It’s now illegal to own American XL bullies and bully mix-breeds without an exemption. But why are these dogs so dangerous, and why do some experts believe they are intrinsically wired to kill?
With dog attacks soaring by almost 50 per cent in the past five years, the American XL bully has become a figure of fear.
As previously reported by the Mirror in February, at least 23 people have been killed by dogs in the last three years alone, with American XL Bullies, or similar breeds, suspected to be involved in 12 of the vicious attacks. As of December 31, 2023, it’s now considered a criminal offence to own the controversial breed in England and Wales unless they are registered and wear a muzzle while out in public.
Dog owners with an unregistered XL Bully could be looking at a six-month stretch in prison, while their animal could be seized and destroyed. Earlier this month, a grandmother Josephine Fitzpatrick’s beloved XL bully became the first to be put down according to new legislation, after the unregistered dog was found hidden inside a locked room at her home in Waterloo, near Liverpool.
Meanwhile, this week the Mirror exclusively reported that an abandoned XL bully was destroyed after armed police were called to Liverpool’s Croxteth Hall and Country Park. Here, the Mirror looks at why the widely-feared breed is considered to be so ‘lethal’…
What is an XL bully dog?
The XL bully was originally bred from the American pit bull terrier, with influence from other American and English bulldogs. It is said to have been created as a ‘bigger and stronger’ version of the pit bull and tends to weigh between 20 to 60kg and stand 33 to 50cm in height. The breed has a distinctively large and broad head with a muscular build.
The XL bully is not recognised by the main dog associations in the UK, though the UK Bully Kennel Club describes the breed as having a “gentle personality and loving nature”. The canine organisation states that the XL bully is a recent breed dating back to the 1980s and has grown in popularity due to its “distinctive build and height combined with a compassionate nature”.
How dangerous is an XL bully?
There is much debate around the genetic nature of the XL bully. While some dog trainers believe the breed is intrinsically wired to kill, other canine professionals disregard any dog breed being more aggressive than another. Major animal charities, including the RSPCA, Battersea, Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club and Blue Cross, believe animals should be judged on their “deed not breed” and are campaigning to end the breed-specific legislation (BSL), which prohibits the keeping of certain breeds – including the American pitbull – in the UK.
RSPCA dog welfare expert, Dr Sam Gaines, previously told the Mirror: “We’re devastated by the number of fatal incidents involving dogs over recent months and believe it’s a clear sign that the current dog control legislation in the UK is flawed, outdated and ineffective. What’s really concerning are recent calls to expand the list of banned types. We need to acknowledge the scientific evidence in this area which has shown that breed is not a good predictor of risk.”
On the other hand, Stan Rawlinson, who has been a dog trainer for 20 years, said XL bullies are “wrongly wired” in the head and “too dangerous” to live. “The XL bully is intrinsically bad as a breed. They’re an evil dog because of what’s been done to them over in America, where amateur geneticists have tinkered about. There’s a screw loose,” he told MailOnline.
Mr Rawlinson explained that breeders have been getting around the BSL by crossbreeding American pitbulls with Mastiffs and English bulldogs to create the “killer” XL bully. “They can just flip,” he said. “You’re talking nothing too full on and someone is dead in less than 15 seconds. You just can’t stop them. These dogs can rip people’s heads off.”
In January 2023, professional dog walker Natasha Johnston, 28, was killed by her own XL bully after suffering catastrophic injuries from “multiple penetrating dog bites”. In May of the same year, dad-of-two Jonathan Hogg, 37, died after suffering bite wounds to his arm, leg, and head while looking after his friend’s XL bully in Greater Manchester. Emma Whitfield, whose 10-year-old son Jack Lis was mauled to death in November 2021, previously told the Mirror the “current sentencing is not tough enough”.
However, bulldog and pitbull owners have spoken out to defend their beloved breeds. Anita Mehdi, from Middlesbrough, petitions to end the BSL after her pet Lola, who is an American bulldog crossed with a Staffordshire bull terrier, was almost euthanised after a member of the public reported her as vicious. Lola was assessed and deemed a “well-balanced, obedient and gentle dog that showed no signs of aggression”, but now has to wear a muzzle at all times in public.
Sam Carroll* (*not his real name) owns an American XL bully called Champ and blames uneducated breeders for the string of recent fatal attacks. He told the Express: “He’s full of love, he always wants to be around me, he’s a genuinely lovely dog… Not everyone can handle this dog, and not everyone should. These people who are giving them a bad name are idiots.” In his view, the breed is misunderstood and mistreated.
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