XL Bully & Banned Breeds

[This article was written before the ban on XL Bully’s came into force].

There are currently four breeds classed as ‘banned’ in the UK. These dogs are the:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentina
• Fila Brasileiro

BBC News reports –

A man left in a critical condition after being seriously injured in an attack by two dogs has died.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was another suspected bully XL dog attack and the breed would be banned by the end of the year.

Images show police activity at the scene, following the attack in Main Street, Stonnall, near Walsall, on Thursday afternoon. 

The victim was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and was confirmed dead, emergency services said.

A man, 30, from Lichfield was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

What exactly is an XL Bully?

Because the XL Bully is classed as a ‘type’, meaning it is a cross breed, it technically does not exist as a breed recognised by the Kennel Club and therefore breed standards do not exist meaning there is no exact spec for this dog.

It is said that the Government will work with breed experts to define the XL Bully breed type.

Taken from Wikipedia:

The American Bully is a modern breed of dog that was developed as a companion dog, and originally standardized and recognized as a breed in 2004 by the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC). Their published breed standard describes the dog as giving the “impression of great strength for its size”. In 2008, the American Bully was recognized by the European Bully Kennel Club (EBKC), and on July 15, 2013, by the United Kennel Club (UKC).^[1] Neither the International Canine Federation, The Kennel Club, nor American Kennel Club (AKC) have recognized or accepted the American Bully into their registry as a purebred dog.^{[citation needed]}

There are several variants of the American Bully including the XL Bully, the Pocket Bully, the Micro Bully, and the Toadline Bully. Temperament in adult dogs is highly dependent on training, and the breed can be very demanding and needs to be properly trained. The American Bully Kennel Club divided the American Bully into four categories, including the XL, Pocket, Standard, and Classic, whereas other registries, including the UKC, have approved one consistent size standard.

Due to the size, strength and aggression level of the American Bully, legal controls on the ownership of the breed exist in several countries. The XL Bully was responsible for over 50% of the deaths caused by dogs in the UK in the period between 2021 and 2023. The British government has committed to banning the breed by the end of 2023.

From 1 February 2024, it is a criminal offence under Section 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to be in
possession of an XL Bully breed type without a valid Certificate of Exemption.
This document sets out the physical conformation standard for the XL Bully breed type. The conformation
standard has been developed by Defra in consultation with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC)
dangerous dogs working group, local authorities, vets and other animal welfare experts.
It is intended to be used by the courts and Dog Legislation Officers to support identification of the XL Bully
breed type for the purposes of enforcement of Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
This document can also be used as a guide for dog owners and keepers to help them to consider whether
a dog may be within scope of the ban.

Credit here.

XL Bully Breed Conformation standard

General appearance of the XL Bully – A sizable canine possessing a robust physique and a square-shaped head, indicative of formidable strength and vigor relative to its stature. A powerfully constructed entity.

XL Bully Breed Information:

Height

• Adult male from 20in (51cm) at the withers
• Adult female from 19in (48cm) at the withers

Head

• Heavy, large and broad
• The length from the tip of the nose to a well-defined stop (indentation between muzzle and the head) is equal to around one-third of the length from the tip of the nose to the back of the head
• Muzzle blocky or slightly squared to fall away below the eyes
• Topline of muzzle straight
• Prominent cheek muscles with strong, well-defined jaws and lips semi-close
• Often having prominent wrinkles on face
• Nose is large with well opened nostrils

Teeth 

Level or scissor bite.

Neck   

• Heavy, muscular, slightly arched, tapering from the shoulders to the base of the skull
• Medium in length

Forequarters 

• Shoulder blades are long, well-muscled and well laid back
• Upper arm length is about equal to the length of the shoulder blades and joined at a 35 to 45 angle to the ground
• Front legs straight, strong and very muscular with dog standing high on the pasterns (area between feet and ankles)
• Elbows set close to the body
• Distance from the withers to elbows about the same as the distance from the elbow to the bottom of the feet

Body  

• Heavily-muscled
• Large, blocky body giving impression of great power for size
• Broad, deep chest with well sprung ribs
• Chest may be wider than deep
• Topline level and straight
• Loin short and firm
• Generally appears square shaped from point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks compared with the withers (tallest point on the dog’s body excluding head and shoulders) to the ground

Hindquarters

• Strong, muscular and broad
• Thighs well developed with thick musculature
• From behind, both pasterns are typically straight and parallel to each other
• Muscular development, angulation and width in balance with forequarters

Feet    

• Rounded, medium in size and in proportion to body
• Compact and well arched

Tail     

• Medium length and low set
• Tapers to a point to end at about the level of the hocks
• Generally assumes a straight or pump handle shape when dog relaxed

Coat   

Glossy, smooth, close, single.

Full credit given to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog/xl-bully-conformation-standard

What is the exemption scheme?

You can read The Dangerous Dogs Exemption Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015 here.
Briefly, the dangerous dogs exemption scheme is a UK law called the Dangerous Dogs Exemption Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015. It outlines regulations regarding dangerous dogs, their exemptions, and the procedures for handling cases where a dog is suspected to be dangerous. The order sets conditions and requirements for exemptions, addresses the cessation of interim exemptions, and includes details about revocations and a saving clause from previous orders.

Wheldon Law & Advice to Owners re. Government Plans to Ban XL Bullies

You can read more on Wheldon Law’s page about plans to ban the XL Bully here.

In summary:

1. The UK government plans to ban XL bullies by year-end, using the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991’s provisions.
2. Section 2 of the act allows adding prohibited breeds quickly, facilitating a ban on XL Bullies.
3. The Secretary of State will consult relevant bodies, although some are against Breed Specific Legislation.
4. A ban won’t mandate immediate destruction; an exemption scheme may allow legal possession under conditions.
5. An “amnesty” will offer options for XL Bully owners, involving assessments and legal processes.
6. Support from organisations may aid concerned owners through legal procedures due to the ban.
7. Defining XL Bullies is complex, potentially impacting other American Bully types due to shared characteristics.
8. Owners can take steps like neutering, insurance, micro-chipping, muzzling, training, and securing their homes.
9. Further detailed advice is available from various not-for-profit organisations.