American Bully

No argument from me tickingbird, it’s a discussion. I agree with you, irresponsible people inter bred and created monsters.
I grew up with a mastiff, lovely big gentle giant. My child minder had 3 lovely staffies. There’s a cane corso I meet on walks. He’s 14 months huge powerful but his owner is training him well. Remains to be seen how the dog matures.

My lovely dog. a medium sized quiet obedient female, was out on a walk with us at ogmore by sea. She was on a lead then a `gentle giant` great dane bounded over to her and before we could do anything our dog had a terrible slashed underbelly.

The owner did nothing, just walked away. She was stitched from back to front. We had her until she died at 14 but never had a dog since because of all those `well-trained` large status-symbol dogs. Going for a walk with a pet dog must be nerve-wracking these days

Karmalady , it is much more difficult to socialise, or walk dogs now.
As part of his training/ socialisation I took my young dog to an outdoor cafe. He lay down as instructed. Around us we had yappy dogs, barking, lunging to other dogs. Mine coped really well but having such badly behaved dogs meant relaxing wasn’t easy

I think it would be better, when talking to dog owners to say you’re afraid of them. Too many dog owners don’t understand that many people are afraid of dogs. Ever since the attack on our dog by a Staffie we’re scared when a dog runs towards us. My SIL and grandson, even though they now have a dog of their own, are still scared of other dogs. Dog owners need to understand that many people are afraid of dogs, many dogs are afraid of other dogs. There needs to be some sort of code of conduct when it comes to dog ownership.

My friend, who has an American Bully puppy says hers is not XL but later in the conversation, told me just how big this young puppy is and it has still has a lot of growing to do.

XL= Extra Large

karmalady

My lovely dog. a medium sized quiet obedient female, was out on a walk with us at ogmore by sea. She was on a lead then a `gentle giant` great dane bounded over to her and before we could do anything our dog had a terrible slashed underbelly.

The owner did nothing, just walked away. She was stitched from back to front. We had her until she died at 14 but never had a dog since because of all those `well-trained` large status-symbol dogs. Going for a walk with a pet dog must be nerve-wracking these days

The exact same happened to Mum’s dog a few years ago only it was a horrible Boxer that did it.It was off lead with an uncaring owner.

varian

My friend, who has an American Bully puppy says hers is not XL but later in the conversation, told me just how big this young puppy is and it has still has a lot of growing to do.

XL= Extra Large

It will have to be put down next year.

MayBee70

I think it would be better, when talking to dog owners to say you’re afraid of them. Too many dog owners don’t understand that many people are afraid of dogs. Ever since the attack on our dog by a Staffie we’re scared when a dog runs towards us. My SIL and grandson, even though they now have a dog of their own, are still scared of other dogs. Dog owners need to understand that many people are afraid of dogs, many dogs are afraid of other dogs. There needs to be some sort of code of conduct when it comes to dog ownership.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
There are so many more dogs around now since the pandemic.

MayBee there is a code of conduct for dog owners. It’s published by the Kennel Club. My last 5 dogs plus fosters have attended training groups run by qualified trainers. They offer training to kennel club bronze, silver, gold obedience standard. Classes are fun, help build the bond between handler and dog . No one who has committed to these classes will eg, allow their dog to run up to a person or an on lead dog.

Oreo, yes many more dogs since the pandemic. Sadly many of them not trained or socialised

Iam64

MayBee there is a code of conduct for dog owners. It’s published by the Kennel Club. My last 5 dogs plus fosters have attended training groups run by qualified trainers. They offer training to kennel club bronze, silver, gold obedience standard. Classes are fun, help build the bond between handler and dog . No one who has committed to these classes will eg, allow their dog to run up to a person or an on lead dog.

We took Winnie to three training classes and I don’t remember ever being given a guidance like that. I think the best thing she was taught was ‘leave it’ because whatever the situation she will stop whatever she’s doing. It was very rare that people, when seeing our dog is on a lead, put theirs on one, too, but it is happening more often. It will be so sad if this results in all dogs being muzzled.

From what I know of the Dangerous Dogs Act, owners are supposed to register their pet . However, in 1991 when this act was introduced,3 out of 4 owners of pit bulls failed to register.

If the dog is seen out and about a policeman can remove the dog immediately. Then they come to a decision about allowing the dog home or euthanasia.

All dangerous dogs need to be neutered and microchipped. Muzzles need to be worn and they must not be allowed off lead.

This is all very difficult to police but it's a start.

I don't think that all XL Bullies will be euthanized though.

Iam64

MayBee there is a code of conduct for dog owners. It’s published by the Kennel Club. My last 5 dogs plus fosters have attended training groups run by qualified trainers. They offer training to kennel club bronze, silver, gold obedience standard. Classes are fun, help build the bond between handler and dog . No one who has committed to these classes will eg, allow their dog to run up to a person or an on lead dog.

