Page 5 | Met an XL Bully today for the first time

Woahyeahyeahyeah · 2023-12-29T16:08:37+00:00

Was out for a Family walk earlier today at a NT site and met an XL bully for the first time, he was 9 months old and 8 stone! Although I've seen pictures and obviously the news reports, but to meet one in person I was absolutely astounded at the sheer size and power behind him. The strength and muscles! Wow! My Young DC said he was more like a Lion than a Dog. Don't get me wrong, he was beautiful, friendly and had the character of just a normal over excited Pup - we also have a puppy and they played for a few minutes. His Family were really nice people with young children, they spoke of how sad they feel about the muzzle enforcement in the New Year. Not sure where I'm going with this post but wondered, does the Law also include at Home? Or is it just in public places?

Wateroverwine · 30/12/2023 03:51

Username2101 · 29/12/2023 22:55

There's a woman near me who constantly tries to rehome these dogs because the owners (inset excuse here).

Every single one so far is not suitable to have with cats, other dogs, and children. There is a point where you wonder why bother. They are clearly not a good temperament, and who in their right mind would willingly have it in their home

These posts have ramped up as the deadline is in view. She is now on a mission to save as many as she can and has quit her job to do so.

If it wasn't so outing I would post a photo of a XL bully and a cat which live together and sleep together that I personally know.

forgotmyusername1 · 30/12/2023 04:57

The issue is

Xl bullies make up 1% of UK dog population
They are responsible for 70% of dog on dog attacks
They are responsible for 50% of human attacks.

I don't see how anyone can say this dog as a species is not dangerous

Mammyloveswine · 30/12/2023 05:16

They are a dangerous breed and I'm
Pleased there is legislation coming in!

Ridiculous to see all the "light a candle" posts all over social media!

Not the dogs fault but definitely not suitable pets!!

I think people should have a license again to own any dog and ensure the dog is going to a suitable home. So many people having dogs who have no idea how to look after them/train them properly and get them as a fashion accessory!

madeleine85 · 30/12/2023 05:51

It’s so sad, it really is the owners that cause the issues. The owners who care about their dogs and have the well trained ones will muzzle in public. Those who don’t… well, we all know.

Frangipanyoul8r · 30/12/2023 06:08

His Family were really nice people with young children

Nice but thick. XL bully issues were all over the news when they got their pup.

Ladybird69 · 30/12/2023 06:18

I’ve always been an owner of large Xl breeds of dogs. They are not for novice owners and are hard work. Sadly I recently met 2 of the XXL bully’s, just before everything kicked off. They were only 4 months old and beautiful puppies and I was admiring them and making a fuss………. but their owners were 2 young lads whose only interest was to breed them and make loads of money!, that’s what they told me! They were egging them on to get fight and boasting that the boy had XXL balls too, Just like him! If I’d have had the powers I would have taken those poor dogs there and then. Now that the bans and restrictions have been set I wonder what has happened to them? Have they been handed into a shelter or even worse been driven into a secretive underground movement away from regulation and made to fight and breed for the likes of the lads that I had the misfortune to meet. So very sad either way.

Baffledandalarmed · 30/12/2023 07:04

Wateroverwine · 30/12/2023 03:47

Calling police who should be dealing with car crimes and burglaries! I can't even wear my expensive watch in London because scum are robbing people for it...yet a dog minding its own business is priority to you? Let's hope you don't need police in future

Whoever wrote that post the backlash was correct

Such a waste of police time.

Show quote history

Except it’s not, is it.

Loose XL bullies on a field that they’re not insured to be on, unmuzzled and off the lead is a problem as soon as it becomes illegal. That’s someone’s business they’ll destroy WHEN they hurt someone because their insurers won’t pay out and they will be sued - which is a bit more important than a nice watch.

XL bullies and then owners and people who defend the little scumbags (both dogs and owners) are a bigger issue for me than someone having their snazzy watch stolen tbh. Just hand the watch over and you’ll be fine. XL bully goes for you? You’re dead.

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 30/12/2023 08:10

Prawncow · 29/12/2023 22:53

No, horses might catch you accidentally while panicking.

Lots of the stories I’ve seen about XL bully attacks seem to suggest they were going after another dog and a human got in the way. That suggests poor socialisation/training. Generally very big, powerful dogs are not dog aggressive in the way that eg Jack Russell’s are. They don’t feel the need to challenge other dogs because they’re totally confident that the other dog isn’t any threat to them.

Absolutely! 👏

hattie43 · 30/12/2023 08:12

I've only ever owned bullbreeds and would have nothing else . As a lifelong bullmastiff owner these XL bullies are terrifying in the wrong hands . And that's the issue . They are in the wrong hands in this country .
I get zillions of sm feeds of these dogs in America leading normal family lives . Don't conflate these dogs here with all ' bullbreeds' because they aren't .
I don't agree with this legislation because it's a knee jerk reaction and we never go to the root cause of the problem and sort the underclass skanks and drug dealers who peddle this misery .
Yesterday's fb post had a woman desperately trying to rehome 5 XL bully male pups before the deadline, no charge , just outlining the costs of exemption. I can't tell you the number of people lining up to rehome them . The issue is not going away no matter the government trying to irradiate it .

