Why the UK is banning American bully XL dogs

Bully XL will be the first breed to be put on the prohibited list under the UK’s Dangerous Dogs Act since the law was implemented in 1991. The Act is applicable in England, Wales and Scotland.

What is the American bully XL?

The American Bully XL is the largest of four types of American Bully: standard, pocket, classic and XL. They are believed to be developed in the 1990s and bred from a number of breeds including the American pit bull terrier, which was banned in the UK in 1991.

Bully XL is strong enough to “overpower an adult”, according to a report by the BBC, and it can weigh up to 60 kg and grow to 53 cm in height. The breed has a heavy bone structure and a muscular, stocky body.

The American Bully XL is the largest of four types of American Bully: standard, pocket, classic and XL. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

According to the UK campaign group Bully Watch, a group that has demanded the breed to be banned, Bully XL first came to the country in “around 2014 or 2015” and since then its number has steadily been growing — puppies are estimated to be sold for thousands of pounds.

“However, as it is not officially recognised as a breed by the Royal Kennel Club, there is little data on how many there are. Numbers are believed to be in the thousands,” The Guardian reported.

Is American bully XL dangerous?

The topic has been widely debated in the UK. The breed has been involved in several high-profile attacks in the country. Most recently, a man died after two dogs, suspected to be bully XL, attacked him in Staffordshire. It was after this incident that Sunak announced the ban.

Last week, an 11-year-old girl was attacked by an American bully XL in Birmingham. Two men who tried to intervene were also admitted to hospital after being bitten by the animal.

Reports suggest six of the 10 fatal dog attacks in the UK in 2022 were linked to bully XL dogs and at least three of the seven this year.

Some campaign groups believe the bully XL “is inherently dangerous, and potential inbreeding may exaggerate behaviours such as aggression. Its strength and size mean any attacks or bites are more likely to be serious,” according to The Guardian.

However, animal welfare charities like Blue Cross say that dogs should be judged on their actions and not breed. They believe there has been an increase in attacks due to the rising popularity of bully XL, which has transformed the animals into “valuable commodities, resulting in irresponsible breeding, rearing and ownership, which can all contribute to an increased likelihood of aggression in dogs, regardless of breed,” the newspaper added.

Which other dog breeds are banned in the UK?

When the Dangerous Dogs Act, which prohibits any dog that is “dangerously out of control”, was introduced, four breeds were banned. They were pit bull terriers, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentinos, and fila Brasileiro dogs.

Seen here is the pit bull terrier dog, which was banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act in the UK. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Are such bans effective?

Although banning a breed reduces numbers, it doesn’t entirely eliminate them, according to reports. London Metropolitan police data showed that from 2015-16, which is 25 years after the implementation of the Dangerous Dog Act, banned pit bull terriers were responsible for 19% of dog attacks across the city.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) claimed that “in the 20-year period from 1999 to 2019, the number of hospital admissions for the treatment of dog bites increased by 154% despite the prohibition of certain types of dogs,” The Guardian report added.

Another concern is that banning a breed would lead to the introduction of similar breeds, much like in the case of American Bully XL, which was developed after pit bull terriers were banned.

What is the situation in India?

There is no law in India that explicitly bans a breed. Last year, however, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) ordered a ban on pet dogs of 11 foreign breeds. These were American pit bull terriers, dogo Argentino, rottweiler, Neapolitan mastiff, boerboel, presa canario, wolf dog, bandog, American bulldog, fila Brasileiro and cane corso.

A month before, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation also approved a proposal banning the domestication of three breeds of dogs – pit bull, rottweiler, and dogo Argentino.

In both cases, the order came after several attacks by the banned dogs were reported in Gurugram and Ghaziabad.