I think my neighbours have an xl bully

[70sShmeventies]

I’m afraid of most dogs, have been forever, so I’m not sure if I’m overreacting given the recent news report of that poor girls death, so please set me straight mumsnet!

I think my newish neighbours have an xl bully. I knew they had a dog, as it has barked when me and my kids have been in the garden before. I’ve recently started a job where I leave around 6.30 and I’ve noticed the husband taking a very beefy dog out at that time and again when it’s dark. It’s massive, really muscly etc.

They aren’t very sociable, generally avoid saying hello etc so I keep myself to
myself with them so so can casually start up conversation with them to ask.

Since I’ve seen the dog i have started to question, why don’t the other (female) house members take the dog out and why does he only walk it in the dark? Is it a dangerous dog? I have 2 small children so it’s a concern.

But maybe I should mind my own business as it hasn’t actually done anything?!

Yabu really, there could be all kinds of reasons he walks it. Also not illegal to own one with a license so there's nothing you can do about it anyway

@DumCribble Even if it’s not exhibited any dangerous behaviours?

Report. Walking it only in the dark is suspicious.

If the dog is well controlled by the man and only walked in the dark why are you concerned for your children? Are you sure it's not a bullmastiff? What makes you think it's not registered even if it is an xl bully?

@Shoxfordian he may have, but I’m not sure it’s muzzled when out. If it is and they have an exemption then you’re right.

If its dark then do you even know what kind of dog it is? It's really not your business

@Pandasnacks all good questions I have been asking myself to try and figure out if I should be worried or am being overly anxious (I was attacked by a dog as a child so am hyper vigilant).

In theory, if the dog is an XL it should be exempt so would be on lead and muzzled on walks- is this the case?

If not, it could be that it's unregistered or it could be just another large crossbreed bully of some sort- lots of these breeds and crosses look quite similar but don't necessarily meet criteria to be an XL.

If you're not sure what it is, I'd just give it a wide berth but obviously if you see any behaviour that concerns you, report it.

@Shoxfordian it’s not pitch black and there are street lamps but I am no expert on dog breeds for sure! I just know if it was an xl, which I think it could be, there are rules and it’s potentially a public safety issue.

Also if you leave at 6.30 how do you no it's not walked during the day? Could you chat to the neighbours? Just make small talk and ask what type of dog it is?

There could be legitimate reasons for walking it at night/early morning when not many people are around. My parents dog is not friendly toward other dogs so it it easier to walk it early morning and later at night.

@Coulditbeparkinsons i think you’re right really, they aren’t letting it loose etc and obviously walking it at times when there aren’t many people around so even if it had the potential to be dangerous, they are mitigating that.

Also I'm not sure walking in the dark is suspicious- it gets dark very early! I walk mine in the dark too, because it's dark after work.

Report it to the dog warden (usually via council) and local community police team.

I wouldn't speak to them about it personally.

If you or someone else later reports it they'll assume it was you as the neighbour who asked questions.

Speak to the council dog warden and see what they advise.

Is your garden secure so the dog can't get into your garden/property

Well it's worrying isn't it. Do you have a high garden fence/walls so that it can't jump over or get through any gaps? I'd also be worried about it running into the street at anytime. You just can't trust these dogs.

I walk my dog early in the morning. Around 6 - 6:30 as I leave for work at 7:30 and need to get my children sorted for school etc and drop one at breakfast club. I then walk her again around 8pm. She a cocker though so maybe its acceptable?

It could be an xl bully or it could be another large breed. My neighbour has a bull mastiff that is huge! Lots of people walk their dogs early morning though for all kinds of reasons so I wouldn't even think twice about that

It’s dark now from 5pm and doesn’t get light in the morning until 7am, maybe he walks it outside of work hours and that’s why it’s being walked in the dark…

There are quite a lot of muscular dog breeds outside of an XL Bully, you don’t say it’s displayed any dangerous behaviour, perhaps your experiences are making you hyper vigilant.

He walks the dog at that time in the morning because he probably has to go to work after. His wife may be working from home and walks the dog during the day so they split the walks equally. Not sure how the dog is any danger to your children, presumably it doesn't visit your house and your kids are not out at 6.30 am

Report what exactly?

Even if it was one of that type breed, he could have papers like a license stating he can keep the dog. But would have to be muzzled outside too though. But either way, it may not even be that type breed. Maybe it's best not to poke your nose in as it may cause conflict if the dog isn't causing any harm to anyone. All dogs do bark when people are outside too, and maybe his walking his dog in the dark because he works. Who knows.

I'd say mind your own business. There are many big heavy breeds if dog, what makes you think this is an xl bully? (Which is a type not a breed, so hard to prove either way but very distressing for owners of perfectly legitimate bull type dogs)

Meh, if I had young kids I'd report it. If your neighbours are innocent it will hardly inconvenience them at all. But if they're out in public with one of those monsters unmuzzled, they deserve everything they get.