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The doghouse

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Original poster

Met an XL Bully today for the first time

226 replies

Woahyeahyeahyeah · 29/12/2023 16:08

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?

OP posts:
CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 31/12/2023 10:04

I think it really isn’t the dogs themselves that are the problem. We’ve bred them to become problematic just like we’ve bred pugs to be unable to breathe properly and labs to find walking difficult. The breeding of XL bullies should stop and we should concentrate on the healthy energetic family-friendly breeds. Unfortunately “should” does nothing and there are loads of lovely dogs out there who “shouldn’t” exist. We are the problem. Our job should be to give the ones in existence a good life and humane end and it isn’t going to happen.

Megifer · 31/12/2023 10:07

WingingItSince1973 · 31/12/2023 09:54

Just seen this on local group. Looks like young lad who lives in a flat. Why does he need a dog like this? 😭

I'd take posts like this with a huge lashing of salt. I've seen a few similar and most of them are clearly trolling to get people frothing. Within 4 hours you'll see "I've made a mistake and have to rehome this dog hes only got 6 hours left can anyone help" and that gets frothing of a different kind.

See also "I can rehome a bully message me" then the poster disappears admid a flurry of "I have messaged this poster and he hasn't replied" "is this dog safe" "I'm so upset he isn't responding" etc etc.

The perfect wind up at a time of heightened emotions all round.

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 31/12/2023 10:08

@OdeToBarney could be a ground floor flat with a garden. He could walk it for hours a day because he knows he only has a balcony. I know a lot of people with flats and dogs and none of them are mistreated. The only difference is where I can let mine out and leave him to do his business, they can't. Some dogs don't run around a garden anyway. My dog just sits there.

OdeToBarney · 31/12/2023 10:12

@doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic would you keep a bear or a lion in a flat, communal living, among other people? No. Then no one should keep an xl bully in a flat. It's antisocial and not in the dog's best interests. I respect your opinion differs to mine though!

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 31/12/2023 10:23

OdeToBarney · 31/12/2023 10:12

@doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic would you keep a bear or a lion in a flat, communal living, among other people? No. Then no one should keep an xl bully in a flat. It's antisocial and not in the dog's best interests. I respect your opinion differs to mine though!

I wouldn't because I can't be bothered with waiting around for them to decide to poo. When we go on holiday and stay in a chalet my dog really takes the mickey with it trying to make it a walk but I think there are ways to make it work. Love your last sentence. Not a lot of that on this thread Flowers

OdeToBarney · 31/12/2023 10:30

@doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic that made me chuckle, I'm imagining your dog planning ways to make a poo break a walk instead!

I think it's natural that people have strong opinions, and views can become entrenched. I've always liked dogs, but I've unfortunately had some really bad experiences over the last couple of years and I've found myself not liking them anymore. That's been intensified by the uptick in ownership since the pandemic, and seemingly every place now is dog friendly. I feel very strongly that xl bullies are an abomination and I'm glad they're being banned. However I understand that not everyone will agree with me. I do try and factor in my bias when commenting, because if people think "well she just hates all dogs and is illogical", it's not exactly persuasive, is it! In all honesty, I don't think any dog should be allowed off lead in a public place (with the exception of dog designated areas) and I also think they should be muzzled. But that is not a popular opinion at all 😬

forgotmyusername1 · 31/12/2023 10:35

OdeToBarney · 31/12/2023 10:12

@doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic would you keep a bear or a lion in a flat, communal living, among other people? No. Then no one should keep an xl bully in a flat. It's antisocial and not in the dog's best interests. I respect your opinion differs to mine though!

Someone on a Facebook group rehomed an xl bully a week ago
Lives in a flat with no garden
Bought the muzzle yesterday and now despairing it is going mental and won't wear it and she can't take it out as she can't muzzle it but has no garden.

I have no words. Guess it will be puppy pads in the corner for a bit

OdeToBarney · 31/12/2023 10:43

@forgotmyusername1 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

whatsitcalledwhen · 31/12/2023 10:46

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 31/12/2023 10:08

@OdeToBarney could be a ground floor flat with a garden. He could walk it for hours a day because he knows he only has a balcony. I know a lot of people with flats and dogs and none of them are mistreated. The only difference is where I can let mine out and leave him to do his business, they can't. Some dogs don't run around a garden anyway. My dog just sits there.

It would be incredibly selfish to have such a large and powerful dog living in that environment even if it had frequent walks.

If you don't believe that then you're either misinformed or not really an animal lover, because to put a dog of that breed in that environment is selfish, foolish and cruel.

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 31/12/2023 11:05

OdeToBarney · 31/12/2023 10:30

@doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic that made me chuckle, I'm imagining your dog planning ways to make a poo break a walk instead!

I think it's natural that people have strong opinions, and views can become entrenched. I've always liked dogs, but I've unfortunately had some really bad experiences over the last couple of years and I've found myself not liking them anymore. That's been intensified by the uptick in ownership since the pandemic, and seemingly every place now is dog friendly. I feel very strongly that xl bullies are an abomination and I'm glad they're being banned. However I understand that not everyone will agree with me. I do try and factor in my bias when commenting, because if people think "well she just hates all dogs and is illogical", it's not exactly persuasive, is it! In all honesty, I don't think any dog should be allowed off lead in a public place (with the exception of dog designated areas) and I also think they should be muzzled. But that is not a popular opinion at all 😬

That's exactly what he does! Akitas also do this thing where they just sit and move their head to say "nope". It's so cute and so frustrating.

