XL bully.

[PinkSyCo]

Does anybody have one? My grown up son’s friend’s bully had pups two months ago and my son has offered to buy me one. I have seen photos and they are adorable, but their mum looks….well scary. 🥺 I have been assured that she’s not at all and have done some research, which tells me that they have had any aggressive behaviours intentionally bred out of them and are fantastic family dogs, but I am still a little bit dubious as I look after my toddler grandson 3 days a week. Can anyone reassure me that bullys are indeed good with children like I am being told.

I looked into this breed when I started research for my next dog a couple of years back. On paper they fitted my family dog needs and I personally think they are beautiful dogs. However once I got off the internet and went out to meet some it became very clear that if one of these dogs should “snap/turn/freak out, attack or whatever there was absolutely no way in hell I could physically control such a large animal. I’m a experienced dog owner and put lots of training into my dogs but I like knowing that should my dog ever act in a aggressive way I could physically control them.
These dogs can weigh up to 10 stone of pure muscle. The adult ones I met were beautiful and impeccably trained however even the breeders said it was a full time job and they do attract “a certain type”
Also your sons friend doesn’t sound like a good breeder. The breeders I went to see had huge wait lists and certainly wouldn’t offer a dog to a friends mum with no experience of such a large breed of dog.
You do sound like a experienced dog owner to me but I think you’d be crazy to have a animal/dog that size around your toddler grandson ( we all know toddlers can be unpredictable 🤣)

I actually ended up with a lock down rescue reject pup. A french bull dog ( I know mumsnet hates them) He’s amazing but omg the most stubborn dog I’ve ever known. I couldn’t imagine coping with a 10 stone version of him

If I were you I’d definitely look at other breeds and then find a really good breeder.

No!

You find the mum scary looking but you’re still considering it? hmm

Well excuse me for not wanting to judge a book by it’s cover. No need for the eye rolling. There is really no need for the rude and hostile replies. What do you think I’m doing on here if not researching ffs?

Sounds like you've got a good amount of time then to spend training and caring for a pup!

I agree with above poster that the breed isn't as important as the temperament and training etc.

The dog should never be left alone with the toddler, on a lead when out whilst training and until reliable etc. But these are rules we follow with our lovely Labrador too so isn't breed specific advice.

I hope some Bully owners can come onto the thread soon and give you some real life advice rather than commenting the dogs look too muscular!

Have the puppies had their ears cut off?

That'll give you an idea of how responsibly bred these backyard pups-for-profit are

I don't believe that any sane and responsible person would even consider this breed, especially if they are likely to ever have children in their house. Does the fact that a similar (but not yet known) dog killed a boy recently not make you reconsider this idea?

Even if you are the most responsible dog owner in the world and train this dog to be the best dog in the world - the fact remains that dogs of this size and power have the potential to easily kill a person.

I disagree with all those demonising the dog for its breed.

Take the specific breed entirely out of the question. I would say the same if someone was going to acquire any 'specialist' breed because someone offered to buy them a cute puppy which will soon look like a parent that the OP finds 'scary' - if this were e.g. a Malinois, it would be madness to buy it on a whim.

There are plenty of dogs out there that can be enjoyed far more easily. Don't understand why the OP wouldn't want one of those instead myself.

(Clearly not particularly well-bred either, if pups are hanging about looking for homes after 2 months.)

Anyway, at the very least OP would need to meet the mother (and preferably the father, who could be a huge amount larger) and see if she finds her so scary in the flesh, and whether she feels she could cope with the reality rather than a cute puppy pic.

Suspect it's a bit immaterial though and puppy will arrive. Hopefully OP won't regret it.

@Simonthecatsservant

I looked into this breed when I started research for my next dog a couple of years back. On paper they fitted my family dog needs and I personally think they are beautiful dogs. However once I got off the internet and went out to meet some it became very clear that if one of these dogs should “snap/turn/freak out, attack or whatever there was absolutely no way in hell I could physically control such a large animal. I’m a experienced dog owner and put lots of training into my dogs but I like knowing that should my dog ever act in a aggressive way I could physically control them. These dogs can weigh up to 10 stone of pure muscle. The adult ones I met were beautiful and impeccably trained however even the breeders said it was a full time job and they do attract “a certain type” Also your sons friend doesn’t sound like a good breeder. The breeders I went to see had huge wait lists and certainly wouldn’t offer a dog to a friends mum with no experience of such a large breed of dog. You do sound like a experienced dog owner to me but I think you’d be crazy to have a animal/dog that size around your toddler grandson ( we all know toddlers can be unpredictable 🤣)

I actually ended up with a lock down rescue reject pup. A french bull dog ( I know mumsnet hates them) He’s amazing but omg the most stubborn dog I’ve ever known. I couldn’t imagine coping with a 10 stone version of him

If I were you I’d definitely look at other breeds and then find a really good breeder.

I mainly agree with this. You will have a dog that in an emergency you can't contain. A friend's much loved, well trained german shepherd turned on her for no reason. It had a brain tumour. Tragic. Truly tragic. She managed to fend it off. If it had been an XL bully she wouldn't have been able to.

I wouldn't ever have a dog that would win hands down in a disagreement. Let alone with children.

I have always had dogs. I prefer dogs to humans tbh. You can never leave any dog with a child is the first thing I would say but the second thing is never have a dog you aren't physically able of restraining should the need arise.

I agree @YorkiePud25Thank. I know people with out of control, snappy Chihuahuas and Jack Russells. I tend to think bigger dogs are often more placid and intelligent (therefore easier trained). The problem with a bigger breed, of course, is that if they do turn they can do a lot more damage which is why I’m being cautious.

