Banning the XL Bully Dog Will Not Be Effective

 by Estella Sum-Campbell

How would you feel if your dog had to be forced to be muzzled every single time it went out for a walk? 

Many owners of bully-type dogs have reacted with fear that their pets could be taken and killed following an announcement from Rishi Sunak stating his government is working to ban American Bully XL dogs by the end of 2023. Following a recent wave of attacks, a ban was already being considered with the American XL bully disproportionately responsible for this uptick. Since the breed is not one that the Kennel Club has recognised, it may be difficult to outlaw it under current law because it has so many ambiguous breed traits but this isn’t the first time a ban on a certain kind of breed has been introduced in the UK. 

The introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 gave the government the power to ban any breed appearing ‘to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose’. The Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 already provides an exemption for ‘banned’ dogs, which must be neutered and muzzled in public, as the UK's Chief Vet later addressed fears about a widespread cull by explaining this provision.

Safety advocates and those who campaign for victims of dog attacks have been urging for this restriction and have welcomed the news, joining the rising chorus of calls for it. However, many dog owners are upset about it and claim that while the dogs may appear frightening, with appropriate training and care, they make good pets and are no more dangerous than any other dog. In the US, where the breed is more common, the United Kennel Club has stated that an American bully ‘makes an excellent family dog’ and is ‘gentle and friendly,’ but it has also noted that ‘dog aggression is characteristic of this breed,’ particularly because of a frequent cross-breeding with the already-banned American pit bull terrier. 

Overall, data does show that large, powerful dogs, including those of bull breeds, are more likely to cause serious injury if they bite someone, but there are also genetic tendencies towards aggression within particular breeding lines, so with any breed, breeding for a good temperament is crucial. Other factors, such as socialisation, training methods, and health, are also significant for a dog's risk of aggression. 

According to the Dog Control Coalition, which includes Battersea, Blue Cross, the Dogs Trust, BVA, the Scottish SPCA, the Kennel Club, and Hope Rescue: ‘Thirty-two years of the Dangerous Dogs Act, which has focused on banning specific types, has coincided with a troubling increase in dog bites... this approach simply isn't working.’ Data from the Metropolitan Police confirms this as from 2015 to 2016 (25 years after the introduction of the Dangerous Dog Act) revealed that banned pit bull terriers were accountable for 19% of dog attacks in London. The RSPCA claimed that adding another breed to the list ‘will only see history repeating itself’ because during the course of 20 years, from 1999 to 2019, the number of hospital admissions for the treatment of dog attacks climbed by 154%. 

The breeding of these dogs has become a lucrative market, particularly since the pandemic. An investigation by BBC Panorama earlier this year revealed connections between organised crime and extreme dog breeding, in which dogs are purposefully bred to develop exaggerated traits like distinctive facial features or large muscles as a so-called status symbol that will intimidate people and may even be used as a ‘weapon’ if necessary. As one of the biggest victims, this further damages the American bully dog's reputation.  

There is also worry that clamping down on the canines would inspire the development or introduction of similar breeds, much to how XL bullies have become more popular after pit bull terriers were outlawed. Unfortunately, as American XL bullies have grown in popularity and become more desirable as commodities, irresponsible breeding, raising, and ownership have increased, which affects any breed of dog's propensity for violence.  

This will continue until we take action against the people who are raising these dogs and stop grouping a whole breed of dog by the actions of a few bad apples within that breed. The issue is that the government must control breeders because many of them are merely haphazard, unlicensed individuals who buy dogs solely for breeding under poor conditions, with inadequate care, and frequently with little experience or understanding of the breed itself. There has to be more licenced breeding so that the origins of these puppies can be more closely monitored. 

To sum up, banning breeds was an ineffective approach in 1991 and it's the wrong approach now. The law can easily be ignored or slipped around as people looking for a ‘status’ dog look to non-banned breeds with similar features, as seen with the shift to XL Bullies. The government should prioritise strengthening and enforcing laws governing dog breeding and management, as well as fostering responsible dog ownership and training. Although a ban might reduce numbers, it won't eliminate them. A ban on the XL bully dog is not a long term solution to tackle the issue of canine attacks.