Ipswich rapper goes viral with a song on bully XLs ban

Seekah Lytess said it was "disgraceful" other owners have chosen to have their bully XLs put down

A bully XL owner has written a song about his dog and the new laws which ban the breed.

Seekah Lytess, a rapper from Ipswich in Suffolk, has owned his dog Rico for three years.

The dogs were added to the banned list in England and Wales, after numerous attacks involving the breed.

Mr Lytess said: "We can't just tarnish a whole breed because certain people decide to use their dogs in a certain fashion."

Seekah Lytess said his rap had over 10 million views across his social media pages

Since 31 December 2023, it has been against the law to sell, abandon, breed from or give away a bully XL, or have one in public without a lead or muzzle.

From 1 February, it will be illegal to own one without an exemption certificate.

In his rap, which has more than two million views on TikTok, Mr Lytess criticises "irresponsible owners".

"Any dog can be a killer, man," he says in the song. "The trouble's in the owner."

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Mr Lytess has owned Rico since the dog was six-weeks-old and said he was his young son's best friend.

"[Rico] is very much a part of the family. A lot of people don't understand the relationships and bonds you can have with your dog."

Seekah Lytess has owned Rico since he was six weeks old

He said news of the ban was "heart-breaking" and although he disagrees with the rules, he is "grateful that we're able to keep him".

The rap speaks about how Rico will not understand why he can no longer do "zoomies on the beach" and other activities he has enjoyed with his owner.

"I'm not naïve," Mr Lytess added. "I wouldn't leave my dog in a room with my son unattended but it's not because he's a bully. I won't leave a chihuahua or a Jack Russell [either]... dogs are unpredictable."

He hopes the song will help people understand bully XLs.

"If I can help restore their faith in their dogs then, I've accomplished what I set out to do."