Play date in XL Bully house

[Bonneylass]

School mum has invited my son over to play. They own an XL bully. Apparently it’s a lovely dog and they have 3 kids at home. I really don’t want him to go, I just don’t think it’s worth the risk. Is it best to make up an excuse or just be honest? Interested to hear from owners of XL bullies how you would react to this. She’s a lovely lady and ideally I don’t want to piss her off.

No way would my kids be in a house with one of those dogs.

I dont understand why anyone would want a family pet that is capable of killing someone

No no no no NO. Am pretty sure one of the deaths in recent years was a child who'd gone to a friends house

Maybe it's not a family pet if it is capable of killing someone ?

Just a thought.

@HornyHornersPinger , sadly it was .

This is a no brainer surely....? You can say no politely. You don't even need to explain yourself.

That photo is truly shocking. I'm flabbergasted.

Yes i am.talking about family pets specifically, not guard dogs etc

Absolutely no chance!

Your son would be in far more danger than his friend, too, as a stranger in the dog's home.

It would be utterly crazy to allow it and I'd tell his mother why, OP.

What photo?

Do not accept and tell her the truth. She should not be inviting other kids over with the dog there.

NO

NO

NO

I wouldn’t be friendly with anyone who owned one of these dogs.

Bad enough if they don’t have children.

With children in the home even more incomprehensible.

A friend of mine saw a man trying to walk one of them. It was muzzled and on a lead but was too strong for him and he couldn’t control it. Even muzzled it could have damaged a passerby, certainly knocked them over.

A play date is not worth my child's life. Absolutely not and I wouldn't care if she was pissed off. And this is from someone with 3 dogs.

No no no no no! Is it really worth the risk? I'd say you're balancing saving face and safety here; I know which I'd pick !

As an aside, I have two small dogs (dachshunds) and when my 3yo has play dates I keep them separate. Other people's children and dogs are not a good mix !

I’m a huge animal lover and there’s no way no how. These dogs are on a hair trigger and when they go from “lovely soppy” to “murder mode” there’s no one and nothing will stop them. I suspect there may be a rage syndrome in the breed as in several others. The aggressive outcrossing of XL Bully into various Mastiffs and what we are currently calling the Cane Corso means I’d also give a huge no to these dogs too.

FWIW I keep our dog separate from any visiting children and she weighs 9kg.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/05/xl-bully-dog-put-down-after-fatal-attack-on-north-yorkshire-girl-10

apparently this dog was lovely too 🙄

The breed is irrelevant to a degree, I wouldn’t be offended if a parent were nervous of my dog. We have had play dates where I’ve kept my dog separate - for his own safety. He’s old, he needs his bed, rest and gets too excited. Just say you are a bit concerned about the dog- if she’s a good friend she will understand.

Children can do silly things, a younger sibling if a friend got in my dog’s bed once - with him and had a screaming tantrum I shit you not. Obviously child was swiftly removed by me- the parent just sat there doing the gentle parenting thing. Idiot. My dog is soft as a brush but he couldn’t get away from the screaming or flailing limbs.

In my opinion as someone who has walked them (volunteer/rescue) they are incredibly strong, yet very nervous and a bit unstable. The two traits don’t mix well. Again I’m sure some are well rounded dogs - no offence met to anyone who has a lovely XL.

Well that seems to be one of the issues with them, fine for years then suddenly turn like that. Poor child

They were also reportedly at a friends house where one of these beasts resides.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/xl-bully-attack-leaves-scots-34059418

Not a chance in hell would I let my dc around one.

Kinell. The mum in that article COMPLETELY failed in her duty of care to that little boy and his sisters who witnessed the mauling by taking him to a house with a dog like that. It says the bite through his back was very close to puncturing his lungs. She should be charged with negligence as well. It's not as though the dangers aren't well known.

Please don’t, he’s new to the dog. It just isn’t worth the risk.

Never in a month of Sundays, not even for 5 mins.

Absolutely no. It is simply not a breed I would trust around any child.

And I say that as a dog owner myself.

Just be honest about your concerns. They're all lovely dogs till they kill someone. And yes I know it's usually down to bad owners but if you own a massive dog that can do damage like maiming and killing it can and could turn on anyone at anytime. It happened to me with a supposedly lovely bully when I was just sitting minding my own business so if she gets annoyed don't worry. Better to have someone a bit annoyed at you than something happen or you worrying.

A woman got killed by one earlier this year. She was an advocate for them and told everyone how great and nice they are.
It's negligence to allow your kids near one in my book.