XL bully - is this a loophole?

[Lougle]

I was reading the Government page on XL bullies and it seems that unless the dog is more than 19 inches (female) or 20 inches (male) tall, then they don't have to be assessed for the remaining criteria. Does that mean that people could still pass on puppies and young dogs, with the defence that they don't yet know if they will grow to be an XL bully (as it is a type, not a breed)?

"To be considered a type ‘known as the XL Bully’ a dog must meet the minimum height measurements set out in the conformation standard below."https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/655cb2e8544aea000dfb31ca/Official_definition_of_an_XL_Bully_dog__for_enforcement_officers_.pdf

I'm curious as to what this means for young, immature dogs that may grow to be the required height, but are not currently.

I'm sure there is a line saying if you reasonably expect they will turn out larger then they are to be treated as XL. Also if the parent's aren't bred from there will be many less puppies in future.

Ah, here it is. So people who committed to buy an XL bully before 31/12/23 can collect them at 8 weeks old, but rescues can't re-home puppies that are currently under 8 weeks old.

"It will be a criminal offence to breed XL Bully dogs from 31 December 2023. This includes:

breeding from an XL Bully dog
allowing for an XL Bully dog to be bred from any combination of other dogs
It will not be an offence to allow a litter of puppies that have already been conceived to be born. If the puppies are born after 31 December 2023, it will be an offence to sell them or to rehome them.

Defra recommends breeders should stop all XL Bully breeding activity now as it will be a criminal offence to sell, transfer, exchange, gift or advertise these dogs from 31 December 2023.

There is a 9-week period until the ban on selling comes into force to allow puppies that were bred before this legislation was introduced to be legally sold. Puppies must not be sold before they are 8 weeks old.

Owners who purchased a puppy before 31 December 2023, which is less than 8 weeks old at that point, will be able to collect it legally when it’s 8 weeks old."

www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs