How American bully XL dogs became a dangerous ‘weapon’
Expert handler Colin Tennant says the animals are being bred for owners who want them to be vicious
new
Colin Tennant
Saturday May 20 2023, 2.30pm BST, The Sunday Times
Colin Tennant believes that it is often the owners of such breeds that condition the dogs to be more aggressive
Colin Tennant believes that it is often the owners of such breeds that condition the dogs to be more aggressive
GETTY IMAGES
Last week it was revealed that the dog that killed Natasha Johnston, a 28-year-old dog-walker in Surrey, in January, was her own — an American bully XL. On Friday, Jonathan Hogg, 37, was attacked by an American bully XL in Greater Manchester and later died from his injuries.
These dogs are relatively new to Britain but have become a common sight and are responsible for a large number of attacks. So why are they still legal? It’s a complicated problem — and one that won’t be solved by banning the breed.
American bullies originated in the 1980s and are mixed-breed bulldogs: an American pitbull terrier crossed with American, English and Olde English bulldogs. They were recognised by the American Kennel Club in 2004 but are not a registered breed with the UK Kennel Club, meaning that we don’t have a clear idea of how many dogs or breeders there are.
American bullies are often purchased for their intimidating look and can be subjected to cruel and illegal practices such as ear cropping to make them appear more aggressive
American bullies are often purchased for their intimidating look and can be subjected to cruel and illegal practices such as ear cropping to make them appear more aggressive
GETTY IMAGES
Nearly 9,000 people a year are admitted to hospital with severe dog bites — up from 7,500 in 2017 — costing the NHS an estimated £71 million.
American bullies come in XL size but they can also be bred to XXL and XXXL sizes — which involves crossing them with bigger breeds like mastiffs or other large bull breeds, reaching up to 100kg.
Bulldogs have a higher tendency for aggression, having come from bull-baiting dogs once used in dog fights. But if they’re brought up sensibly and socialised at the right age, these dogs are, on the whole, fine.
American Bully XLs, however, appeal to a certain demographic. I see people with them all the time: they are usually owned by young men. These big, muscular, thuggish dogs are an extension of the male ego. For the owner, the scarier the dog, the better. Dogs are just another weapon — like a knife. There’s a huge market for them. A puppy can cost £2,500, which makes them lucrative for inexperienced breeders who create them in large numbers for a big payout. There are reports of gangs pivoting from dealing drugs to breeding dogs. They’re bred irresponsibly with exaggerated features: to be more muscular, or with thicker necks or larger heads and jaws, or to be more aggressive.
A dog walker was killed when she lost control of the pack of eight dogs she was exercising. It was later determined that it was her own American bully XL that caused the fatal injuries
A dog walker was killed when she lost control of the pack of eight dogs she was exercising. It was later determined that it was her own American bully XL that caused the fatal injuries
YUI MOK/PA
If dogs like this are raised in poor environments and not socialised correctly as puppies, owners will find that they can’t control their dog’s aggression when they reach adolescence. It all adds up to one thing: dogs with a low trigger-point with the physical strength to kill.
About eight years ago I had two American bulldogs in my kennels. They had bitten a number of people. Although I could handle them and they never attacked me, I’d only have to move in a certain way to put them into attack mode. I didn’t let any of my staff go near them. In the end I had to put them down for being too aggressive. To me, rehoming these dogs would have been tantamount to leaving poison around a house for a child.
That doesn’t mean other breeds don’t bite — all dogs can. But when American bullies attack, the result can often be devastating.
What’s the solution? The answer isn’t as simple as banning a breed. The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act bans four breeds: the pitbull terrier, Japanese tosa, fila Brasiliero and the dogo Argentino. I suspect American bulldogs will be added to that list. But if you ban one aggressive breed, people will just start breeding another new aggressive “designer breed”.
Dog licences don’t work either. People wouldn’t register. It didn’t work before: they were abolished in 1987. The only real solution is for owners to be responsible and the law to take attacks more seriously.
Until then, dogs will continue getting more aggressive and breeders more money-hungry.
As told to Katie Gatens
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It’s always a tracksuit wearing cunt who ‘owns’ this breed.
Ban them now. It’s not exactly difficult, but the government seem unwilling to do so.
There should be a license in order to have these dogs. Some sort of dog behavioural training, as well as a background check and if you have suitable conditions to home these dogs.
If you don’t want to ban them there should be sufficient safeguards to stop idiots owning them
I don’t like the idea of breeds being destroyed, but there is no reason for these to be in the uk. I said yesterday in another thread, we had a 15 year old lad do work experience at our work. He was scanning Facebook to buy one for a first dog.
I’m sorry but how in any world is that normal? It would be safer for all of us if he bought a gun.
Status or designer dogs bred by criminal families for profit, kept in poor conditions, bought largely by kids who see it like a new pair of trainers or some jewellery. …and then we wonder why these events will keep happening.
Bully XL breeds were originally bred to provide the same asthetics as pits and banned breeds but without the aggression. However, the genetic component of aggression is not understood at all well. And I don’t believe they ever were significantly less aggressive than pits.
Dog owner of a dog that’s nervous to big dogs he doesn’t know.
When I see a tracksuit wearing 40kg with an XL Bully, I don’t wanna be 100m near them – that dog does what it wants, if it would decide to charge, there’s no way he can hold it. And why do they always have them on this tiny chain that would barely hold a chihuahua?
