Finally - govt. explore dog ban

[Tapasita]

Finally the Govt are looking into banning* *American bully XL dogs. I expect the "it's not the dog but the owner" responses to this news but I do think these types of dogs are categorically more dangerous than other breeds, and I'm surprised, given the number of fatalities, attacks and serious injuries over the last few years (most on small children) that it's taken this long for someone in Govt. to pay attention. Why anyone would want to own such a savage dog is beyond me - I personally think it's a working class status symbol primarily. Sorry if that sounds rude but I do instantly judge people who choose these breeds of dogs above any other breed. They know they are heavy, dangerous and powerful. Just why? What are you trying to prove??? They're effing ugly to boot. And they kill children repeatedly.

Certain types of individuals choose that breed again and again with zero care for the consequences. It's just ignorance and "tough image" over..........well, anything else.

Absolutely they should be banned, and people who seek to own a dog - any breed for what it's worth - should be required to have a license and undergo appropriate dog-training courses. These two things should be mandatory, because any dog can kill or inflict serious injury regardless of their otherwise "peaceful" temperaments (which is always the counter-argument.)

American bully XL dogs: Suella Braverman orders 'urgent advice' on banning breed - BBC News

imagine choosing to own that lovely mix!

I agree with you OP and Summermeadowflowers. I live on a large council estate, my weed dealing waste of space neighbours own a Staffy which chased my tiny cat up a tree a few months back. Male neighbour and consequently young son found it hysterical. Couldnt get her down for an hour, I was fuming.

Other breeds of aggressive looking dogs across the estate, usually owned by tall, gangly men as an overcompensation for their own lack of muscle/masculinity. I hate the dogs and even more so their pathetic owners. Ban the dogs and treat the owner as you would somebody with an active weapon, because that is essentially why they own them.

America - XL Bullies are a pit bull X

Look at the death statistics.

I heard an idiot on the radio saying that he had had two lovely xl bullies and that his cats did him more harm. A seventeen stone xlbully can kill a child or adult. I have never hear of a domestic cat attacking a child or person and killing them. Ban xl bullies immediately imo. I get the it’s the owners not the dog argument but an out of control jack russell can be kicked away

I absolutely love dogs, but there is an increasing problem with XL American Bullies:

1. They're bred to be strong and aggressive, as a status symbol amongst wannabe hardmen.

2. Such dog owners are rarely responsible, and not bothered about training, unless it's to make them more aggressive.

3. They've become fashionable very quickly, which has led to excessive inbreeding, and removal from their mothers too early, which increases the risk of behavioural issues, socialisation problems, and unpredictability.

4. Combine a massive, powerful dog from unscrupulous breeders, with bad owners and an increased risk of mental instability... well, it's a recipe for disaster.

I'm usually the first to bang the "It's not the dog, it's the owner" drum (I've known loads of beautiful natured staffies, rotties and dobermans), but these dogs can't be compared to established breeds.

It isn’t helpful, but equally, it isn’t helpful to have no regulations at all surrounding dogs that are exceptionally strong, bred for fighting and aggressive to boot. I don’t think it is a question of adding this breed to the dangerous dogs act and carrying on with our days, I think the whole law needs shaking up. But in the absence of anything else it is a start. Two deaths in 2020, four in 2021, then ten in 2022 and six so far in 2023. And out of those, nine were XL Bullies. There is absolutely no way anyone should be ignoring that and saying oh well, the laws we have don’t work so what can you do? (Not suggesting you personally were but that is a prevailing attitude from some.)

They are walking in Wimbledon Common, they are walking in Ealing.

It's utter madness. Crossing an American Bulldog with a Rottie and a Mastiff, there is nothing incidental about this.

It terrifies me. So ok, poster's dog might be a sweetheart, and the poster might be a highly responsible dog owner, absolutely, to give her the benefit of the doubt, but what about the rest of the litter?

But they’re not living next door to you and your DC. People are living in fear on council estates because of these dogs. Everyone is at risk from these dogs but some of us have to live 24/7 with them walking around outside our front door.

So many beautiful and innocent dogs suffer because of banning breeds. I see it all the time, it's awful. I don't agree with that bit.

Owners however should be fined massively and held accountable for any bites or killings. It's also about time proper licencing was brought back. Dogs should be insured, microchipped and kept on a leash at all times.

Anyway yes these dogs can do more damage than many other breeds but if they're banned, another equally dangerous breed will replace them. We need far more stringent laws on who can keep dogs. Compulsory ongoing training classes , compulsory 3rd party insurance which increases with the risk of each breed, harsher punishments for those whose dogs attack etc.. I could go on, there are many things that need to change but banning breeds doesn't work. We banned pitbulls and got XL bullies.

