Should The American XL Bully Be Banned?

Introduction:

The government has decided that the American XL bully dog breed will be banned.

This is after 12 people have been killed in suspected XL bully attacks (currently not evidenced).

This blog looks at why dogs bite, why the XL bully has a bad press and whether I believe they should be banned or not.

The XL Bully History

The XL Bully is a fairly new breed that has only been around for around 9 years. It is not a recognised breed by the UK kennel club because it is a dog that has been created by mixing several different breeds.

There are several different American bullies, the pocket bully, XL, extreme and classic.

Bull breeds were originally bred for bull baiting and when this was banned they were used for herding cattle and they have been used for fighting for a long time, giving them their fierce reputation.

Breed Standards

As the dog is not a recognised breed, there are no official breed standards. When the ban comes in, without a breed standard there is no fair and effective way to define what an XL bully is.

This is a massive concern for me.

We don't know exactly how many XL bullies that there are in the UK.

Deaths due to Dog Bites in the UK

Since 2018, dog bites have risen by 34%. Last year 10 people were killed by dogs, this year, so far we are at number 8. We don't know for certain the breed of the dogs involved, however, potentially 5 of them were XL bullies (this year).

Dogs only bite when it is necessary due to the situation that they are in, or to gain or benefit in some manner, or they are in a state of extremely high arousal levels.

They never bite, just because. There is always a reason.

There are many reasons why a dog acts and behaves in the way they do.

To say it's not the dog its the owner, can have some truth to it, but in reality, many factors have to be addressed to answer the question why?

When looking at why, these factors need to be looked at

The breed

The parents - their temperament and upbringing and how the bitch was treated during the pregnancy and their health

The breeders - how were the puppies kept and what were their early experiences

Early socialisation and habituation

Health and pain

Enrichment and exercise

Interaction with owners and other dogs

Diet

The event and what happened - including who was there and what everybody did during.

(plus more!)

The Ban

When the ban comes in dogs will need to be muzzled, on a lead, castrated, and not allowed to do a lot! You will need insurance, a license, and abide by several rules.

If you don't, your dog may spend a lot of time isolated in police kennels for months until you go to court.

No dog should be defined solely by their breed. Many factors dictate your dog's behaviour.

Without knowing how many XL bullies there are and how many have been responsible for deaths how can we know how dangerous they are?

The simple answer is we don't.

They are a breed that is powerful and can cause damage if they are aggressive.

I am empathetic to any person who has been bitten or any family members affected by dog bites.

There is an issue that needs addressing, however, unless it is done right, it will continue to grow.

We need to understand dogs, their behaviour, their communication and how to train them properly.

Unfortunately, bully breeds are often subject to punitive dog training methods by people who don't understand dogs.

We know violence increases the risk of violence.

Conclusion

I don't believe that the XL bully is a dangerous dog, that is a risk to public safety. There is not enough evidence to prove this currently.

Banning dogs is not an effective way to keep people safe.

I don't have the answers, and clearly, the rise in dog bites needs addressing.

When I was researching information for the blog, much of the information was published without evidence and facts.

More studies are needed into dog bites. Then the government need to speak to the right people who will be able to aid and advise them on the matter and not make a kneejerk decision about the problem.

The ban is ineffective and unfair to the XL bully breed and their owners.

https://goldbergloren.com/top-20-dog-bite-statistics-for-2023/#:~:text=Male%20dogs%20are%20more%20likely,five%20bitten%20by%20a%20dog.

https://www.hepper.com/uk/dog-bite-statistics-uk/