Buying apart with American bully around the block , worried about child safety ?

[Peppenero]

We are close to exchange on apartment, where we just found there is an American bully live floor below us, and uses the same lift and communal areas. We have 1 yr old. Should we drop ? The owner of the dog is a gentleman and nice person. We are scared of all dogs and bully looks very scary to us. Are we being overreacting ?

Yes, you are over reacting.

Is the dog muzzled?

I hate those type of dogs but you are overreacting

I wouldn't. I moved house when our neighbours got a pit bull (illegally). They let it run wild and I had a toddler. They were terrible, dangerous owners. I reported them and we moved so as not to have to face whatever they did next. I'm sure by now they'll have a bully and won't abide by any rules. However, even if owners are good and responsible, these are big and powerful dogs that can turn at any moment and grown men can't stop them. I wouldn't have a young child anywhere near one.

Honestly I don’t think you are overreacting. Is the dog always muzzled? If so, that obviously reduces the risk, but I suppose there’s always the chance that it could accidentally get out of its house when not muzzled.

I’m sure there will be heaps of people along to say that their American Bully is a big lovable goofball, however as a first responder for the emergency services, I’ve seen the damage these “goofballs” do. I wouldn’t even consider having a one year old in their vicinity voluntarily.

If it was possible to drop out of the apartment purchase without massive financial penalties, I actually think I would.

Instinctively I don’t fancy sharing a confined space with an XL and I love dogs. But rationally, it’s not going to eat through the ceiling. And okay, if there’s communal outdoor space, there’s a risk you might be out in the garden at the same time as they are. The lift is tricky. I’d be inclined to let them go first! But presumably it’ll be a long, long time before you’d let a child go downstairs to the garden unattended. So it’s not the same as, say, living in a semi where your 4yo could be pottering outside and the XL jumps the fence. Your LO is going to be supervised in common areas for ages. The dog could have died or your neighbour moved by then. You may move too. And if you move to another property now there is no guarantee there won’t be another dog to worry about, now or in the future? I live near a city park and I see XLs and similar fairly regularly, they’re not common, but there are a few kicking about locally.

it’s a tough one and I suppose it depends how scared you are and how financially committed you are to the flat. Would it be worth speaking to the dog owner? If he’s a nice man he might understand if you say you’re phobic of all dogs and a big dog is a particular worry. He surely cannot not have met someone who’s scared of his dog. For some people (not saying him) that‘s apparently part of the appeal of having one. I used to have a large breed (no known bite risk for the breed, beyond the risk any dog poses, but big and bouncy and enthusiastic to meet people and somewhat intimidating to look
at) and if I saw a nervous reaction, I would go out of my way to avoid contact. Not cos I thought my lovely dog was going to bite, she never did, but she did sometimes want to say hello, and why make people uncomfortable? I’d have kept her at a distance in the hall and wouldn’t have had her near you unless I knew you wanted her around. He may feel the same.

I would 100% not move in. And if I had moved in then found this out I would be moving

Sorry that would put me off!

You are overreacting and I hope you’re not passing a fear of dogs onto your child .

I don’t think that you’re overreacting at all. I have a fear of these dogs, and I don’t think it’s an irrational fear. I couldn’t face sharing the communal areas and lift with one.

I wouldn't take the risk either, and I don't think you're over reacting at all.
You could be living nervously for the next ten years or so (depending on age of the dog) whenever you're outside. And the fact that you will most definitely at times be sharing a lift with the dog would make my decision for me.

I love all dogs, and I'm sure that XL. Bullies are lovable, but you can never anticipate what any animal may do. And if a bully attacks you or your child, then you have no chance.

It's a completely rational fear.

I would never move in there. I think you should pull out, it's not worth the risk.

I wouldn’t buy the flat.

It doesn’t matter if it’s in a different flat. Or what floor it’s on. It could be on the 20th floor and you the first. Presumably there is shared communal space the dog will be in?

A bully in a flat. Recipe for disaster in the end.

Yes you are massively overreacting. Are you going to move every time there’s an issue, or potential issue? If you can afford to and don’t mind the constant upheaval then that’s up to you.

How old is the dog? the dog won’t be around forever, though if you have this fear of dogs then I suppose you are a bit stuffed, as this man may get another dog in the future.

You're not overreacting. Those dogs are terrifying and I wouldn't want to live anywhere near one even without a toddler

How is she over reacting?
Even if the dog is muzzled when outside, what happens if the owner accidentally leaves his door open (even one time) and the dog gets out and meets the OP with her child on the stairs?
The bully could feel threatened with people in 'his territory' and attack. What could the consequences be then? It doesn't bare thinking about really, does it?

A bully in a flat. Recipe for disaster in the end.

Actually, I also agree with this, an XLB probably shouldn’t be kept in a flat/apartment.

it would definitely be a no from me.

I think they will.

It would really put me off too and I have two dogs. I don’t think an xl bully living in a flat makes for a responsible owner.

Who the hell has a big dig like that in a flat in the first place, that alone shows he’s not a responsible dog owner. I wouldn’t want to get in a lift with it that’s for sure. Is it muzzled?

I agree. I’m a dog owner myself and would avoid proximity yo a bully. Also it will have pent up frustrations being kept in a flat - far too large a dog for this.

Well I wonder why the previous owner moved out. I wouldn't want to live there that's for sure.

I'm a vet and would not feel comfortable sharing space with any big, powerful breed like this, if I had a young child. As others have said, keeping one in a flat seems like a bad idea. I would not allow my children in a communal garden or lift with such a dog.

I see large, powerful dogs at work who are like big teddy bears with their owners but turn into lunging, snarling creatures when I approach with a stethoscope.

I’m sure you are weighing it all up. They could move, Someone could move in anywhere you live with one, etc
But personally, I just wouldn’t be able to relax knowing there was one downstairs and I have a small child. I think your concerns are completely valid.
people might argue that they could be ‘responsible’ owners but how could anyone responsible keep an XL Bully in a flat!