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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Another child killed by a dog...

900 replies

tnorfotkcab · 09/04/2026 22:08

Another poor child is killed by a dog.... We already know this is an XL Bully, don't even have to wait for confirmation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce35zkl9dg3o

A Google street view of Hardale Grove. It is a residential cul-de-sac with cars parked on the pavement.

Child dies in Redcar dog attack, police say

Police remain at the scene in Dormanstown, where one dog was destroyed earlier.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce35zkl9dg3o

OP posts:
Thread gallery
28
Helpingoutwithasdkids · 10/04/2026 13:20

BoyMumNurse · 10/04/2026 13:13

there are no bad dogs. Only bad owners. the types that buy XL bullies are always 'hardmen' chavs trying to prove something, coming from violent homes who most likely mistreat the animals. I grew up in places where violence is the norm. its no wonder these poor dogs are aggressive.

XL bullies literally are bad dogs regardless of owner as every single one regardless of how well it’s trained or not etc has the genetic predisposition to suddenly snap and kill.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 10/04/2026 13:21

Gostraight2hellnowtrump · 10/04/2026 13:18

I think one problem is that the empty vessels who own these dogs are the ones who make the most noise.

The government are excellent at ignoring their noise over every other issue, I don’t think they won’t deal with it because of that. I don’t think they have the appetite to be considered animal killers and have all of the animal rights people after them.

Lindy2 · 10/04/2026 13:22

BBC News has just announced that the victim was a 3 month old baby girl.

2 dogs have been destroyed.

TwoSwannits · 10/04/2026 13:22

Helpingoutwithasdkids · 10/04/2026 13:01

This is exactly the problem with these dogs - they can be brilliantly well behaved, gentle even , big but friendly the issue is they have something genetically wrong and they can change in an instant and kill. There’s no inbetween once that weakness is activated. Any training and love for their owners is gone in a split second.

I totally agree with this. Any dog, in stressful situations, may bit and show aggression, usually through fear. But the simple fact is that breed characteristics are key. In a freeze, fight or flight situation, certain dogs are only ever going to fight, or attack. They will revert to type and behave in the way their genes and breed heritage would expect them to. No matter how well trained, how well socialised, how well handled by someone who knows what they are doing, a big powerful dog designed to bring down a boar or fight to the death, or guard fearlessly is always going to be a risker choice than say, a soft mouthed retrieving dog, or a little terrier that might well gobby and feisty, but is too small to do any serious harm.

I'll never understand what goes through people's minds when they look at the character traits of a big, strong dog whose breed was developed specifically for bravery, aggression or fighting and say 'yep, that's the perfect dog to bring into my home with two toddlers. Don't worry, I'll train it to make sure it's not aggressive.'

Why not just choose a dog with absolutely no reputation for, or breed history of aggression in the first place? It's not as if there aren't hundreds of other breeds to choose from, is it?

Gostraight2hellnowtrump · 10/04/2026 13:23

XL bullies are not bad, any more than tigers are bad. They are powerful and dangerous predatory animals and as such they ought not to be kept as domestic pets.

Molly2135 · 10/04/2026 13:24

havingamarvelloustimeruiningeverything · 09/04/2026 22:49

Oh shush, everyone knows it was actually a chihuahua. Don’t you all know how viscous those things are?

*obv being sarcastic. I’d put money on it being a bully or similar bull terrier. There’s just no need for them

I’ve always had bull terriers they make lovely dogs .. mine have always been big and daft .. saying that I would not leave them alone with a child but then again I wouldn’t leave any dog alone with a child .

Cocabuta · 10/04/2026 13:25

LordofMisrule1 · 10/04/2026 12:46

People who say 'it's the owner not the dog' smugly never seem to take that stance to its logical conclusion.

Even IF it's the owner's fault when a dog mauls or kills someone, so what? Apportioning blame doesn't change the outcome or bring the person back.

So, so many innocent adults, children and babies have died in one of the most gruesome, painful and terrifying deaths imaginable, at the jaws of these animals.

When the owner is killed I don't feel as much sorrow tbh as their stupidity and hubris could have got someone innocent killed. I'm just glad it wasn't someone who did nothing to deserve being near one of these dogs.

But when it's an innocent child whose parents have failed on the most fundamental of levels to protect them, who has willingly chosen to force them to live around such a dangerous animal, it's just sickening.

Or a random person just trying to live their lives, going about their business, attacked and killed in broad daylight, for nothing.

The injustice is unbearable.

Couldn’t agree more with your whole post.

Even IF it's the owner's fault when a dog mauls or kills someone, so what? Apportioning blame doesn't change the outcome or bring the person back

Exactly, it’s just meaningless. I mean I don’t think it’s any comfort or help to the dying victims or their family to say ah it’s not the dog it’s the owner”.