Thank you @Simonthecatsservant for your post-very helpful and gave me a lot to think about. I have obviously been offered to go and visit the pup (only one left now) and it’s mum but don’t want to do so until I’ve done a bit more research, because I know if I see it in the flesh I’ll fall in love on the spot and want to take it home

I hope some Bully owners can come onto the thread soon and give you some real life advice rather than commenting the dogs look too muscular!

Thank you, that’s what I’m hoping for too, though you and one other person have been helpful even though you are not bully owners so much appreciated.

Suspect it's a bit immaterial though and puppy will arrive. Hopefully OP won't regret it.

You would make a terrible detective because actually after reading some comments on this thread-the polite and helpful ones, not the rude or pointless ‘no, just no’ replies I have gone from 55/45 against to 75/25 against!

I have always had dogs. I prefer dogs to humans tbh. You can never leave any dog with a child is the first thing I would say but the second thing is never have a dog you aren't physically able of restraining should the need arise.

Agree 100%.

That is so sad picklemewalnuts. I’m glad your friend was ok though.

@PinkSyCo

Suspect it's a bit immaterial though and puppy will arrive. Hopefully OP won't regret it.

You would make a terrible detective because actually after reading some comments on this thread-the polite and helpful ones, not the rude or pointless ‘no, just no’ replies I have gone from 55/45 against to 75/25 against!

So, taking that single comment aside - is there anything else that you have taken from my polite, factual replies which I was very careful to make non-breed specific?

Have you actually met one of this breed in the flesh, preferably indoors (dogs often aren't as imposing outdoors as they are in enclosed spaces, on initial meeting)?

If you are reading my replies as rude and pointless, then you are not reading anything much that isn't supportive of acquiring a large, strong breed that you have no experience of, were not attracted to and which the adult intimidates you.

IF you do decide to go any further, then meeting several of the breed should be your first step, with a very firm intention to meet and then walk away and make a rational decision while you are not looking at cute puppies. Again, this is standard for ANY breed, no sensible decision was ever made when looking at puppies LOL.

t I like the fact that I can see where the dog came from (not factory farmed)

Back street breeder though?

I just couldn't help imagining my tiny children anywhere near a dog like that and my response was a visceral one - the idea of it goes against every single protective instinct. I know that no dog is entirely safe around children, that they always need vigilant and constant supervision whatever the breed so it's not that I think it would be more inherently aggressive than a different, smaller dog but that the outcome of an attack would be so much more devastating. I would think that if you did get the dog, the parents wouldn't be sending the toddler for childcare anymore. You would just have no chance of controlling it if it turned - and like a pp, I had a much loved and trusted gentle dog attack me when it developed a brain tumour. The first sign anything was wrong with it was aggression - no one knew he was ill before he attacked. He was a Lab and I was fine. An XL bully - I wouldn't have walked away from that. It worries me how many of these dogs are for sale. They are just so strong and so powerful - I don't see that it could ever be worth the risk.

The dog that sadly killed that poor boy in south Wales was an XL Bully type. Not to demonise the "breed" (it's not really a breed in this country, still a crossbreed) but you do have to be cautious.

I have seen so many "Bullies" sold online for ridiculous amounts of money but in all shapes and sizes, some that could easily be typed and seized under the BSL laws. They are primarily bred for their looks, to be a dog of pure muscle, bonus points if they're merle (seen those being sold for up to £10k) there's a huge problem with them either being imported with cropped ears (to make them look "tough") or several crap breeders have been done for illegally cropping in this country too.

If you want this puppy you will need to meet the parents, assess their temperaments as well as any health tests which have been done on the parents.

These are heavy and strong dogs, a puppy will need a ton of socialising and training, as any dog does, but you don't want a dog that strong being reactive to either man or beast or have issues with things like resource guarding.

Are they AKC registered? Or are they as most are over here random mongrels bred to look like them? Because if it’s the second you can ignore any information you actually find about the breed, it’ll just be down to luck what traits come from where.

Are the parents health tested?

Why does he just have a puppy going spare?

What sort of socialisation programme has he been doing with them?...

My niece had one, although not from a pup - think she and her boyfriend bought one from an acquaintance

It ended up biting my sister, she was cooking at my nieces and dropped some chicken on the floor, she went to pick it up at the same time her smaller french bulldog and the xl bully both went for it. The french bulldog and my sister both got pretty bad bites.

They sent it to live with some travellers after that. Feel so sorry for the dog. My ds did say it was extremely intimidating but who knows what kind of life it had before going to live with my niece.

Personally I would go for a dog that is easier to handle in case a situation like that ever arises.

And now my nephew has just bought a ‘pocket bully’.

They are beautiful dogs (all dogs are!) but seem to be the dog of choice for roadman types.

@GingerFoxInAT0phat

My niece had one, although not from a pup - think she and her boyfriend bought one from an acquaintance

It ended up biting my sister, she was cooking at my nieces and dropped some chicken on the floor, she went to pick it up at the same time her smaller french bulldog and the xl bully both went for it. The french bulldog and my sister both got pretty bad bites.

They sent it to live with some travellers after that. Feel so sorry for the dog. My ds did say it was extremely intimidating but who knows what kind of life it had before going to live with my niece.

Personally I would go for a dog that is easier to handle in case a situation like that ever arises.

They sold it on? Knowing it was aggressive? Why didn't they pts?

Regardless of the breed I wouldn't be buying a puppy from someone who from the sounds of it is a back yard breeder. Parents won't be health tested etc. Totally irresponsible.