“Without the right training, welfare and environment, powerful dogs like this can quickly become unmanageable”
Animal welfare experts have expressed fears that the Cane Corso could be ‘the next XL Bully ‘ to face government restrictions, though there are no immediate plans for a ban. It comes after new data by PetProov.com shows it has become Britain’s most searched dog breed of 2025.
The Italian mastiff has been shown to attract more monthly Google searches than Labradors, Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers. However, with its size, guarding heritage, and lack of Kennel Club recognition, animal welfare experts fear the breed could be heading down a similar path that led to the XL Bully ban.
“History is repeating itself,” Kate Margolis, founder of pet ID-verification app, PetProov.com, said. “We’ve already seen what happens when a large, powerful dog surges in popularity without the right checks and balances. The XL Bully became a status symbol, bred indiscriminately, sold through online ads, and pushed into homes that couldn’t cope. Now the Cane Corso is on the same trajectory – and unless we act responsibly, this could well be the next dog to be banned.”
Unlike Labradors, Spaniels or Retrievers, the Cane Corso is not recognised by the Kennel Club, meaning there are no official breeding standards, health checks, or registration data. Kate says: “That leaves a vacuum easily filled by unscrupulous sellers and backyard breeders.”
Currently, there are no official plans or proposals from the UK government to impose regulations on the cane corso. However, after the ban on XL Bullies, the focus has turned to other strong breeds, but this is mostly fueled by media and public speculation instead of any official measures.
In contrast to Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, dogo argentos, fila brasileiros, and XL Bullies, Cane Corsos are not banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act at this time. However, owning one still involves certain responsibilities.
Animal welfare officials stress the importance of responsibly owning, training, and socialising Cane Corsos instead of implementing breed-specific bans that they say usually don’t work. Numerous specialists believe that the main reason for dog attacks is not the breed, but rather careless ownership, insufficient training, and bad breeding methods.
The UK’s top trending breeds
The Cane Corso is not alone in raising red flags. PetProov’s top ten list reveals a growing fascination with extremes, from the Belgian Malinois, a high-drive working dog used by police, to the Chow Chow and Shiba Inu, social media favourites prized for their looks but often stubborn and aloof. In comparison, the Labrador sits at 17th place, despite topping Kennel Club registrations with over 34,000 puppies last year.
Ban on American XL bully dogs could lead to increased abandonment – charity
Top ten most popular dog breeds in 2025 (Google searches):
- Cane Corso – 192,000 (not KC registered)
- Cockapoo – 110,000 (not KC registered)
- Golden Retriever – 101,000 (KC registered; 10,201 puppies in 2024)
- Cavapoo – 95,000 (not KC registered)
- Cocker Spaniel – 83,000
- Belgian Malinois – 78,000
- Chow Chow – 76,000
- Rottweiler – 74,000
- Shiba Inu – 66,000
- Pomeranian – 66,000
The Cane Corso was bred in Italy as a guard dog, capable of weighing up to 50kg. With its broad head, muscular frame and protective instincts, it can be affectionate with family, but also strong-willed, energetic and challenging without experienced handling and early training.
“Dogs aren’t fashion statements,” Margolis said. “The Cane Corso may be trending, but it’s not a breed for the average household. Without the right training, welfare and environment, powerful dogs like this can quickly become unmanageable – and that’s when governments step in with bans. We need to learn from the XL Bully crisis, not repeat it.”
She added: “The Cane Corso may be 2025’s hottest breed online, but without responsible ownership and breeding, it risks becoming Britain’s next canine crisis – and potentially, the next dog to be banned.”
Garry Clarke, Chief Product Officer at PetProov, said: “Choice isn’t the enemy. But if three of the UK’s five most searched breeds don’t have Kennel Club oversight, that leaves buyers exposed to fraud and poor breeding. We’ve seen families lose thousands of pounds, and worse, end up with dogs that simply aren’t safe or suitable.
Petproov was founded in 2024 by Kate Margolis and Garry Clarke, after Kate fell victim to a pet scam herself. The platform is said to help prospective pet owners and breeders make informed decisions using government-grade ID, bank account and address verification.