Yes, I’ve always taken mine to KC training classes. I’m not a fan of the KC per se but these classes are well thought out

It said on the news just now that the dogs that killed the man the other day had previously ran around terrorising people. Why was nothing done about them then?

Several weeks ago I posted about a woman near us who bought a Cane Corso. They are great big brutes and she is just on 5ft tall and maybe a size 8 and I don’t think she could hold one back if she had to. Hardly any garden and a very small house.

Since I heard that I have been nowhere near her house because I am terrified it might get out when she is opening the door or when taking it in or out if her car.

I think these should be on the banned dogs list.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12524419/How-dog-walker-savaged-death-Surrey-beauty-spot-pounced-giant-pit-bull-rescued-weeks-DAVID-JONES-reveals.html

Nuzzling together, tender cheek by chestnut brown jowl, this is the first photograph of dog walker Natasha Johnston with Stan - the humungous bull terrier that savaged her to death in January, after turning on her as she exercised him in the Surrey countryside with seven other pets under her care.

MayBee70, press reports the police visited after the dogs were out of control having escaped from the garden. The owner was co-operative, the dogs calm and non aggressive round the police officers. If this is accurate, nothing the police could have done but ‘give advice’.

Why on earth did she think she could control so many dogs: most of them, apart from the dachshunds were large breeds, too, a Leonberger, Labradoodle and a couple of Labradors. I still don’t understand why, in that puppy programme, they advised that woman to have a Leonberger when she lived in a flat. For one thing, walking up and down steps when a puppy would have been bad for it’s joints and would have been an even bigger problem as it got old if it suffered from arthritis as many large breeds do. Thank goodness it didn’t have to be pts though.

lemsip

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12524419/How-dog-walker-savaged-death-Surrey-beauty-spot-pounced-giant-pit-bull-rescued-weeks-DAVID-JONES-reveals.html

Nuzzling together, tender cheek by chestnut brown jowl, this is the first photograph of dog walker Natasha Johnston with Stan - the humungous bull terrier that savaged her to death in January, after turning on her as she exercised him in the Surrey countryside with seven other pets under her care.

These idiots who think they can change dogs behaviour!!

It’s like women who marry murderers in jail or women who think they can change alcoholics who have already ruined a couple of marriages. It’s never going to work.

lemsip

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12524419/How-dog-walker-savaged-death-Surrey-beauty-spot-pounced-giant-pit-bull-rescued-weeks-DAVID-JONES-reveals.html

Nuzzling together, tender cheek by chestnut brown jowl, this is the first photograph of dog walker Natasha Johnston with Stan - the humungous bull terrier that savaged her to death in January, after turning on her as she exercised him in the Surrey countryside with seven other pets under her care.

And that’s the scary part….the way these dogs can just suddenly turn.

Primrose I presume you are talking about specific breeds. You can change dogs’ behaviour. It takes time and experience. But experience should also teach you that some breeds have this aggressive potential inbred.

I have rehabilitated many rescue dogs. But I’d never touch any with bullish genes. Nature v nurture? Nature wins too often.

As with all dangerous dogs or breeds, has no one else ever suggested them having to wear a muzzle! It’s a long time to wait till government pass this as a law that these dogs are dangerous breed and to be banned maybe a muzzle would be best in the meantime

I don’t understand why the dog that attacked my dog a few years ago wasn’t made to wear a muzzle given that it had been visited by the police and the safe neighbourhood officer and had hospitalised another dog. Or why it’s owner didn’t have the decency to muzzle it on walks because it used to snarl and lunge at other dogs.

I’m just back from two training groups with my young lab. Very experienced, well qualified trainers. All 3 sad but in total agreement with the proposals to neuter, muzzle and ban breeding of the XLBullies.
Like Quokka, I’ve rescues, fostered rehabilitated dogs, like her, I wouldn’t touch any with xl or pit bull genes.
Breed characteristics dominate even experienced trainers/behaviourists agree the xl and the breeds it’s been mixed with have no place in society or family homes

I may be wrong but I wonder if these bull breeds are far more difficult to rehabilitate if they’ve had bad experiences. Eg racing greyhounds aren’t really socialised or are used to living in peoples homes but seem to adapt really well to becoming pets: their past life isn’t imprinted on them in the same way. Other than obviously not to be trusted with any small furry creatures ( although, even then many seem ok living with smaller dogs and even, in some cases, cats). I remember in one of the dog rehoming tv programmes an elderly man rehomed a rather large Staffie and the postscript was that it had attacked another dog and had been rehomed again. It’s unfair what has happened to Staffies in recent years as they are lovely dogs if bred properly and in the right hands.