered himself to death. His lack of resistance is horrifying.
I think the clip was 60 seconds long, maybe less. I felt very guilty for watching it, I felt as if I had violated his dignity.

Gosh that is just horrific. The poor man.

It reminds me a bit of that documentary Grizzly Man about the man who believed that grizzly bears could be tamed if he behaved in a certain way around them. Him and his girlfriend were mauled to death by bears.

I couldn't bring myself to watch the Ian Price video but I do know it went on for a long, long time, over twenty minutes. The dogs didn't lose interest at all.

I'm still shaken by it too - I didn't know what I was about to see when I clicked it, not expecting to see that. They had ripped his clothes off and he was torn to shreds. He was protecting his mum from them... my heart breaks each time I think about it

Euthanise them all. I'm an animal lover but they are mutant monsters.

I remember watching that. I think that people become mesmerized by the power of these large muscular predators. I'm also thinking of that podcast series of those two men who kept tigers, they had a stage show, one of them was mauled on the stage.

It’s horrifying. I don’t feel sorry for the owner actually. It could easily been someone else her dog killed, glad it was her instead. Silly cow.

I also find it very difficult to have any sympathy for the woman who was killed by her own dog.
But at the same time what happened to her was horrifying and awful. She seems not to have been very bright but you would hope that someone could talk sense into her and get her to realize how dangerous the situation was with these dogs.
Her behaviour and the videos she posted made her extremely unlikable in my view, but I'm still horrified by what happened to her.

Thanks for explaining this im such detail. It's bewildering that this myth is pushed so much it has gained mainstream acceptance as truth.

Step back and get a sense of perspective.

I am going to be slightly brutal in this post with a personal point of view.

Firstly, it seems, that owners with aggressive dogs are not exercising them for 1-2 hours every day.

This might be because the dogs are genetically linked to the banned dogs.

Secondly, Covid was a nightmare for dogs. So many people bought dogs that didn't/couldn't go to puppy training and socialisation classes. Two years of new dogs on the circuit who don't know how to behave and are anxious/aggressive.

Thirdly - ALL the dog deaths reported seem to be the death of an owner, family member, child that was in the home of the dog or dog walker.

What a surprise?!!!

Most of think there's not a bad dog, only a bad dog owner.

I would argue for both cases.

But the last owner who got mauled to death?

Do you honestly think that Bully dog wanted to be John Travolta? And dance raised up on his hind paws?

If a dog from age birth was danced with like that every day - I think it would be the most insidious form of torture.

The owner was not fit to raise dogs. And no surprise all four of dogs were put down. They were not in a healthy environment.

The problem is with in breeding, it happened in my area in the 90’s with Staffordshire bull terriers, they were terribly interbred and the result was a whole generation or two of massively aggressive dogs! Who no one in their right mind would touch with a barge pole! My uncle from miles away from us has always had Staffies (that are lovely) you couldn’t pay me to have one! Having said that I’ve got a rescue Jack Russell that would have your hand off if you look at him the wrong way! 😊

I saw it too and wish I hadn't. I can picture it clearly as I write this 😔

....and those criminal owners who have them to use as a weapon instead of a gun which would be illegal

Any dog has the ability to turn and attack , all the different dog breeds over the years that have had a bad name because a few have attacked, e.g Rottweilers, Doberman, Staffies, American Pit bulls it's not the dog at fault its the owners, owning any big strong breed especially ones ive named takes great responsibility , mine is a softie but am still totally aware that if a dog has a go at her (which is usually the case, not other way round) it will be her and me that get the bad name if she retaliates, so am always on guard she's always on lead around other dogs, If dogs are caught off guard , i.e stroked from behind, this is usually a trigger. I think dog licencing should come back and better checks before people are sold a dog

I'd rather take my chances with a rottie than an XL bully

The law requires licences for breeders but the bad guys get around this by farming out the bitches to various people who's 'family pet' then has a litter of puppies. The police don't seem interested. Samantha Poling made an excellent documentary for BBC about a guy who is breeding dogs with genetic mutations - there were some dogs which could hardly stand, and others that are likely to be deaf and blind, or vicious. Violent thug who breeds ‘extreme’ dogs exposed - BBC News

I think even a rottie has the same potential as an XL why they got the bad reputation, I don't really know enough about XL other than the bad press, I wouldn't like to argue with either , I have had enough trouble with Jack Russell's lol

I am a huge dog lover but unfortunately these traits have just been bred into this breed. It happens with all types of dog but the traits are just less severe. I have a standard dachshund she is so lazy, so chilled, so sweet but then there’s just something in her that flips like a switch and she’s fierce and pray driven. I couldn’t introduce her to any small furries for that reason. I have to remember she was bred to fight badgers. Likewise I have a Labrador and his has very specific characteristics that have been bred into him. Previously had a collie x who could not help trying to round us up all together would be very anxious if we were all in different places.

I am a veterinary professional of over 20 years. I have also worked in dog rescue for almost all of that time..
I have cared for, fostered and owned many hundreds of dogs that would count as an XL Bully. An XL Bully is actually a cross-breed and is not recognized as an actual breed by the Kennel Club. This means each individual can have a very varied genetic profile of any number of dog breeds. it is in fact just a type of dog whose body conformation will fit into the governments arbitrary list of measurements, much like the Pitbull. Certain other breeds of dogs could fall within these measurements, I sadly saw an old man's Labrador-cross seized as a 'Pitbull' for fitting these measurements which shows just how flawed this is.
There is NOTHING Inherently wrong with bull-breed dogs who are actually known to be extremely friendly towards humans (which was necessary when bull-breeds were first bred in order to cultivate a good working relationship with their owner) however not always so great with other animals, although this is a case by case trait.
When a 'breed' becomes overly popular, as with XL bullies, their population rises dramatically, this means that they will statistically appear to be responsible for a higher numbers of attacks. These individual attacks can be if higher severity which is mainly due to the irresponsible nature of many XL bully owners, the large number of this breed and also their natural strength. Let's face it; more Jack Russell and Chihuahuas attack than XL's but they certainly will not inflict as much damage.
Unfortunately people who really know nothing about this 'breed' buy into the media hype and with absolutely no experience or knowledge of their own will demonize a dog that most professionals will tell you are no bloody different in temperament than any other dog as long as they are in the right and responsible hands!
In my career I have seen horrific attacks by Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Border Collies, Labradors, Mastiffs, Boxers even the beloved Labra-bloody-doodle (to which a colleague lost an entire buttock and half of her thigh)...none of them appeared in the media hence none of them have been demonized and banned.

In my career I have seen horrific attacks by Rotweillers, German Shepherds, Border Collie, Labradors, Mastiffs, Boxers even the beloved Labra-bloody-doodle (to which a colleague oost an entire buttock and half of her thigh)...none of them appeared in the media hence none of them have been demonized and banned.

Okay but the actual stats on dog-related deaths in the UK point to a clear pattern, regardless. Labs aren't killing people, XL bullies are:

You would be surprised to see how many XL bullies would have a fair deal of genetic heritage in common with Labradors. Bully x Labrador was a very popular cross breed for a number of years. Also, labradors are not a 'status' dog and will therefore statistically be lucky enough to have more responsible owners nurturing them to have a tolerant nature. This is not so with Bullys.
Does anyone remember the uproar about Staffordshire Bull Terriers when they became a popular status dog? It was the same old crap. Now they are no longer the status dog of choice and all the talk of banning/culling etc has magically disappeared.