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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Xl bully

107 replies

sarah8484 · 14/09/2022 09:44

Would you ever trust an xl bully? My sister has one with young children. Puppy is only 10 weeks and very cute but i just wouldn't trust one around my children. She disagrees and thinks it the owner not the animal. I feel ok at the moment taking my children round but when the dog is bigger i won't be taking my child around. My sister thinks im being dramatic. Just wanted to hear other peoples views.

OP posts:
abovedecknotbelow · 14/09/2022 09:44

Nope.

GrazingSheep · 14/09/2022 09:46

Not for me either.
Bur hopefully your sister is an experienced dog owner and knows how to train and manage dogs.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/09/2022 09:49

Your sister is a fool.

forrestgreen · 14/09/2022 10:08

Never, and she'd not be looking after the. Either, as she obviously doesn't see the issue

Mollyplop999 · 14/09/2022 10:13

Absolutely not. Out of all the breeds she could have, why on earth have one of those?!

MrsRhodes · 14/09/2022 10:18

Good god no. I know someone who has just got one - they can't look after kids properly let alone a dog like this. They have feral kids ranging from 1 to 8 and I honestly worry about the kids around this dog.

upandmummin · 14/09/2022 10:19

Wouldn't be taking my kids there to be honest, why even risk it after what happened to Jack Lis?

Moveonswiftlyplease · 14/09/2022 10:21

'It's the owner not the breed' is rubbish. OK, you could get a chihuahua and it could be aggressive. It may attack your child but you can easily stop it from killing them. A XL bully attacks your child and it will stop when it decides to.

I would never have a dog I wasn't confident I could protect my children from if I had to.

wetotter · 14/09/2022 10:23

A well socialised and well trained dog should not be a problem - I know two XLs who are slight daft and very soppy dogs who don't seem to know their own size. Both have experienced and assiduous owners.

I wouldn't want to be around one until I had had a chance to see its temperament and how it interacts with its owner (and other people, and other dogs) and so would be cautious.

I don't think DC should be alone with them until they are adult sized, and known to be competent. For most dogs that would happen somewhere in upper primary school age, as I think on this size matters

SharpLily · 14/09/2022 10:25

Is your sister an experienced dog owner? Is she very familiar with this breed?

Original poster
sarah8484 · 14/09/2022 10:31

@SharpLily no, she's not experienced in dogs at all. And she's a very calm person with no authority about her (not saying that in a bad way) so really don't know how she could possibly have any control over the dog. Think she's hoping it will just be a big soppy dog if she gives it lots of love.

OP posts:
plantsareglorious · 14/09/2022 10:32

Totally agree with you. All dogs can have trigger points and be unpredictable but with an American bull breed you've no chance of stopping them once they start.
I would never have my child around one and I'm a dog lover (have a dog myself).

Summertimesunshineandfizz · 14/09/2022 10:36

Nope . Not a chance. Has she met both the parents?

SharpLily · 14/09/2022 10:36

sarah8484 · 14/09/2022 10:31

@SharpLily no, she's not experienced in dogs at all. And she's a very calm person with no authority about her (not saying that in a bad way) so really don't know how she could possibly have any control over the dog. Think she's hoping it will just be a big soppy dog if she gives it lots of love.

Well being calm is great but this is not a breed for inexperienced dog owners. I have Dobermans, often considered a dangerous breed, so I don't have a knee-jerk reaction to these kind of dogs but there is no doubt that you need to put more effort and care in with some dogs and it doesn't sound like she's particularly aware of or prepared for what's involved.

bunnygeek · 14/09/2022 10:36

If she was an experienced dog owner with knowledge of training a strong breed of dog to indeed be that soppy lump she desires, then yes that would be fine. But it sounds as though she has no experience, I hope she's going to puppy classes (if they'll accept the breed) and has sorted insurance (which also won't generally cover Bullys). Unfortunately Bullies seem to be attracting inexperienced owners (as well as status dog owners) and that's where the problems start.

I saw an American Bully in the vets yesterday, she seemed soppy but looked like a Staffy on steroids, she was just over knee high so not tall, but built like a tank and proving a handful for the young chap to hang on to (would have definitely pulled over kids or me!) as she was excited seeing all the new people and dogs in the reception area, not aggressive, just excited.

