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.

Actually I think Funinthesun is spot on.

Yes, same. In fact I wonder if we are in the same little bit of south London.

Me too.

Never.

Hard NO if it was my child

Plenty of people have them in America with no issues, it's not the dog's fault that people in the UK are fucking idiots. You are NOT an animal lover if you think an entire breed should be culled.

Untrue, pits and xls also attack, main and sometimes kill in the US. And it's a recently created monstrosity of a "breed", whose wholesale culling would make the world a better place.

Not a chance and I would be totally honest. I would have very little respect for anyone who thought having one of these dogs and children was OK.

1 million percent no and tell the truth, I would not trust them especially around someone they don't know.

Could you not have the play date at your house and explain you are scared of big dogs maybe

1million percent that would be a hard no
I hate when owners say dw it's a nice dog. I'm sure the owners of some of the killer XL bullies said the same at some point too.
Could the boy come over to yours?

Exactly this. The only safe XLB is a dead XLB. They are horrible monstrosities.

Did you miss the women who were killed by their own bully dogs? Not a child in sight? Dogs can turn on anyone. I say this as a dog owner of decades. I have to say, even if she is there and the dog decides to attack, there will be nothing she can do to stop it.

Hard no. And again, I wouldn’t make an excuse I’d say it’s because of the dog.

Children shouldn’t have to be put in danger because of adults’ choices to expose them to a dangerous dog.

If you find that idiotic then more fool you.

I honestly wouldn't trust anyone stupid enough to own one of these dogs.

No way. I'd be honest and explain why, invite the child to your house. Not even if they promised it would be in a crate or in a different room, or they will supervise. Hopefully they understand and if they don't, it's not much of a loss.

You are not being unreasonable, I would never let my daughter go in to some else who got a XL Bully,look at the family dog that killed there daughter.

Could you ask her if she will crate the dog while your child is there? Explain why, and say that if they don’t want to do that, then perhaps her child can come over to your house? We have a big dog (not an Xl bully, a soppy wolfhound) and I always check whether visiting people (children or adults) are ok with big dogs and if not then I shut him safely away in the utility room while they are at our house.

i wouldn’t allow my children to play at a house with an XL bully.

We had the most beautiful placid Doberman, the softest girl you could ever meet who would run away from a hoover! We totally trusted her but when we had playdates she would in a different room, the main reason being a child could unintentionally (or intentionally) torment her. We knew she would just run off to get away but of course unpredictable reactions could happen.

The times there were a couple of friends around we would allow a few minutes for them to pet her, with our stringent supervision.

I do agree that having a powerful dog comes with responsibility as, if they did become aggressive, a child would be seriously injured. Rare but it does happen, especially with certain breeds (Akitas are the ones that concern me the most).

So, absolutely yes, ask if the dog will be kept separately from the children and if not just explain your concerns. Xx

@Deeperthantheocean

So, absolutely yes, ask if the dog will be kept separately from the children and if not just explain your concerns.

But someone having an XL bully in a home with children shows such a complete lack of awareness of the danger and lack of responsibility and failure to prioritise the welfare of children that I would never trust them to follow through on keeping them separately.

Anyone who has children and proactively chooses to have an XL bully living under the same roof is utterly irresponsible and selfish.

Bless you OP, you sound so lovely to have asked for opinions on this. I am a massive dog lover but I probably will say no and tell her why.

Days out are fine, no need to ruin a friendship just tell her you aren’t comfortable. Dogs (all kinds ) can be unpredictable especially with someone they don’t know. We have a Labrador and if someone told me they didn’t want her near their child, I would understand.

I had someone once say they could come to visit because they don’t like dogs. Fine with me, I just meet them at a coffee shop instead.

No way on God's earth.

Locked up, they can still get out - if someone is negligent, and to be honest, I think anyone that owns one must be 2 sandwiches short of a picnic in the first place.

Why would you knowingly put your DC in potential danger. You could end up regretting it for the rest of your life.

Î hate to hurt feelings but I would definitely tell her why and my kids definitely wouldn’t be going.

I wouldn't even want to go into a house where an XL bully was the family pet. Deffo wouldn't send a kid in.

Be honest but nice with it.