At last someone speaks the truth! I have seen a few XL Bully dogs in my home city of Norwich and on each occasion have been so glad I haven't had any of my 3 pet dogs with me. They're invariably attached to some weak specimen of manhood who requires such a beast to give them feelings of adequacy. We do NOT need dogs bred for such nefarious and dangerous purposes in the 21st century. Over 200 breeds to pick from which have NOT been responsible for human deaths or maulings-choose wisely.
Jun 8, 2023·edited Jun 8, 2023Liked by Lawrence Newport
I wonder why government is not doing anything about it? Why public needs to pledge for change? Why we have to come up with solutions where is the governing bodies should be doing something about it?
Is there any data on whether dogs that kill people are uncastrated males? Not sure if it's just confounded by the "bad owner" thing but my anecdotal impression is that American bullies seem to be uncastrated far more often
I can imagine unneutered males are much more aggressive. They certainly are (of any breed) to other dogs. But I don't know the stats on that, would be interesting to see!
Actually, a 2018 longitudinal study found that anxiety and aggressiveness is more prevalent in neutered dogs than entire dogs. (Behavioural risks in male dogs with minimal lifetime exposure to gonadal hormones may complicate population-control benefits of desexing, McGreevy et al 2018. available here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0196284#sec009 ).
"Of the behaviours that were less frequently associated with increasing PLGH (percentage life gonadal hormone exposure), 7 were related to aggression and were observed as follows: when delivery workers approach home (8.54%; OR = 0.992(0.990–0.994)); when strangers walk past home while dog is outside (6.88%; OR = 0.993(0.991–0.995)); when joggers, cyclists, roller-bladers or skateboarders pass home while dog is outside (7.85; OR = 0.993(0.991–0.995)); when approached directly by unfamiliar female dog while being exercised on leash (10.98%; OR = 0.996(0.994–0.998)); when unfamiliar person approaches owner or another family member at home (5.87%; OR = 0.996(0.994–0.998)); toward cats, squirrels or other small animals entering yard (6.76%; OR = 0.996(0.994–0.998)); and when unfamiliar persons visit home (5.41%;—OR = 0.996(0.994–0.998))."
The article goes on to discuss that increases in both fear and aggression in castrated males may be coping mechanisms developed in response to perceived threats, and perhaps that increased exposure to gonadal hormones proofs the dog against threat perception.
Certainly worth delving into more, as I was under the impression until I read this article that castration was a preventative against unwanted/antisocial behaviours. (Indeed, it was because I was under that impression that my dog was "done" when he attained adulthood.)
I don’t understand why people have dogs that could’nt be called a pet as I know a loving dog to be
I’m writing about my life wife with golden cocker spaniel, Gweni- I’d like to share the post if that’s okay, I think you and your readers might enjoy it - get a gentle dog!
Thank you for all you are doing to raise awareness of the dangers these dogs pose. It angers me that rescue centres are still able to rehome these dogs -I saw one advertised today-needs a home with no cats, no kids, no other dogs, is boisterous and ‘humpy’ oh-not overkeen on men either! Another tragedy waiting to happen…but the ‘it’s not the breed it’s the owner’ lobby are very vocal
Thank you Lawrence for all the hard work to produce the evidence and statistics on the bully XL and campaigning for a ban. It is a tragic shame that it has took recent attacks for the government to listen to yourself, but thanks for the work to produce clear evidence of the dangers this breed presents.
In the 1990s my family had a Pit Bull (the smaller Pit Bull, not the massive Bully XL.) She was a really nice dog and we never had a problem with her. Would I get another one? In a word, NO. In the 20+ years since, Pit Bulls became the "dog of choice" for gang members who bred them to fight. About ten years later, when I was looking for another dog I went to the local shelter to adopt. It was sad to see kennel after kennel occupied by Pit Bulls that had been picked up off the streets, abandoned, or turned in to the shelter. There were signs over each kennel, "not available for adoption". They were simply put down. It was a case of better cautious than culpable. Since then local breed groups in my area have been working to rehabilitate the breed's reputation and some Pit Bull/Pit crosses are available again. Even so I wouldn't want to risk it.
