Will my dog be classed as a ‘type’?

[Worried2024]

Hi. So I have a staffie cross called Nova. She’s a lovely dog, I got her through a rescue 6 years ago and she lives happily alongside my 10 free ranging chickens, 3 cats and a wild toddler. I am concerned she will fall into the XL bully type classification because she’s large for a staffie and she obviously has bull breed characteristics. She measures in at 49cm whereas the gov.uk says a minimum of 48cm alongside a list of characteristics which I feel would fit lots of bull breeds generally speaking.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog

I feel like we are in limbo and it sucks because I don’t know what to do. If we apply for an excemption then she loses her ability to walk off the lead, etc which would be a shame. She has excellent recall and I seldom require a lead so would be a big change for her. Whereas if we don’t apply and she is deemed a type, we risk losing her and her safety is paramount to us at the end of the day. Is there anyone I could go to who could clarify whether or not she would be classed as a type? I did consider a vet but I feel like they would just be reading the same guidance as me and she’s such an in-between case. Any advice? Thanks

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I wondered the same thing about my dog. I was considering a DNA test and carrying the results with me when my dog is with me just to be on the safe side.
I had to add that she’s sooooo beautiful.

I don't have any advice, I'm afraid, but I'm wishing you all the very best, she looks like a lovely dog. In fact she looks a lot like my dear departed girl, who was also a larger than average Staff.

She’s gorgeous.

Unfortunately it seems the guidelines are entirely down to interpretation and the characteristics could apply to any large bull breed or mastiff cross. The problem is that XL bully isn’t actually a real breed!

So you have any photos of her standing from the size at her level?

No. She looks nothing like an xl bully

A vet cannot tell you if she is "type". The only person is a dog legislation officer DLO. I don't think DNA counts either. It's a rubbish system.

One of the many reasons bringing in laws without proper thought is a bad idea.

It is up the owner to decide if their dog is an xl bully type. They dog must meet the minimum height and 'a substantial number ' of other characteristics. If it does it "could" be considered an xl bully type.

How frickin vague is that?!?!

Not at all open to mistake or misunderstanding.

Personally I'd write up a list of the characteristics and keep a record of how many you consider her to meet. If it is a substantial number (your own interpretation of wth that is meant to mean) then it's worth persuing the exemption.

If there is any reasonable way you can interpret that to mean she does not meet a substantial number, I'd keep that list with me and carry on as normal.

Whilst this is not answering your question I do hope you are not taking her to public places off lead? Let's face it in many if the cases where people have been badly bitten their owners would have said their dog was sweet natured and no danger to anyone.

She looks absolutely nothing like an XL Bully to me. She looks like a staffy with long legs. If she were mine, I wouldn't apply for an exemption but I would work on getting her muzzle trained (if she's not already) just in case you have any problems.

Vets (unfortunately) can't say either way as it's not really within their remit.

She's absolutely gorgeous btw.

Let’s face it, no one is ever going to say I mistreated my dog and ignored any previous warning signs.

I really feel for you OP. Unfortunately the guidelines are too broad to be of help for dogs like yours and it only takes one ignorant member of the general public to cause you issues even if your dog is behaving impeccably.

She’s beautiful! I’ve met a couple of XL bullies, both of which have been impeccable behaved and are now muzzled in public etc as per the law, and she doesn’t look like either of them. Nor any of the mastiff types. She looks like a lanky staffy.

I'd say it pretty obvious that she's a staffy. She's beautiful, and looks nothing like an XL bully.

She's a beauty, look at that face!

She is absolutely gorgeous.

she just looks like a long legged staffy.

however, if she were mine, I'd do as a previous poster said, write/print off the list of characteristics & tick off any that apply. File that away if it's very few & carry on as normal, except I'd call her back sooner thsn I would normally & put her on her lead until the person/dog is long gone. PITA I know when you have a very well trained dog, but it may save you a lot of hassle from
some numpty reporting her. Lots of people think anything bigger than a dashund should be permitted to be a pet.

id also vary my walks even more than usual to avoid coming across the same person too often.

thankfully my brother lives overseas as he has a heinz47, definitely part staffy, he's a tall dog, fairly strong looking, but definitely staffy type head rather than a big broad head and is 100% softie. Hardly ever on a lead because he's more interested in being with my brother or siblings than anyone else. His recall is amazing (FAR better than the kids!!😂) But he'd have the same dilemma as you.

i wouldn't apply unless she ticks a huge number of 'characteristics' which I don't think she will.

I don't think she looks like an XL - she hasn't got the bulk and the heavy bones.

She doesn’t look like an xl, she looks like a big staff! (And a cute one at that!)

Recommend joining the Trevor Cooper dog law fb page for lots of useful information.

Unfortunately DNA test results are not relevant as this law is based on type not breed.

She looks to me very much sbt x rather than the heavier xl bully type, and obviously she's very well behaved.

I would probably muzzle train her just in case, and walk her in places when you are less likely to meet people. I would also as previously advised, put her back on the lead if anyone approaches.

Here @sockmuncher

That’s what I thought. It’s not really their field, and it’s been rolled with such haste that I think the vets are just as confused as the rest of us. Shambles imo.

@JustAnotherKingCnut
Great idea. Thank you. I just wish they would at least specify a number regarding the number of characteristics. It all feels abit pseudo science-ish to me.

Thanks everyone for your input.

DNA doesn’t count. I’d get a DLO to look at her OP. Have you started muzzle training in case she is classed as one of the dogs that need to live with restrictions? You can’t really tell from photos tbh.

I'm sorry, but that's a pitbull which is already illegal.

I would be very wary of allowing it anywhere near children.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wXLD3GSFW1Y