I completely agree with you and disagree. I've taken it the other way - the owners are an abomination. So entitled and "but he's friendly". My dog is never off the lead, we use a long line. I completely agree they should be on a lead in public - can't disagree with muzzling it's perfectly logical but shouldn't be needed if the owner is responsible. My dog poos himself from fear when he has one put on him. However, if it was a legal requirement I'd get him used to it.

PGmicstand · 31/12/2023 11:09

I met one a few months ago when we were passing a a cake sale (outdoors). He was absolutely massive.
Owner bought him a cake and he had to sit and wait until she told him to eat it. He very delicately licked all the icing off and then ate it in neat bites. Absolutely adorable.
The overexciteable collie cross that was also there was an entirely different personality - jumped up at a small child several times, despite being told no half-heatredly by its owner.

forgotmyusername1 · 31/12/2023 11:25

OdeToBarney · 31/12/2023 10:43

@forgotmyusername1 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

When someone pointed out that it wasn't the best idea the response was that 'she wasn't thinking about that, she was more interested in saving its life

By rehoming it into a completely unsuitable environment she either needs to make it work or put it to sleep as the dog can not be rehomed elsewhere.

OdeToBarney · 31/12/2023 11:32

@forgotmyusername1 some people are so determined to "fight the cause" they can't see beyond that. Absolutely ridiculous.

WingingItSince1973 · 31/12/2023 13:50

@doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic I will judge because my DDs bf came home with a xl puppy last year amid all the horrors happening with them. Into a flat with my dgc who was 5 at the time. His idea was to breed her and make money! Obviously the lad in the Facebook post might just be a kind stand up member of society but I wonder why on earth a young lad wants a dog like this with all the hoops he is going to have to jump through and pay for. Good for him if he thinks he's saving a dog but not good for the population around him if he's after another status symbol. Fortunately my dd and her bf had to rehome their dog at the landlords request and I felt my dgs was safe. I have two small dogs. I've always had dogs. I don't under the need for this massive breed in anyone's life unless the live on acres of land and need a guard type dog. Sadly this lad is in a one bed flat so go figure. Poor dog and poor people around it.

MintyfreshSW · 31/12/2023 15:04

PGmicstand · 31/12/2023 11:09

I met one a few months ago when we were passing a a cake sale (outdoors). He was absolutely massive.
Owner bought him a cake and he had to sit and wait until she told him to eat it. He very delicately licked all the icing off and then ate it in neat bites. Absolutely adorable.
The overexciteable collie cross that was also there was an entirely different personality - jumped up at a small child several times, despite being told no half-heatredly by its owner.

The argument isn’t that all other breeds are perfectly behaved and XLs are not, the argument is that an XL is essentially able to overpower a fully grown male which makes it a danger. A border collie isn’t going to eat your intestines is it?

MistyWitch · 31/12/2023 16:03

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 31/12/2023 10:08

@OdeToBarney could be a ground floor flat with a garden. He could walk it for hours a day because he knows he only has a balcony. I know a lot of people with flats and dogs and none of them are mistreated. The only difference is where I can let mine out and leave him to do his business, they can't. Some dogs don't run around a garden anyway. My dog just sits there.

This is so true. We live rurally and have a huge garden. Our dog is a very large Labrador x GSP. When I leave the door open to allow him out into our (secure) garden he plods down to the bench and promptly plonks himself down for a nap. Despite his size he would be perfectly fine in a flat. He has three great loves, tennis balls, eating and sleeping.

MintyfreshSW · 31/12/2023 17:29

Still plenty of people selling puppies on Tik Tok today

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 31/12/2023 17:30

MintyfreshSW · 31/12/2023 17:29

Still plenty of people selling puppies on Tik Tok today

What?! That can't be legal?

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 31/12/2023 17:31

Like any puppy.

MintyfreshSW · 31/12/2023 18:09

Of course it’s not legal. But there’s no way to police it and just shows the general mindset of people who want to own this type of dog.

Freshair1 · 31/12/2023 18:18

Plenty of Muppets on FB crying about all the 'innocent babies being PTS at midnight.' Thick as mince.

Gnomegarden32 · 31/12/2023 18:20

I’ve seen quite a few now - apparently I live in the XL Bully capital of the country :/ It’s intimidating

LadyMary50 · 31/12/2023 18:23

Jojobees · 29/12/2023 18:51

I’m not clutching at straws, you’ll see from my previous post I am in favour of the legislation. But to say they are the only dogs that bite is wrong.

It’s not just that they bite,it’s the sheer power they have that renders it impossible to get the dog off once it attacks.

whatsitcalledwhen · 31/12/2023 20:05

@Jojobees

Who has said that they are the only dogs that bite?

Of course they aren't. Many dogs could bite. But very few domestic breeds are so big, strong and (in attack mode) aggressive that they simply cannot be overpowered by a human.

It's not that they bite. It's the damage their bites do and the fact they can't be stopped once they start.

Often it takes a gun when the police arrive on scene. In a recent attack a hammer to the dog by a desperate bystander didn't work. The only thing that worked was for the police to taser the dog. That is why this dog is entirely unsuitable to be a domestic pet. Let alone a family one.

Wills890 · 23/06/2024 18:18

MissingMoominMamma · 29/12/2023 17:22

You know ‘Bully’ is short for Bull Terrier, don’t you?

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