3ormoredogs · 14/09/2022 10:37

I am very experienced with dogs of all breeds and wouldn’t touch one with someone else’s barge pole.

Minimal body language warning signals, genetically unsound, bred by idiots as penis extensions. No thanks.

Stellaris22 · 14/09/2022 10:38

What training will she do? Did she research the breed and training techniques specific to the breed?

I'd be very wary due to their strength. I know staffies that are absolutely lovely and great with kids, but that's down to training and socialisation.

The breed is definitely a concern, but the main reason I don't like them is inadequate research/knowledge before buying them. A friend wants one and they are very much of the 'all dogs should be off lead' mind set and does little to no dog training. If she gets one I'm avoiding it.

mountainsunsets · 14/09/2022 10:38

No, and I work with dogs.

FruitPastilleNut · 14/09/2022 10:38

No.

I wouldn't let my dc step foot in the house - and I wouldn't trust 'oh but we'll keep him in garden/kitchen' either. This wouldn't be honoured by someone daft enough to get one when they have their own dc.

I think you're unwise to let your dc be around the pup op and in your shoes I'd stop that now. Otherwise, where do you draw the line? A half grown XL is big enough to kill a young child, they don't need to be adults to be a danger. Plus you risk setting a precedent, allowing your dc to bond etc.

Only a moron would get an XL bully with young children. Unfortunately there are a lot around.

wetotter · 14/09/2022 10:38

|It will only be a safe (possibly soppy) dog is she really trains it well (and reinforces training for life)

As she's not an experienced dog owner, then I think she needs a trainer, and a really strong set of barriers round the house so the dog and the DC can be kept separate at all times. There needs to be a competent adult between dog and DC when they are in the same room, and the DC needs to be trained in how to behave round a dog. Shutting the dog in a different room for much of the time is likely to be counterproductive, as the dog can become lonely, miserable and stressed. Child stair gates might not be strong enough for a dog that size (even my little dog - under 6kg - managed to defeat the one by simply hurling herself at it until the catch broke)

It's do-able, but I hope she realises the scale of the task she has taken on.

economicervix · 14/09/2022 10:42

Did all the news stories about that breed killing people entice her to buy one? Does she know all of the signs a dog gives when it”s uncomfortable and ready to attack? Does she never take her eyes off it when her kids are about?

Round here they are a pyramid scheme animal, bred by scumbags, to sell to other scumbags, to breed, to sell. With the ears mutilated, of course. Then they appear on gumtree around 10mnths old, ‘can’t be around other dogs’. 🙄

theemmadilemma · 14/09/2022 10:43

wetotter · 14/09/2022 10:38

|It will only be a safe (possibly soppy) dog is she really trains it well (and reinforces training for life)

As she's not an experienced dog owner, then I think she needs a trainer, and a really strong set of barriers round the house so the dog and the DC can be kept separate at all times. There needs to be a competent adult between dog and DC when they are in the same room, and the DC needs to be trained in how to behave round a dog. Shutting the dog in a different room for much of the time is likely to be counterproductive, as the dog can become lonely, miserable and stressed. Child stair gates might not be strong enough for a dog that size (even my little dog - under 6kg - managed to defeat the one by simply hurling herself at it until the catch broke)

It's do-able, but I hope she realises the scale of the task she has taken on.

Some of this depends on training and the dog.

My 45kg dog has never challenged the child gate he could quite easily (because of placement) jump over if he wanted.

BobMortimersPocketMeat · 14/09/2022 10:45

I have no idea why anyone would choose one of these dogs if not for their intimidatory value. They are so ugly and look incredibly dangerous regardless of temperament. I think Staffies have sweet faces, I can see charm in Rotties, and Dobermans are very elegant and pleasing to look at. Even bulldogs have some appeal. But these bully breeds don’t even have that. This photo puts the willies up me.

Xl bully
ThisUserNameIsAvailableOk · 14/09/2022 10:45

Nope. I wouldn't let them anywhere near it now tbh. Your sister is stupid and selfish

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