XL bully dogs and Scotland

[CoatOfArms]

Another blinder by our "wonderful" government. I was not aware that the ban on these awful chav beast dogs only applied in England and Wales. No legislation to ban/restrict them in Scotland.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67787667

Some dim woman who runs a "bullie rescue" says she has been "inundated". Isn't that just marvellous.

It seems to be a common theme, for sure.

My MSP is pretty good - and remember they're up for election soon and probably going to lose a lot of seats, if there's enough noise they will do something (that's exactly why rishi is doing it as well remember - and the fact it's a nice headline grabber to take away from all the other stuff). My point is the other lot are approaching it politically so if you want something done they need to see there's an appetite for it. Why they didn't predict an influx from England I don't know, now any Scottish restrictions are going to be that much harder to enforce with massively increased numbers. I think they've really misjudged this one.

I think they've really misjudged this one.

that could pretty much sum up the entire SNP administration.

Well I don't personally agree on that but that's another matter. My point is now more people realise the ban doesn't affect whole of UK they need to make their voices heard. I agree it's been described too much as a 'UK ban' and lots of people won't have been aware that here they won't only not be be banned but we will be inundated with abandoned ones from down south. I really don't think it should be this big a deal having to register and muzzle a very dangerous animal and not be able to breed them without regulation - the fact lots are coming up here really shows up the owners.

The MSPs are not up for election soon. It's MPs.

There has, in Dundee.

I think an awful lot of dogs will be collateral damage in this ban. I'm sure there are some that are nice friendly family pets, but really, they never should have been born in the first place. The breeding of them has been awful and undesirable traits will be through a lot of the population, latent in some cases but still there to be passed on.

The breeders are the big issue. Any breed club that chooses teacup/pocket/XL to describe the sizes doesn't sound terribly sensible to begin with (I know that makes me sound snobby). But look on Instagram and all the breeders say things like "what a production 💪", "he's a 🦍", "carries lavender and merle 🧬", enhance your programme with our 🦍 🩸".

They're all breeding with each other, no breeding with European dogs or checking inbreeding coefficients that I can see, and nothing about temperament, just look.

And far too many dogs have cropped ears, I don't believe they're all imports.

Perhaps Scotland will have fewer irresponsible breeders? And at least if they go into rescue they'll be neutered before being rehomed.

I think a swell in numbers in Scotland should have been anticipated, and yes, the SNP should have either proposed the same ban or a slightly different version if they wanted to be special.

Yes I know the UK election is first but that is usually seen as an indicator for how they will do in the next Scottish election, which is year after next. No point writing to MPs as it's a devolved issue.

Yeah but there are the proper rescues like the SSPCA or Blue Cross or Dogs Trust, and there are these bully rescue organisations coordinated on facebook by a few individuals with no qualifications and training. The second type is not going to be neutering and ensuring the animals they place are safe.

And no point writing to msps if they are snp or green as they don't reply or give a shiny shite.

There have been deaths in Scotland. There was a death outside Dundee a couple of years. A kennel owner was killed by an X-LARGE Bully who had been seized by the police from it’s owner.

Some people shouldn’t have these kinds of dogs and the ban just means that on other breed will be selected by these idiots.

@Hoosemover thus why tighter control of dog ownership and breeding is needed. Make it as expensive and inconvenient as possible for people it would sort the idiots from the responsible owners. If you can’t afford to part with large amounts of money for a properly bred and vetted dog you can’t afford a dog full stop

i agree with you. We need to look at something more like the Spanish system where large dogs (over 60Kg ) have to be muzzled and registered with the police.
Dog licenses need to reconsider. We have gun licenses and drivers licenses. Dogs can be just as dangerous as a car or a gun.

I just don’t understand this massive explosion in dog ownership, I know that the population has increased but surely not to the extent we are seeing the huge amount of dogs? When I was at school in the 90s hardly anyone had a dog apart from farmers or guide dogs and the odd retired couple 🤷‍♀️

Totally agree with this. Playing field needs tilted against any animal large enough to do serious damage to an adult.

Would also circumvent this “the breeders will just target another breed” defence. Fine. Make the law presume large animals are dangerous, and then exempt known safe breeds. Invert the process.

It's the covid effect!

I know several families who always wanted a dog but wouldn't have one as they were all out all day and wasn't fair on a dog.
Now with hybrid working there is someone at home every day. It's company for the person working from home and gives them a reason to get out for a walk during the day

A once-peaceful seaside resort I visit frequently had become overrun with these things by late last summer. As I sat on a deck chair, not moving or doing anything which might cause provocation, a man walked past with one (thankfully leashed). It turned its head, stared at me with its horrible pink, shark's eyes and growled at me. It was a low, ominous, really threatening growl and I pretty much needed a change of pants.

They are unpredicatable, reactive, and as scary as hell. It's a travesty that now England and Wales have seen fit to deal with these menaces the irresponsible owners are now making them Scotland's problem.

And I'd say most owners of this breed were irresponsible. Responsible ownership entails chipping, neutering, not trimming ears, and keeping them muzzled at all times in public.

How many muzzled bulldogs have you seen in the wild? My answer to that would be none.

@HorMon even before covid there was far more people with them than years ago albeit better owners than the covid ilk

One theory for why dog ownership has increased is that as our communities fragment and families get smaller people miss the oxytocin and bonding, and dogs are a replacement for that.

It’s a shame the majority cannot care for them or control them or know what their needs are outside of treating them as humans then, or at least this is my experience. It’s why so many people are fed up of them everywhere

We're new dog owners and it's the result of home working since Covid. I've wanted a dog since I was a child, so I waited almost 50 years for one - before then the DC were small and we were both working full time and there was no way I was going to have a dog that was left on its own for hours on end. He's well trained, well socialised and very much adored - but at 10.5 kgs the damage he could do is miniscule in comparison to these XL bullies.

I grew up in the 70s, loads of dogs, a lot of the time they roamed the streets or were just let out to take themselves for a walk.

I'm sure people got bit but most of the dogs around then were mongrels, lots of collie/lab/gsd crosses.

I'm not condoning that way of having dogs but it was pretty common. I'd never seen any of these types of breed/crosses until recent years.

Totally agree - and not just those large bull breeds. ALL dogs. It should be hugely expensive to own a dog.

This:

You yes yet? 🙄😡