7 comments
How American bully XL dogs became a dangerous ‘weapon’
Expert handler Colin Tennant says the animals are being bred for owners who want them to be vicious
new
Colin Tennant
Saturday May 20 2023, 2.30pm BST, The Sunday Times
Colin Tennant believes that it is often the owners of such breeds that condition the dogs to be more aggressive
Colin Tennant believes that it is often the owners of such breeds that condition the dogs to be more aggressive
GETTY IMAGES
Last week it was revealed that the dog that killed Natasha Johnston, a 28-year-old dog-walker in Surrey, in January, was her own — an American bully XL. On Friday, Jonathan Hogg, 37, was attacked by an American bully XL in Greater Manchester and later died from his injuries.
These dogs are relatively new to Britain but have become a common sight and are responsible for a large number of attacks. So why are they still legal? It’s a complicated problem — and one that won’t be solved by banning the breed.
American bullies originated in the 1980s and are mixed-breed bulldogs: an American pitbull terrier crossed with American, English and Olde English bulldogs. They were recognised by the American Kennel Club in 2004 but are not a registered breed with the UK Kennel Club, meaning that we don’t have a clear idea of how many dogs or breeders there are.
American bullies are often purchased for their intimidating look and can be subjected to cruel and illegal practices such as ear cropping to make them appear more aggressive
American bullies are often purchased for their intimidating look and can be subjected to cruel and illegal practices such as ear cropping to make them appear more aggressive
GETTY IMAGES
Nearly 9,000 people a year are admitted to hospital with severe dog bites — up from 7,500 in 2017 — costing the NHS an estimated £71 million.
American bullies come in XL size but they can also be bred to XXL and XXXL sizes — which involves crossing them with bigger breeds like mastiffs or other large bull breeds, reaching up to 100kg.
Bulldogs have a higher tendency for aggression, having come from bull-baiting dogs once used in dog fights. But if they’re brought up sensibly and socialised at the right age, these dogs are, on the whole, fine.
American Bully XLs, however, appeal to a certain demographic. I see people with them all the time: they are usually owned by young men. These big, muscular, thuggish dogs are an extension of the male ego. For the owner, the scarier the dog, the better. Dogs are just another weapon — like a knife. There’s a huge market for them. A puppy can cost £2,500, which makes them lucrative for inexperienced breeders who create them in large numbers for a big payout. There are reports of gangs pivoting from dealing drugs to breeding dogs. They’re bred irresponsibly with exaggerated features: to be more muscular, or with thicker necks or larger heads and jaws, or to be more aggressive.
A dog walker was killed when she lost control of the pack of eight dogs she was exercising. It was later determined that it was her own American bully XL that caused the fatal injuries
A dog walker was killed when she lost control of the pack of eight dogs she was exercising. It was later determined that it was her own American bully XL that caused the fatal injuries
YUI MOK/PA
If dogs like this are raised in poor environments and not socialised correctly as puppies, owners will find that they can’t control their dog’s aggression when they reach adolescence. It all adds up to one thing: dogs with a low trigger-point with the physical strength to kill.
About eight years ago I had two American bulldogs in my kennels. They had bitten a number of people. Although I could handle them and they never attacked me, I’d only have to move in a certain way to put them into attack mode. I didn’t let any of my staff go near them. In the end I had to put them down for being too aggressive. To me, rehoming these dogs would have been tantamount to leaving poison around a house for a child.
That doesn’t mean other breeds don’t bite — all dogs can. But when American bullies attack, the result can often be devastating.
What’s the solution? The answer isn’t as simple as banning a breed. The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act bans four breeds: the pitbull terrier, Japanese tosa, fila Brasiliero and the dogo Argentino. I suspect American bulldogs will be added to that list. But if you ban one aggressive breed, people will just start breeding another new aggressive “designer breed”.
Dog licences don’t work either. People wouldn’t register. It didn’t work before: they were abolished in 1987. The only real solution is for owners to be responsible and the law to take attacks more seriously.
Until then, dogs will continue getting more aggressive and breeders more money-hungry.
As told to Katie Gatens
Related articles
Man, 37, dies after attack by ‘out of control’ dog
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May 19 2023, 8.10pm BST
Seren Hughes
Dog bites put 9,000 people a year in hospital. Why is the law toothless?
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February 04 2023, 6.00pm GMT
Katie Gatens
Dog walker died of bites to neck, inquest told
It’s always a tracksuit wearing cunt who ‘owns’ this breed.
Ban them now. It’s not exactly difficult, but the government seem unwilling to do so.
There should be a license in order to have these dogs. Some sort of dog behavioural training, as well as a background check and if you have suitable conditions to home these dogs.
If you don’t want to ban them there should be sufficient safeguards to stop idiots owning them
I don’t like the idea of breeds being destroyed, but there is no reason for these to be in the uk. I said yesterday in another thread, we had a 15 year old lad do work experience at our work. He was scanning Facebook to buy one for a first dog.
I’m sorry but how in any world is that normal? It would be safer for all of us if he bought a gun.
Status or designer dogs bred by criminal families for profit, kept in poor conditions, bought largely by kids who see it like a new pair of trainers or some jewellery. …and then we wonder why these events will keep happening.
Bully XL breeds were originally bred to provide the same asthetics as pits and banned breeds but without the aggression. However, the genetic component of aggression is not understood at all well. And I don’t believe they ever were significantly less aggressive than pits.
Dog owner of a dog that’s nervous to big dogs he doesn’t know.
When I see a tracksuit wearing 40kg with an XL Bully, I don’t wanna be 100m near them – that dog does what it wants, if it would decide to charge, there’s no way he can hold it. And why do they always have them on this tiny chain that would barely hold a chihuahua?