American Bully

Friend of ours has 2 XL Bullies that she rescued. They'd had a grim life. She is very experienced in taking in damaged dogs. They are gorgeous. Gentle and friendly.

However, these dogs will never be in the company of children. On the rare occasion they are out in public they are heavily muzzled. Harnessed. On short lead.

She's lucky that she lives on a farm and has land where they can exercise freely, alone.

She loves them but is in agreement the breed should be banned due to the horrific outcomes if one of them attack.

Jaws that lock are a myth. There’s no such thing. It’s just that some of these dogs have very powerful, strong muscled jaws and a determined, stubborn character so won’t easily let go.

BlueBelle

Listening to someone on the radio talking about them in (I think it was Spain) and they explain that they have to have a license the person owning one has to go through a series of tests of ownership they have to wear a muzzle at all times in public and be on a short lead if they are found to being a nuisance the police will interview and fine the owner very heavily it sounder very very much stricter than here when any Tom dick and Harry can own them.

This is exactly what should be done here. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Callistemon21

I don't know but do these bully type dogs have jaws that, once clenched, are locked into place?

No thier jaws are no different from any dog but there is plenty of power behind the bite should they choose to use it

I don't know but do these bully type dogs have jaws that, once clenched, are locked into place?

Callistemon21

^Collies round things up^

Our neighbour had a collie. He used to round up the children 😁

I did think a collie would have been a better choice than a spaniel or a terrier (inherited).

When I used to have jobs like delivering things I would never walk through a garden that had a collie in it. It isn’t that I don’t like them: if I knew I had the time and energy to keep one stimulated and exercised I’d love one, but I don’t. If they’re not stimulated and exercised they can go quite bonkers and the reason why I wouldn’t walk through a garden with one in it is that they’re very protective and defensive of their territory. However, if you get a lurcher with collie in it you get a sighthound with recall. You don’t see many Rough Collies these days but they can be really nasty; I’ve known several dogs that have been attacked by one. Greyhounds are bred to kill rabbits etc but I’ve yet to meet one that would hurt a person: it scary watching how much power whippet has in her jaws when she eats her ostrich bone and yet she would never bite anyone: it’s not in her dna. The dna of these Bully type dogs is to it’s and bite hard and I would imagine it doesn’t take much to tip them into a killing frenzy. When I chat to other do owners ( which is most days) I like to ask them about the nature of the breed of dog they have because I find it fascinating how different breeds have been developed over the centuries. And I would never ever mess with a Chihuahua or a Pomeranian!

Said it for me luckygirl

Frankly I would shoot the lot of them. They are man-made, in- bred manifestations of the worst of human aberrations.

not collies, obviously.
my comment was in response to silvergirl's last.

that's why they should all be rounded up and destroyed, immediately.

Collies round things up

Our neighbour had a collie. He used to round up the children 😁

I did think a collie would have been a better choice than a spaniel or a terrier (inherited).

MayBee70

I don’t think he was looking scared. He was determined to catch and attack one of those men.

Yes but that is what he has been aggressively trained to do. He can’t do anything else, especially when panicked and out of control. I am interested to see if his owner gets prosecuted.

He looked panicked and out of control. I agree with MayBee70, he was in attack mode.
In the clip I saw, he looked more like an American bulldog than an xl bully. American bull dogs were developed in the US from English bull dogs taken to America to be utility farm dogs. They’ve now been crossed with pit bulls and other dogs with the aim of making very powerful xl bullies.
The real problem is the determination amongst some to continue to breed for aggression.
The argument that it’s the owner, not the dog is of limited value. Dog breed characteristics tend to endure. My big show type lab is from generations of show types. Their job strutting round a show ring but - throw a ball into water and in he goes, powerful fast swimming, retrieves the ball and brings it straight to me. My spaniel is show not working type but, she flushed birds and every time I come home, picks up a gift to bring to me. Soft mouth, carries toys/socks etc to me - it’s in her dna.

Collies round things up, German shepherds work with their person, terriers kill small furry things.
It follows that xl bullies, bred for size muscle strength and aggression are going to show these breed characteristics

I believe they should all be muzzled when in public. They need those big, thick strong collars and a chain or other strong, short lead. No extendables, and a harness imo isn’t strong enough to restrain these dogs if they get excited

I don’t think he was looking scared. He was determined to catch and attack one of those men.

Norabone that is a very touching story. The love and kindness you gave that dog is probably the only warmth it had ever had from anyone. He is at peace now.
I hate seeing these scrawny drug users trying hopelessly to control these dogs. They train them to attack on command. This can protect them from drug dealers chasing their money.
In my opinion, the dog in the horrific incident looked absolutely panicked and scared. It’s not the dog's fault, it is the owners fault. Yes, these dogs should be banned for their own sake.

I’m a dog lover, but these dogs terrify me.
Whilst out and about in my local area over the last few years, I’ve seen more and more of this type of dog being “walked”. I’m not claiming them to be American Bully, XL or otherwise, but they are all powerful looking animals. And, sad to say, I haven’t seen one being walked using anything except a thin, weak looking leash.
I use “walked” because that’s not what was happening in the majority of cases. The owner/person in charge, sometimes a child, was basically being pulled along going wherever the dog wanted to go. No way would most of those dogs have been prevented from going near other dogs or people had they decided to do so.