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 30/12/2023 08:12

Username2101 · 29/12/2023 22:55

There's a woman near me who constantly tries to rehome these dogs because the owners (inset excuse here).

Every single one so far is not suitable to have with cats, other dogs, and children. There is a point where you wonder why bother. They are clearly not a good temperament, and who in their right mind would willingly have it in their home

These posts have ramped up as the deadline is in view. She is now on a mission to save as many as she can and has quit her job to do so.

There are many dogs that are not suitable to be rehomed with cats, dogs and children. Nothing to do with their viciousness. Also, due to the legislation coming in it would be entirely sensible to say this. It's more about her risk if she says they're ok to be around these. I certainly wouldn't rehome my dog with any of these.

MintyfreshSW · 30/12/2023 08:13

Not sure what your argument is here? You have just confirmed these dogs are a danger. There is no way of knowing it the one in the park with you is just lazy and soft or if their owner is ragingly incompetent.

This is the same as when Americans say the problem is people, not guns.

its the guns.

Therainfallingdownonme · 30/12/2023 08:20

Every time there’s an XL Bully thread on here, it feels like the penultimate scene on Watership Down, where a dog appears with the lifeless body of a rabbit in its bloody jaws and the other rabbits are running for their lives. Woundwort shouts ‘dogs aren’t dangerous!’

And I am not aiming for humour there either. Eleven people are dead but it’s the owners, not the dogs, and they are lovely really

forgotmyusername1 · 30/12/2023 08:50

The text on this page says it all really

Met an XL Bully today for the first time

GreatAuntMaude · 30/12/2023 08:51

My poodle was attacked by one of these when he was a puppy. I had never seen the breed before. We rounded a corner in a forest popular with dog walkers near here and met a couple with a female bull breed dog, smaller than a rottweiler and not as jowly, bigger than a staffy but looked similar, no Roman nose, huge across the forehead and such a wide chest. I knew from the couple's body language we were in trouble, the man reached for her harness but too late. No sooner had she seen my pup but she launched an attack. It was totally silent. She just ran at him and went for his neck. The noises he made, never heard anything like it. She never made a sound. Chilling.

There is no doubt in my mind she would have killed my dog but for the strap muzzle they had on her. She meant business. My dog hadn't approached hers or been cheeky like puppies can be. He was literally sniffing in the undergrowth when she launched at him from 10 metres away.

I will never understand why that couple, who knew their dog was aggressive to others - clear from their body language when we rounded that corner, the way he tried to grab her, and the fact they had her muzzled - also had her off lead.

That dog was dangerous and if she hasn't killed another dog between then and now it's by luck alone.

We have met other reactive dogs, other grumpy dogs, dogs who have growled. Dogs who have warned ours off, and dogs who he, as he has got older, has warned off too. I have never seen another silent attack like that bully. I can only liken it to when my dog stalks squirrels, but without the initial still, step by step stalking period. Straight into the silent attack phase.

iamwhatiam23 · 30/12/2023 09:00

Having seen the aftermath of one of these dogs attacking two fully grown adults a couple of months back i think the government are most definitely right in making sure people are protected from them! In fact they haven't gone far enough! The house looked like a murder scene, it took the emergency services hours to rescue them because they couldn't access the house safely, and both have since undergone multiple operations on their injuries! Anyone who chooses to own one of these dogs is a fool!

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 30/12/2023 09:05

GreatAuntMaude · 30/12/2023 08:51

My poodle was attacked by one of these when he was a puppy. I had never seen the breed before. We rounded a corner in a forest popular with dog walkers near here and met a couple with a female bull breed dog, smaller than a rottweiler and not as jowly, bigger than a staffy but looked similar, no Roman nose, huge across the forehead and such a wide chest. I knew from the couple's body language we were in trouble, the man reached for her harness but too late. No sooner had she seen my pup but she launched an attack. It was totally silent. She just ran at him and went for his neck. The noises he made, never heard anything like it. She never made a sound. Chilling.

There is no doubt in my mind she would have killed my dog but for the strap muzzle they had on her. She meant business. My dog hadn't approached hers or been cheeky like puppies can be. He was literally sniffing in the undergrowth when she launched at him from 10 metres away.

I will never understand why that couple, who knew their dog was aggressive to others - clear from their body language when we rounded that corner, the way he tried to grab her, and the fact they had her muzzled - also had her off lead.

That dog was dangerous and if she hasn't killed another dog between then and now it's by luck alone.

We have met other reactive dogs, other grumpy dogs, dogs who have growled. Dogs who have warned ours off, and dogs who he, as he has got older, has warned off too. I have never seen another silent attack like that bully. I can only liken it to when my dog stalks squirrels, but without the initial still, step by step stalking period. Straight into the silent attack phase.

