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

88 replies

Peppenero · 07/06/2025 05:20

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 ?

OP posts:
thestudio · 08/06/2025 12:40

An American Bully could be more placid than a yappy jack russell for example. It sounds like you're basing your fears on nothing at the moment.

Please read my post below yours @Isobel201. Bully behaviour cannot be predicted.

Marley99 · 08/06/2025 12:45

I think a lot of the replies are mixing up dog breeds. Are you sure on what breed it is?

An American bulldog is not a banned breed so won’t be muzzled. They are large, but not as stocky/wide as an XL bully.

Have you met the dog, has it given you a specific reason to worry? On one hand you’ll probably not see it that often, it’s likely to have a set routine when it goes for walks. I might be concerned about noise/barking though living near any dog in a flat.

CG90 · 08/06/2025 12:48

I have an American bully (just meets the height requirement for classic - originally thought he would be a pocket) and he’s a wonderful dog. He does look a bit “scary” but he’s not at all, however I appreciate he could do damage if he wanted to (like most other dogs) so we’re careful with our kids, as we would with any other dog.

In my opinion you’re massively over reacting but I guess it’s down to how you feel.

Even if your neighbours dog is an xl, if he is a decent owner he will have him well trained and will be respectful of other residents space etc.

JRM17 · 08/06/2025 13:03

Would this "damage" be the same as for instance A GSD, or a Malinois, or an English Bull Mastif or an Akita. FFS don't tar a full breed based on the actions of a few. My friends DD who was 3 at the time had her cheek and eye ripped open by a Pug and my nephew was bitten by a toy poodle. Maybe we should all refuse to live next to those dogs too. How about we teach kindness and understanding and she teaches her child a healthy respect for animals.

Nigglenaggle · 08/06/2025 13:29

If you have shared communal space that would be a no for me, and I'm a dog person. He might be a nice friendly guy but that doesn't mean that he doesn't underestimate the danger his dog could pose.

The dog may well be better behaved and more predictable than a Jack Russell, as others have said. The Jack Russell can't kill your child with a single bite if your child makes a mistake with their behaviour. That's the difference. It doesn't matter really whether you meant XL or American bulldog. That's still a big powerful dog.

ReturnsAdministrator · 08/06/2025 13:46

Unfortunately, if you are living in an apartment, you can’t control what animals are in the building.
You could turn this one down because of the dog but if you moved into another apartment further down the line, your neighbours could get dogs after you had completed and moved in.
What would you do then?
If you are so frightened of dogs, you could look for a building with a no pet policy but in the long run, I don’t think you’ll be doing your child any favours by keeping them away from dogs because of your fears.

TicklishExpert · 08/06/2025 15:03

And as a first responder you should also know that is extremely rare for dog attacks and actually the media are fear mongering creating responses like OPs and so called 'professionals' like you add further fuel to the fire with harmful statements like yours.

OhYeahOhYeah · 08/06/2025 16:55

An XL bulky in a flat? Surprised that is permitted in the terms of the building overarching lease to be honest

MrsSkylerWhite · 08/06/2025 16:58

Owner is a gentleman? Oh, well, his monstrous dog will inherently know that it shouldn’t savage the neighbours.

No, OP, you are not over-reacting.

MrsSkylerWhite · 08/06/2025 16:58

TicklishExpert · 08/06/2025 15:03

And as a first responder you should also know that is extremely rare for dog attacks and actually the media are fear mongering creating responses like OPs and so called 'professionals' like you add further fuel to the fire with harmful statements like yours.

BS

Apricotmuffino · 08/06/2025 18:12

No way would i move in if I had to share communal areas. Not worth the risk, even if its a small one I wouldn't be taking it when its my child!

abracadabra1980 · 08/06/2025 18:47

I'm a big dog lover and experienced with lots of breeds/fostered for rescues etc.. however I wouldn't move anywhere near one of these dogs with a young child. They can just 'flip' and have killed grown men. It's just not worth the risk.

abracadabra1980 · 08/06/2025 18:52

Koazy · 08/06/2025 12:07

Yes you’re overreacting. Don’t pass your fear of all dogs on to your child. It’s irrational.

There are two posts on this thread, one from a vet and another from a first responder who has seen first hand the damage these dogs can do. What point are you actually trying to prove here? Are you an animal expert?

