So the XL Bully ban is going ahead. Are we on the right track?
The Government Position
This is an easy political win for a beleaguered government. Whenever an XL story is reported in the press I read the comments as well as the article. Almost 100% of the comment writers want to see XL Bullies banned. With sentiment this strong any government would bring in a ban. Fortunately it’s a “soft” ban, no one is being put down just for being an XL Bully. Dogs fitting the description will need to be registered and neutered, they have to be muzzled and on-lead in public spaces and kept in a secure space they can’t escape from. The owners also need to get third party liability insurance.
My personal view is that, for the most part, this is about best response we could have expected under the circumstances. That being said, if I was a Bully owner I would still feel put-out. It’s not the best thing for responsible dog owners and their dogs, but compared to what government could have done, it’s the most pragmatic approach from the selection of possibilities. I’ll explain:
Registration
I’m old enough to remember dog licences. They were stopped in 1987 but I think there’s a good case to bring them back to improve welfare and control of dogs, all dogs, not just dogs that are considered “dangerous”.
Neutering
From the government’s perspective this will make the problem go away over the next 10 years. This won’t work – the irresponsible owners will just find a different breed but more on that later. For lovers of the breed this is the saddest part, the XL they have now is likely to be the last that they own.
Muzzles and Leads
It’s not possible to legislate for individual cases so this one was inevitable.
Kept in a Secure Place
This gets to the nub of the problem – irresponsible dog owners keeping dogs in places where they can escape was the cause of many, if not most, of the attacks. Anyone who doesn’t keep their dog in a secure place is really asking for trouble, whatever their breed, XL bully or otherwise.
Insurance
This is an interesting one. It will be fascinating to see what this will cost. Why do you need insurance if you have abided by the rules above? I guess accidents can happen and this is a belt and braces approach. My belief is that within ten to twenty years all dog owners will have to have third party liability insurance. I don’t think it’s right and will penalise the responsible majority for the actions of the idiotic few but I can feel it coming.
The Sad Truth For Our XL Bullies
This is a classic example of the majority being punished for the behaviour of a few. Will it avoid attacks? Yes, undoubtedly, in the most part attacks will decrease. Is it a shame that all XL Bully owners are treated the same when it is the fault of a few negligent village idiots? Yes, of course.
My bigger concern is that the type of people who have given these dogs a bad name will get different dogs as these rules come into place. If it becomes too difficult to get an XL they will get another breed. I suspect in five or so years we’ll be back here with Rottweilers, Cane Corsos or it will be some other mastiff type breed. And that’s why I think dog licences might be a good long-term plan. It’s sad to have to say this but maybe we need to encourage or even legislate for greater responsibility from dog owners to weed out the few people who want a dangerous looking dog for all the wrong reasons.
