Ban the bully?

So unless you have been hibernating somewhere, you will have heard of the horrific dog attacks that have occurred recently, some of which sadly ended in fatalities.

So the Government have quite rightly called the topic into question. But is banning a specific breed the solution? Honestly? I don’t know but the evidence and patterns that have emerged since the Pitt bull type was banned lead me to think….probably not!

Dog attacks generally have rocketed in recent years ( a subject worth discussing in its own right) and 14 deaths have now been linked to the xl bully.

So is this a dangerous breed? The answer is yes and no!

I know of many and trained some of the most friendly, beautifully well mannered xl bullies. They make amazing pets and are generally extremely loving and soppy! To the point where it is quite common to hear the phrase ‘ it’s how the dog is raised that depends on how aggressive or friendly they are’.

I’m afraid to say this is only partly true. Unfortunately when a dog becomes popular, the demand means they are far more likely to be bred badly through puppy farms etc. These puppy farmed dogs are getting increasingly hard to spot so you could end up with a dog that has been born into awful conditions, with a stressed Mum that in turn creates a litter of stressed puppies. They are often taken away from Mum and siblings too early which affects their bite inhibition and socialisation. There will also be no thought as to whether they are breeding from an aggressive parent dog (unfortunately no amount of training can reverse genetics) and the likelihood is you won’t see the problems truly emerge until adolescence.

So yes they are amazing dogs but yes they are also very badly bred at times due to the £ signs seen by organised crime groups and people looking to earn a quick buck. Sometimes a loving family to raise from puppyhood is just not enough.

So do I believe the breed should be banned? No, I think it’s a lot wiser to create stricter licensing laws for breeders and a lot harsher consequences for puppy farming!! We saw it with dobermans, then Rottweilers, Pitt bulls, staffies and now the xl bullies. High demand equals people cashing in, including bad dog trainers who handle them in dangerous ways as it is an unregulated industry.

One of the reasons xl bullies are seen as dangerous is their sheer size and jaw strength that can create far worse injuries than other dog breeds and they do not let go easily.

With a well bred and trained xl bully this should not be too much of a concern, but unfortunately that’s not what we are seeing.

So if you own a bully, please be a responsible owner and train your dog, you are now an ambassador for the breed. If you don’t own a bully, please do not think they are all dangerous. That’s clearly not the case.

Regardless of breed from the big powerful dog to the tiny cuddly ones, there is one thing we can take away from this….. research your breeder and do not buy impulsively, seek out help from a force free trainer who has appropriate qualifications, and please do not let your dog approach other dogs or people without their permission! It is against the law even if they are friendly, playful little dogs.

Be safe x