CG90 · 08/06/2025 19:04

abracadabra1980 · 08/06/2025 18:52

There are two posts on this thread, one from a vet and another from a first responder who has seen first hand the damage these dogs can do. What point are you actually trying to prove here? Are you an animal expert?

To be fair, the pp on this thread who works with dogs is the first I’ve ever heard with a bad word against bully’s.

There are so many incorrect statements on this thread alone but it’s not even worth trying to correct people who have their minds made up.

Most posters don’t even seem to have a basic knowledge of the breed let alone their temperament etc.

boredoflaundry · 08/06/2025 19:23

I don’t care if it’s a fluffy little harmless bundle, I wouldn’t want to share a block of flats with a dog!

Emmz1510 · 08/06/2025 21:31

hattie43 · 07/06/2025 07:00

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

Why? It’s not a ‘requirement’ to be happy comfortable and unafraid around dogs. Better a child grows up to be cautious and mindful around them.

Emmz1510 · 08/06/2025 21:38

Honestly, I wouldn’t go for this apartment. It’s not just about this particular breed and its reputation. You say you are scared of all dogs so it makes no sense to live in the same building as one. Constantly giving it a wide berth in the hallway and on the street, being wary all the time. Having to deal with the common dog owner refrains of ‘he won’t touch you’ and ‘he’s friendly’. Mumsnet tend to be dog fans, and many don’t get that their animals can cause actual fear.

Gowlett · 08/06/2025 21:40

Absolutely no way I’d live there…
Fear of dogs is not irrational fear.

PizzaSophiaLoren · 08/06/2025 21:40

I would pull out.

joseph25 · 08/06/2025 21:50

I have 3 dogs and this would be a no go for me. Especially as it appears the dog is kept in a flat. I’d pull out.

RachTheAlpaca · 09/06/2025 15:22

Yes you're over reacting

You need to get some therapy to deal with your fear or dogs, before you pass on this fear to your baby

WhiteWidowWithAttitude · 09/06/2025 15:48

TicklishExpert · 08/06/2025 15:03

And as a first responder you should also know that is extremely rare for dog attacks and actually the media are fear mongering creating responses like OPs and so called 'professionals' like you add further fuel to the fire with harmful statements like yours.

I only wish dog attacks (and recently, disproportionately, attacks by bully breeds, especially XLs) were “rare”. They don’t all make the mainstream media (sadly the worst of them and certainly the fatalities do). I see and treat them with my own two eyes and hands - babies, children, grown men and women, the elderly, and other dogs (sorry, I don’t treat the dogs, that’s not in my scope of practice) - and it’s never a nip, it’s viscous, brutal and often life altering.

Sometimes it’s other large breeds: rotties, malinois, akitas, mastiffs, corsos, etc - they can also do a lot of damage - it never seems to reach the heights of what the bullies can manage though. I obviously also see the Jack Russell’s, the dashunds, and the chihuahuas, although unless they have had access to infants, you rarely come across any life altering injuries from them.

So no, dog attacks are far from rare, in fact they are increasing. Bold of you to make such a statement, and to also assume that I know nothing of dog breeds. So I stick by my original sentiment that I wouldn’t be living in a block of flats with an American Bully - XL or otherwise, and certainly not with a one yr old child with whom he’d need to share communal spaces.

And not one word of what I’ve said is scaremongering. It’s reality.

NeedMoreTinfoil · 09/06/2025 16:22

I feel a bit torn on this. I like dogs, I have a staffy. But I totally get that some people are really scared of dogs, or simply don't want to interact for a whole host of reasons. Hence my dog is always on lead and harness outside my property, and is escorted out of the way so he doesn't get too close to other people when we are out and about. But I live in a house with a large fenced garden so he can toilet and run about, and go in and out for longer walks without close proximity to anyone else.
I really don't think flats are a suitable environment for large or energetic dogs as it is too confining and will almost always bring them into close contact with people when they go through communal areas for walks. Plus the potential for barking when left alone.
So I think your concern is rational. If the thought of the dog bothers you enough that you will be fearful everyday then drop out of the purchase if you can afford to do so. However it will be difficult to find a dog free area to live in. Even if you find a flat in a pet free block, you will still encounter dogs in the street, at the park etc. I would definitely recommend thinking about some therapy for your dog phobia so you can feel more confident when seeing dogs out and about and give your child a good grounding in how to behave around them.

Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

pippapipps · 09/06/2025 16:28

I definitely would not be moving in listen to your gut