XL bully: Dog walkers harassed after ruling, says trainer

Dog walker Jess Eley says her rescue dog, Dora, is "super friendly"

Owners of dogs that resemble XL bullies are being harassed in public, it has been claimed.

New rules in England and Wales mean XL bully dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled and, from February, owners must have an exemption certificate.

Dog trainer Jack Fenton said some of his clients had been shouted at while out walking their dogs, even if not part of the newly banned breed.

The government said the new rules aimed to "reduce the risks to the public".

Guidance has been published to help identify XL bullies, which are not recognised as a specific breed by the UK Kennel Club.

Mr Fenton, from Southbourne, Dorset, said: "I've had students come to me with dogs that do not fall under the classification of XL bullies - they might be Staffordshire bull terriers or American bullies - and they are scared to take their dogs down the street.

"I've had students of mine say people have crossed the road and they have been yelled at that their dog is dangerous, that their dog should be muzzled.

"It's affecting lots of people who don't even have XL bullies."

XL bully-type dogs have been involved in fatal attacks on humans

Professional dog walker Jess Eley, also from Southbourne, has a three-year-old rescue dog, Dora, who she describes as "super friendly".

She said: "Dora is classed as a bully XL but she's smaller - she just falls under the government's definition.

"She's often the most well-behaved dog in the dog park.

"Since the ban was announced, people cross the road, we get a lot of stares."

Ms Eley said Dora used to join her on her group walks but now gets confused about why she is not allowed to run and play with the other dogs.

She now walks Dora alone to give her time to adjust to being on a lead and wearing a muzzle.

"We've gone to quieter places where there's less people and less dogs," she said.

There are no official statistics on attacks by particular dog breeds in the UK.

Surgeons at one plastic surgery unit in West Sussex say they are treating double the number of dog-attack victims since before the pandemic.

The government said, before 2021 there were about three fatalities a year caused by dog attacks but in the last three years there had been 23 deaths, "with the XL bully being disproportionately involved in this rise".

The Dog Control Coalition, which includes the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the Dogs Trust, the Kennel Club, the RSPCA and the British Veterinary Association, said breed-specific bans do not work and are unfair on responsible owners and their animals.

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