End of the day we will always have some bad owners so we must remove the option for anyone to own dogs that easily kill just because they have a bad owner. It’s for the same reason most of Europe is against widespread gun ownership.

Gostraight2hellnowtrump · 10/04/2026 13:25

Will the parents be charged with the murder of the baby girl?

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 10/04/2026 13:26

‘A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury resulting in death. He has been released on conditional bail.’

Im sure he is an upstanding pillar of the community.

Molly2135 · 10/04/2026 13:26

Scampiniknak · 10/04/2026 08:30

To the poster who compared XL bullies to bull terriers - no. I have owned English Bull Terriers for years. They are not comparable to an XL bully, no breed is. Yes they are strong and powerful but so are many breeds. The thing that sets XL bullies apart in their genetic makeup, they are not wired up right and you’re combining that unpredictability with severe strength and size. They should all be put down imo or this will keep happening. Im so sorry for the child in this situation.

I was at a national trust place the other day. Packed full of kids with it being Easter. I clocked this dog (I presumed it was an XL because it had one of those massive muzzles on and looked like one but I can’t be 100%). A few hours later when walking back to the car the same dog was running around off lead with no muzzle on. If it had been an XL that’s not just mental it’s illegal but no doubt the owners think he was their little fur baby who wouldn’t harm a fly.

I don’t vilify all bull breeds, I know some people don’t like any of them and that’s fine. But I truly believe XL’s are standalone in their temperament and behaviour. Cull them all.

I second this I’ve own bull terriers and they are lovely dogs ..

Frequency · 10/04/2026 13:27

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 10/04/2026 13:19

Why do you have a 40kg guardian breed? For what purpose?

Companionship, love, exercise, because he needed a loving home, and we had one to offer him, because we have the time and experience a dog like that needs to thrive, and because he's adorable.

Another child killed by a dog...
EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 10/04/2026 13:30

Frequency · 10/04/2026 13:27

Companionship, love, exercise, because he needed a loving home, and we had one to offer him, because we have the time and experience a dog like that needs to thrive, and because he's adorable.

So you actively chose that breed over another dog that would equally need a home, and with that comes a weight of responsibility to protect the pubic from your massive dog. Hence why you keep it under good control with a harness. Excellent.

I don’t need any puppy photos to try and convince me it’s some poor, helpless thing. It’s what they grow up into that concerns me.

DugnuttEyeBoogies · 10/04/2026 13:33

GreyfriarsJobbies · 10/04/2026 10:28

Perhaps instead of people on this thread using it to advance their own agenda, they could focus on the horrible fact a child died in appalling circumstances. But that would probably require a level of emotional intelligence and selflessness that is impossible to find on Mumsnet.

How is a dead child the starting point of a AIBU thread? Disgraceful.

Sorry what? So how is the conversation (if you deign to allow us to have one at all) supposed to go?

'A child has been killed by a dangerous dog';
'Yes it's awful isn't it, but whatever we do we mustn't discuss any possible changes that we might make off the back of this horrific incident to prevent it happening again, we must all just agree it's horrible and leave it at that. We wouldn't want to be seen to be pushing an 'agenda' of...not having more kids mauled to death. That would be insensitive'.

Well bollocks to that. Were you saying we shouldn't be talking about gun law reform after Dunblane? Or police reform after Sarah Everard?

Exactly. How does change come about if people don’t discuss things? That poster has a very very weird take on things - of course it’s going to result in debate. That’s what humans do. Talk.

takealettermsjones · 10/04/2026 13:33

Frequency · 10/04/2026 13:27

Companionship, love, exercise, because he needed a loving home, and we had one to offer him, because we have the time and experience a dog like that needs to thrive, and because he's adorable.

Out of interest, do you think you could control him if he were to turn? Are you faster than him? Can you restrain 40kg of angry dog?

PartQualifiedAcca · 10/04/2026 13:37

takealettermsjones · 10/04/2026 13:33

Out of interest, do you think you could control him if he were to turn? Are you faster than him? Can you restrain 40kg of angry dog?

Nobody could.
I love my little 10kg dog, but I would kick it into next week if it harmed a human.
This difference is it’s possible to do so, anything over 15kgs its just not.

Whattodo1610 · 10/04/2026 13:37

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 10/04/2026 10:16

Both are bully breeds no? With a genetic background of being bred for fighting.

Yes, historically, many of the dog breeds referred to as “bully breeds” were indeed bred for fighting, but it’s important to recognize that this was only part of their history, and these breeds are much more diverse in their temperaments today due to responsible breeding practices.