Totally agree with this. I have a dog and would happily comply with compulsory training/qualification. Obs I have 3rd party insurance already.

I would love to see an end to these attacks but genuinely don't believe a ban will achieve that. In fact, I think a ban will simply tie up gov time that could and should be out into a complete overhaul of dog ownership laws.

I see them when I walk my dogs and the scare the shit out of me and out of my dogs.

The terrible damage these dogs do is off the scale.

This is a CCTV of the XL that killed Jack Lees.

Look at how it is allowed to lunge at passing children in this video, and also how hopeless the owner is.

Technically they are a type not a breed

What good is fining them or 'holding them accountable' once someone's been killed?! I'm sure the victim's families will be happy with that...!

They are walking in Richmond Park.
Sheen Gate car park is in a very 'Middle class' area- but people travel in with these brutes.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/dog-attack-eye-richmond-park-london-vets-b1068629.html

Personally I think anyone who breeds any type of dog should be registered and regulated. Registration fees should be high enough to cover the cost of running the service. Pups should only be sold on regulated sites and purchasers should be checked. Puppy breeding is way out of control in this country

I completely agree that we need to do something to act against this kind of dangerous dog; that's what's behind my three suggestions (prosecute owners as though they committed the crime, ban all breeding without a license (with very strict sentencing guidelines, and with no exceptions for accidental litters), and then apply breeding bans to the breeders based on actual genetics - with really heavy penalties. Because we'd be testing on a much smaller population of people (the breeders), bans become much easier to enforce.

Of course, we should retain all non-breed-specific legislation regarding dogs who've proven to be dangerous; that's a no-brainer.

This solves so many problems, including dog welfare - the strain on rescues should decrease massively due to the reduction in dogs being born in the first place.

The problem is that it won't show headline-suitable results for another five years or so, and it requires active enforcement, so there's little incentive for the government to implement such a thing.

Grim viewing the footage of it. There is a very aggressive German Shepherd that goes on the park and they let her off the lead. “Oh she won’t hurt anyone” - fuck that I don’t want to find out so turn round and walk off.

I walked pass two of them the other day whilst out walking my dog. Walked by one man (who actually appeared to be well to do!), there's no chance at all he could have stopped both from attacking if need be. They were lovely dogs, very friendly BUT one of them did start growling at my dog as we walked past once it realised mine was a male (probably just reached that age where some male dogs don't like others).

They should absolutely be banned, we would have stood no chance if either one of them had turned. The heads on them are Massive, I've seen Bullmastiffs at dog shows/dog training and they have nothing on these XL Bullies. The jaws are huge, the bodies are pure muscle, it's akin to someone taking a Tiger or a lion for a walk. There needs to be a ban on dogs with a certain jaw strength/muscle type, not just the breed or breed type as these idiots will just think of another type to breed. The problem is, I don't think just making them be muzzled in public is going to work, they need caging/putting to sleep.

Did that ‘man’ punch the dog in the face in the first video ?? These chavs need neutering , urgently .

Yes, that's why the RSPCA isn't a fan of breed-specific bans either. If you ban XL Bullies, dodgy dog breeders will just create another fighting-type crossbreed status dog to get around the ban.

So the same sort of things will happen again unless there are also more controls over breeding, buying and selling.

The 2018 rules they introduced to regulate breeders are SO easy for unscrupulous ones to get around. So whatever they decide to do about XL Bullies, that probably needs to be looked at again. But councils/Police would need more money and people to enforce the law. I can't see this government putting its hand in its pocket!

I'd cheerfully go back to the days when we had to buy a dog licence IF the money could be kept by councils to use for enforcement. But like VED for vehicles doesn't get put aside for the upkeep of roads, you just know any dog licence money would disappear into the Treasury and not be used to stop dangerous dogs.

Agree with you about liability insurance - you can get 3rd party cover for £25 so there's no excuse really. I'm not sure though what ongoing training we could usefully give our 10-year-old lab that she doesn't already have?!

The problem as always is that responsible owners and breeders will comply with any new laws but the dodgy ones will continue to be dodgy and there never seems to be that much done about that.

Exactly. Owning that sort of dog is stupid. If there people didn’t choose these breeds and shelters weren’t rehousing them they would die out naturally over time. Choosing to own these dogs is perpetuating the problem.

Sadly a lot of people do this to their dogs. I regularly see a woman waking what I think is a Doberman type dog - she screams at it, slaps it, hits it when it’s barking or pulling on the lead it’s horrible

‘Predatory’ is irrelevant though isn’t it. Garden spiders and peregrine falcons are predatory, but they are not a threat to children. So whether something is predatory can’t be the test.