I'm so sorry for you and your poor poodle. It does sound horrific. I can't stand people who have their dog off lead with no control

whatsitcalledwhen · 30/12/2023 09:08

@Peacheroo

A Labrador attacked me and my dog. I didn't die but it hurt us both and my clothes had to be replaced.

I'm sorry that happened to you.

In exactly the same circumstances, if the dog had been an XL bully, what do you think the outcome would have been for you and your dog?

You must realise that if a Labrador hurt you and your dog and ruined your clothing, your dog would have almost certainly been killed and you would at minimum have been gravely injured (possibly with life changing) if the dog had been an XL bully?

No matter how good one is normally, if they do attack (which could be for multiple reasons that aren't their 'fault' e.g. brain tumour / protecting owner from a perceived threat / panic at a sudden noise or movement etc) then they cannot be physically overpowered and it is in their nature to continue the attack even if hit by baseball bats and other heavy objects.

So using the example of a lab attacking you may prove that other breeds can attack, which everyone knows, but the point is that the consequence of that attack are hugely likely to be catastrophic.

So again, in exactly the same circumstances, if the dog had been an XL bully, what do you think the outcome would have been for you and your dog?

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 30/12/2023 09:15

@whatsitcalledwhen great points. My dog is bigger than an XL bully so it's not the same as other posters have said - more of an even fight but yes could have been catastrophic. My dog is a bear hunter but clearly quite bad at it. I have had to kick many off lead dogs that go for him but this day I was wearing sandals and sat in a field relaxing so wasn't at the right angle. It's the only time I haven't protected him and it was so upsetting.

I will say the lab owners first response was "he is under control and this is a park" to which I obviously said dogs under control don't do that. My expectation is that people who have big powerful dogs have more control and don't let them off the lead so much but this thread shows that not to be true.

The problem is pathetic owners.

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 30/12/2023 09:18

@whatsitcalledwhen failed name change obvs 🤦🏼‍♀️

whatsitcalledwhen · 30/12/2023 09:20

@doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic

My expectation is that people who have big powerful dogs have more control and don't let them off the lead so much but this thread shows that not to be true.

And in the case of an XL bully, even if they are on a lead, the owner absolutely couldn't physically control them if they pulled and attacked. Which is terrifying.

There can be no true control if the dog is capable of overpowering almost all human adults.

In the case of an adult XL bully, I don't think any human of any size could overpower one in attack mode. Which is why it's completely irresponsible to own one.

And if someone has children, they are knowingly putting them at risk which is disgusting.

EdithStourton · 30/12/2023 09:25

I'm in two minds about BSL because while breed obviously impacts a dog's behaviour, the owner is also important. And a lot of XL bully owners do seem to be idiots. There is one locally who has an American bulldog that has no recall, but at least he keeps it on a lead. He also has a very young XL (off-lead time I saw it) which is going the same way. He has zero interest in training his dogs and is utterly clueless.

On the other hand I met a young bloke (tattoos, crew cut) who had a cane corso x I think American bulldog. He had a lot of dog experience, had bought the dog as a guard dog, knew exactly what he had and what she needed in terms of training, socialisation and fulfillment - we had a really interesting chat.

@Jojobees could you provide the source for the stats you gave on page 2?

CountFucula · 30/12/2023 09:29

I’m glad the legislation has come in and I’m glad it will lead to the dog breed dying out. We’ve got a dog problem in this country and owners are getting worse and worse. The new laws are a shame for responsible and loving owners but to be honest I’m pleased and I think legislation was the only way to sort this.

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 30/12/2023 09:30

@whatsitcalledwhen I disagree. Unless they're small or weak, a powerful dog can be pulled back. I speak from experience when my dog has responded to being attacked. I hold his collar, straddle him and pull back. The issue is only when the other dog is off lead and they move back with me. They're always off the lead too so happens all the time.

BUT these Herbert's, as my dad calls them, usually are small and weak.

WhyMeWhyNowWhyNot · 30/12/2023 09:33

I saw one in the summer - I was with my teenage sons and we were sat down outside a cafe. The dog was stood next to us with its owner. It really scared me what it could have done had it been spooked in any way. The woman holding it was tiny and would have had no means of stopping it had it decided to attack.

cheshirecatssmile · 30/12/2023 09:34

I've only come across 1 XXL bully. Male intact was told 9 month old. He was literally the size of a cow!
No harness just a fabric lead attached to the collar.
Dog was very bouncy and the fella was struggling to control him. Told him from a distance that training and possibly neutering in the future may help. No he wanted to breed from him.

Owner asked what breed my dog was. Belgian malinois. Who was sat next to me as trained. Off lead.
He said that a BM was a dangerous dog and that my dog should be on a leash as they are known to attack.

My dog has had vigorous training. On and off lead. Can walk past cats and not bat an eyelid. Yes took a lot of time and patience but we got there.
But she's been attacked herself by 3 off lead labs. Whilst on lead.