Some of the most well-known bully breeds include:

  • Pit Bull Terriers
  • American Bulldogs
  • Bull Terriers
  • Staffordshire Bull Terriers
  • Rottweilers (though not always considered “bully breeds,” they share a similar history)

History of Bully Breeds:

  • Pit Bulls, for example, were originally bred in the 19th century in England for bull-baiting, a cruel sport where dogs were made to attack a bull. After bull-baiting was outlawed in England, these dogs were used in other forms of dog fighting.
  • American Bulldogs and Staffordshire Bull Terriers also have historical ties to dog fighting and were bred to be strong, courageous, and determined in a fight.

Imagine if the ‘responsible breeding’ was rewound by some irresponsible breeding practices that used a massive, nasty, reactive male dog as the starting point. Imagine if you then marketed that as a criminals dream and then imagine if a load of low IQed males thought those dogs made good family pets. I wonder what would happen then 🤔

Edited

Can you read??
OP’s words “We already know this is an XL Bully, don't even have to wait for confirmation” … yet it’s apparently NOT an XL Bully. That was the point of my post. Why not go challenge someone else but actually read first, it may help.

Frequency · 10/04/2026 13:38

takealettermsjones · 10/04/2026 13:33

Out of interest, do you think you could control him if he were to turn? Are you faster than him? Can you restrain 40kg of angry dog?

He's not an angry dog, but yes, I can control all 40kg of him when he's trying to bolt into a river to get away from a murder of crows. He learned the hard way that groups of crows are called a murder for a reason when he tried to befriend some as a puppy. I can also control him when he picks up the scent of his favourite person and tries to drag me to the shop she's working in.

That's what a head collar does. It is why the same design is used to control and lead 400kg plus horses.

Again, you only need to read any dog thread on MN to see that the majority of the UK public is utterly clueless about dogs and their management and behaviour.

Wordsmithery · 10/04/2026 13:38

ejmog · 09/04/2026 22:19

If we are.going with statistics more.spaniels and labs are owned uk there are far more stipulations on bully's my bet it lab , alsation rottweiler

Hmm, labs. Famous for mauling children, aren't they.

takealettermsjones · 10/04/2026 13:40

Frequency · 10/04/2026 13:38

He's not an angry dog, but yes, I can control all 40kg of him when he's trying to bolt into a river to get away from a murder of crows. He learned the hard way that groups of crows are called a murder for a reason when he tried to befriend some as a puppy. I can also control him when he picks up the scent of his favourite person and tries to drag me to the shop she's working in.

That's what a head collar does. It is why the same design is used to control and lead 400kg plus horses.

Again, you only need to read any dog thread on MN to see that the majority of the UK public is utterly clueless about dogs and their management and behaviour.

I'm not saying he's an angry dog inherently, I was talking about if he were to turn, and thus turn very angry very quickly. In your home for instance. In that situation you wouldn't have the head collar on, would you? So without the head collar, could you physically restrain him if he went for someone in your home?

BoyMumNurse · 10/04/2026 13:41

so not an XL Bully. It's a staffy cross.

Maray1967 · 10/04/2026 13:42

MorangoDoNordeste · 09/04/2026 23:17

You're right that there are far more spaniels and labradors etc than XL Bullies in the UK, and (being much more common) they are probably responsible for more bites. However, it's very rare for a spaniel or labrador's bite to do serious damage or turn into a fatal attack, whereas XL bullies are so huge and strong that their bites cause immense damage, they have the killer instinct to continue with an attack no matter what, and they are almost impossible for most people to overpower.

Why is this so difficult for some people to understand? These animals gave killed grown men and their own owners, for crying out loud. A vet I know initially rejected any idea of a cull but having dealt with quite a few in the practice now says they need to be culled.

igelkott2026 · 10/04/2026 13:42

Yes, yet another child killed. But the dog lobby doesn't care.

It could be an XL bully but any larger dog could kill a baby. In fact, a smaller one could, if it inflicted a wound which caused sepsis.

The law needs to be changed so that any dog attack is considered an attack by the owner and punished as such, not some wishy washy fine.

PartQualifiedAcca · 10/04/2026 13:43

BoyMumNurse · 10/04/2026 13:41

so not an XL Bully. It's a staffy cross.

One of those ripped my sisters face off in the 80’s.
Had a fight with a rotwiener - and won.
Nanny dogs indeed

EdithStourton · 10/04/2026 13:43

There is a distinct difference between the pet lines of e.g. Rottweilers and the lines which are bred to work. And there is a difference between a staff bred for the show ring and an XL bully bred to look, and be, as aggressive and intimidating as possible (and yes, I know that staffies are not the same as XLs, I'm just comparing two bull breeds).

And there are is a difference between high-drive dogs in capable hands, and high-drive dogs whose owners haven't got a clue.

People get XLs without either understanding or believing the warnings they are given. They lap up the 'it's the owner not the breed' BS. They don't fulfil the dog. Sometimes everything does swimmingly and everyone is happy and so is the dog. And occasionally it's a complete disaster.

What the answer is, I don't know.

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