I find them terrifying. I was waiting outside Marks &Spencer's when a young rough looking man came to meet his wife coming out. She had an expensive pram with a baby in it plus 2 small children. They were all wearing the latest designer gear and trainers. He looked like he didn't have two brain cells to rub together and he was yanking at the dog who was trying to pull in the other direction. Don't take this the wrong way but they walked in the direction of a large council estate that is renowned for anti social behaviour. This dog, massive and scary, was obviously a " status symbol" and I felt incredibly sorry for it. They should be banned.

How sad for you NoraBone, to learn his fate. I carry a lead in my car as I’ve found a few dogs wandering on main roads. I took one young staffie to our dog shelter to be scanned. They phoned the owners who said not ours, he’s in the garden. I’d had the dog an hour by then and people where I picjedc it up said it had been wandering that main road a while. When the owner reluctantly checked, he said oh yeah must be ours, he’s gone
They didn’t thank anyone

I found one in the park a few years ago, walking my (female) Border Collie. There was a man walking towards me with his dog on a lead being followed by this big white with brown spots male American Bulldog. I gave him the usual "hi" greeting - he said "this dog keeps following me and I don't know what to do". Yikes! I always keep a spare lead on me (how many times have I gone out with my dogs and come home with additional lost dogs, don't ask)! So I walked my dog and this American Bulldog around the park for about an hour, hoping to come across the owner. The looks on peoples faces I remember very well - they'd see the dog and almost recoil in horror. But he was very well behaved and enjoyed the walk. No owner, so took him home where he tried to eat my sofa (don't think he'd been allowed inside a house). Then climbed on my (startled) 20+ aged niece who was living with me and snoozed. I posted on Facebook local neighbourhood - my dogwalker responded saying the dog probably been dumped (said he'd found some himself in the past). I put the big lad in the car around 9pm and drove him across London to Battersea Dogs Home. I didn't want to take him to a police station (anyone remember the story of a lost dog being taken to a police station, put in kennels and forgotten - found days later dead, horrible, really horrible). Had a reluctant night staffer take him in - I said I'd walk him to a kennel if it helped, which the staff was relieved to hear! The big lad was reluctant to go in but didn't give me any trouble, looked at me with his big sad brown eyes. I kept in touch, Battersea said the dog wasn't chipped, had bad urine burns on his feet from probably being kept in an enclosure with no access to outdoors, and 10 days later he was destroyed, Battersea saying he showed guarding tendencies around food (he'd been fine with my female dog at my home). Have to say, it pretty much destroyed me - I was dreadfully upset, I'd taken him there and felt responsible.

My MIL's minature dachshund bit the postman. But a dachshund jaws aren't the same as an American Bulldog jaws!

I'm firmly of the opinion if there's a problem it's the owner more than the dog, but would agree some breeds really are not suitable for domestic situations.

rosie1959, lucky you. I’ve just had a weekend in the Lake District, endless labs, pointers and spaniels. All under control.
Drove towards my village through a deprived area, saw 3

The same system in operation here in France BlueBelle. One child killed is one too many and the breed should be banned. I agree with the Mother of the child who was killed when she said dog behaviourists were just giving excuses for the breed. I am a dog lover but sometimes hard decisions have to be made.

I have never actually seen an xl American bulldog in all my years of walking dogs.I was stopped once walking my sons dog the lady asked was he a dangerous xl bully breed I just smiled and said no he couldn’t fight his was out of a paper bag he is an old tyme bulldog and as daft as a brush. There are some physical similarities but that’s as about as far as it goes

That’s interesting BlueBelle. I’ve just driven past two skinny lads, each with big bully pups aged about nine months, on leads. They were encouraging these young dogs in rough over excited greetings. Both pups pulling their owners around. Both on stupid extendable leads clipped to I’ll fitting harness, giving no chance to control the dogs
Disaster waiting to happen

It’s something that needs investment with experienced well qualified behaviourists in charge. I’m agreeing with Suella Braverman for the first time. Further breeding of These bullies need to be banned. All existing bullies to be muzzled in public and on strong, thick well fitting collars and leads. No extendables. No off lead unless the owner rents a safe enclosed field
I’m not the only experienced dog owner renting a field to allow my young lab some off lead fun and do some obedience with him in a safe space. He’s missed out on the freedom my previous dogs had - before our parks were full of untrained groups of dogs

Listening to someone on the radio talking about them in (I think it was Spain) and they explain that they have to have a license the person owning one has to go through a series of tests of ownership they have to wear a muzzle at all times in public and be on a short lead if they are found to being a nuisance the police will interview and fine the owner very heavily it sounder very very much stricter than here when any Tom dick and Harry can own them.

"The American Bully is a uniquely dangerous breed of dog. Originating from selected breeding of fight-winning (already banned) American Pit Bull Terriers in the late 80s and early 90s, and intensive inbreeding for greater sizes and strength, the American Bully was imported to the UK in 2018. Due to a legal loophole, and despite the breed consisting of inbreeding of already banned breeds, the American Bully was deemed legal to own, sell, and mate.

The effects of this have been tragic. Since 2021, the American Bully has been responsible for over 70 per cent of all dog-related deaths in the UK. In 2022, the breed was responsible for the highest number of deaths to dogs in the UK since records began. Considering that these dogs are less than 1 per cent of the dog population, these stunning figures mean the American Bully is 270 times more deadly than the rest of the dog population."

Article in the "i" by Dr Lawrence Newport, who has studied the American Bully, and says the breed, not the owner, is the problem

inews.co.uk/opinion/american-bully-studied-years-breed-not-owner-problem-2607849