Huge surge in demand for 'dangerous dogs' in UK since XL Bully ban introduced (2024)

The ban on XL Bullies in England has seen a surge in demand for dogs considered more aggressive, which can be dangerous if not properly trained, new research has found

The ban on XL Bullies has seen a surge in demand for dogs considered more aggressive, new research has found.

The Government moved to ban the breed this year with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying they posed a “danger to our communities” following a spate of attacks by them. Statistics show that incidents involving dogs have risen by more than a third over the past five years - and more than a third involved the now banned dog.

Unregistered pets can be seized and owners fined and prosecuted. February 1 was the deadline for owners to register the banned dogs with around 40,000 put down on the list before the deadline, but there may be thousands more without certificates.

Other banned breeds include the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro, and over the past six months there appears to have been a rise in demand for dogs that can be freely kept but are more aggressive if trained badly.

Research from Puppies.co.uk revealed the number of people looking to buy Presa Canarios has increased the most (13.3%), followed by Cane Corsos (9.2%) and Staffordshire Bull Terriers (8%). On the opposite end of the scale, searches for Bullmastiff puppies dropped the most (-38.3%).

A spokesperson at Puppies, told The Mirror: “Of course, every new puppy requires proper training and socialisation. But anyone looking to buy a breed with aggressive tendencies should take extra care. While you cannot control every factor when taking your dog out into the world, you should feel confident that your dog is not a serious threat to anyone when in public.”

Liz Clifton, Calm Coach and Founder of Family Dog Connection Limited, says: "Early experiences for puppies as with all species are important as this is the time when they are soaking in everything to help them learn how to survive in their current environment. When considering what you call well-behaved with your dog it's important to look at it from the dog's point of view and their natural instincts too. And remember that they are not naturally acclimatised to living in your house, or society in general, so be gentle and patient as you build their new behaviours to enjoy being an active part of your family."

At the same time there has been a rise in demand for what are called “exotic” Bullies, which are smaller versions of the breed, to beat the ban. In the past three months searches for the breed have risen by 31% - and by 24% in the past month alone. The study also looked at which areas of the country appeared to show more interest in exotic Bullies with Doncaster taking top spot with 253 searches made per 100,000 people over the past month. Then came Cambridge with 252 searches and Peterborough with 245.

Meanwhile, Lynne Fisher, Associate Director at Cliverton, dog walker’s insurance provider, told The Mirror of the extra demands on an owner who has a registered XL Bully. She said: "Owning a banned dog breed is possible, but it isn’t always easy. There are a lot of considerations you need to make beyond what a typical dog owner would need to consider. When you’re registering a banned dog breed, you need to know what you’re agreeing to for the safety of you, the public, and your dog.

"Understandably, you might still need access to kennel, dog grooming, and other dog-care services even with a banned breed. But knowing the rules and needs of your dog, according to the legislation, is important. Your dog must be serviced singularly in all instances. The ratio of staff to dog must always be one-on-one – whether your dog is with a dog walker or groomer. In public areas, including businesses, your banned dog must be on a lead and muzzled.”