Day out in car with friends’ American Bully?

[WildGreenHedgehog]

My friend has adopted an American Bully recently and is and another friend are going down to Brighton on Friday for a day out and she’s messaged us saying she’s bringing the dog. It isn’t one of those XL types but I’m still concerned about getting in the car with a dangerous dog I don’t know (and she doesn’t know really) incase it gets territorial. I don’t know whether to say anything in case she thinks I’m being a wet lettuce?
AIBU?

Could you ask her how it will be secured? Big difference between in the boot with a fixed rigid barrier between that and the back seat, and lying on the seat next to you with owner in the front....

@BestZebbie It’ll be the latter. She’s already said it can go on the back seat.

Obviously you are not being unreasonable.

Why have you immediately decided this dog is dangerous?

Is she planning on securing the dog? Or just letting it flop around on the back seat?

I just plain would not go. The smell would make me sick even if it was the nicest dog in the world and slept all the way there and back. Can you just back out? If it's your car just say you don't want a dog in it. Full stop.

YANBU, you wouldn’t be unreasonable to not want to share the backseat with any dog that’s unfamiliar to you (and indeed her, as you say).

Would she understand if you said you didn’t feel comfortable on the journey with a dog / does she view you as generally a “dog person”/do you have dogs?

How would it impact your plans to make your own way there? I wouldn’t be inflammatory and mention the breed etc as it’s not an XL but simply say you’ve made alternative arrangements and will meet her there as planned!

She doesn't have to give anyone a reason for not wanting this trip with a dog.

Just say you're nervous of the dog as you don't know it and it doesn't know you or her very well. If it's secure in the boot OK. If it's next to you on the back seat then don't go. I've had my dog for years and it's always in the boot. Who's to say the dog doesn't get spooked and leap about the car? Being an American bulldog doesn't mean it's dangerous but if it's a rescue dog I would be wary if you don't know the exact background.

Not a chance. Just don’t go or go a different way.

Nope

For goodness sake, she has started a post on the subject. That means people will comment and ask questions.

It's on the back seat. It's going to be dangerous - just as dangerous as a Labrador, Gordon Setter or slightly pudgy Jack Russell if she's in an accident with it loose.

I wouldn't like this regardless of breed. I have nothing against dogs, I just don't. enjoy being near them. YANBU.

It needs to be secured by a harness attached to the seatbelt if on the back seat

I wouldn't!

I don’t think the dog being secured was the foundation for OP’s concern.

From The Highway Code:

When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.

Unless your friend is a gangster /drug dealer chances are they are a decent human being with a decent ddog... Yabu. And a bit dramatic..
Unless she is letting it do the driving...

Don't be ridiculous. Have you read any of the stories of late about deaths by mauling? Lots of normal families sadly fall victim to dangerous dogs. It has nothing to do with being in a gang. The dog here is adopted. OP has no idea of it's history or how well it has been trained. She is right to be cautious.

For me it depends less on the breed and more on circumstances - how recently did your friend get the dog (is the dog still very new and adapting and likely to be scared/worried), where was the dog rehomed from (a reputable rescue which would've done behaviour checks or from gumtree) and what is the dogs temperant and background (I'd be worried if it was nervous or had a background where it hadn't been out much or socialised). I wouldn't assume that just because it's an American bully it's dangerous, but if the dog is very new and/or nervous it's not fair on the dog to be in a backseat with someone who it doesn't know. And a dog who is fearful and feels trapped could bite.

I wouldn't make a huge deal about the breed to your friend - just say you aren't comfortable being in the back seat with her large, fairly new dog that doesn't know you. Some people are more nervous about dogs than others, and nobody sane would be offended by this. My dog is lovely, but I wouldn't expect anybody apart from me, my daughter or my partner to necessarily be happy in the back seat with him! And it's never safe to have an unsecured dog in a car - what if she crashed?

Is there another way you can travel down?

Highway Code requires dogs to be suitably restrained in a car. So at minimum it should be in a harness attached to seat belt although these are of dubious safety in the event of a collision. Personally my lab always travelled in the boot, with room to move if he needed to and a barrier between it and the main part of the car, grille or net.

Has the dog travelled in the car before? Not all dogs like it so I’d be worried how the dog would be, wouldn’t like to sit next to any stressed dog when moving at speed. And wouldn’t be comfortable with any unsecured dog in a car I’m in.

This is actually the law. Dogs must be secured in a vehicle, in the boot or with a harness on.
Fine up to £5000.

YANBU to not want to be in an enclosed space with an unknown dog in general, especially when it is a strong breed with a potentially aggressive nature which is banned in some countries.

Say you are not happy about it and say it soon. If you give in for once, you'll be expected to accept it forever.