In the US, some insurance companies will not write homeowners policies or will jack up the premiums for homeowners with Pit Bulls. What is the practice in the UK? That might be a route to discourage people from owning this breed.
Pit Bulls are a banned breed in the UK however you can still own one as long as you register them on the IED(index of exempted dogs) you have to have third party liability insurance, they have to be on a lead at all times and must be muzzled at all times. They also have to be neutered/spayed and tattooed. The problem we face in the UK is American Bully XLs which are a Pit Bull cross, they aren't a banned breed, they're everywhere and are killing/injuring humans and other animals at an alarming rate. Our government are doing nothing about it and the big rescues/charities want to end BSL (breed specific legislation) so that no breed is banned, as they say no breed is inherently more dangerous than another. A case recently was of an XL Bully, that had been bought online by a 19 year old lad, the dog was aggressive, it had already attacked other dogs, it killed a 10 year old boy, his mum had to identify him by his shoes, the owner of the dog was sentenced to a little over 4 years in prison, even though the dog had bitten 2 people before it killed the young boy. The dog owner will serve 2 years pro ably then come out on parole. The last thing any country should go is look to the UK as an example as to how to solve their issue with dangerous dogs.
Still, if you have the time and patience, you can train them too. And they’re very good dogs when said time and effort is put in. It’s not a dog you get frivolously. It’s not a dog you buy and don’t train. Most of these issues come from people acting like they’re golden retrievers they can just put in their house and walk around with little work. It’s unfortunate.
For this argument to endure, would it not require that the breed had only just been introduced to the UK (two years ago)?
The US is also experiencing a notable increase in bites that are deadly or severe...
Dogs are extraordinarily sensitive to even small changes in the people around them; our dog avoided us if we were sick; it seemed our smell was altered?? Could Covid or the vax, with the introduction of various proteins and LNP's change our smell or how our animals perceive us??
Actually there is already a petition created to ban owning and breeding on gov.uk site. Worth signing and passing on
At last someone speaks the truth! I have seen a few XL Bully dogs in my home city of Norwich and on each occasion have been so glad I haven't had any of my 3 pet dogs with me. They're invariably attached to some weak specimen of manhood who requires such a beast to give them feelings of adequacy. We do NOT need dogs bred for such nefarious and dangerous purposes in the 21st century. Over 200 breeds to pick from which have NOT been responsible for human deaths or maulings-choose wisely.
I wonder why government is not doing anything about it? Why public needs to pledge for change? Why we have to come up with solutions where is the governing bodies should be doing something about it?
Very well written article. Thank you!
Ban these monsters!
Great piece
Thank you, very kind!
Excellent article. Small grammatical note: it’s better practice to say “owners WHO do this or that…”
Great write up
Thank you!
If it's the owner, why can't owners be charged with manslaughter if their dog causes a death? Or some equivalent to "death by dangerous driving"?
Is there any data on whether dogs that kill people are uncastrated males? Not sure if it's just confounded by the "bad owner" thing but my anecdotal impression is that American bullies seem to be uncastrated far more often
I can imagine unneutered males are much more aggressive. They certainly are (of any breed) to other dogs. But I don't know the stats on that, would be interesting to see!
Actually, a 2018 longitudinal study found that anxiety and aggressiveness is more prevalent in neutered dogs than entire dogs. (Behavioural risks in male dogs with minimal lifetime exposure to gonadal hormones may complicate population-control benefits of desexing, McGreevy et al 2018. available here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0196284#sec009 ).
"Of the behaviours that were less frequently associated with increasing PLGH (percentage life gonadal hormone exposure), 7 were related to aggression and were observed as follows: when delivery workers approach home (8.54%; OR = 0.992(0.990–0.994)); when strangers walk past home while dog is outside (6.88%; OR = 0.993(0.991–0.995)); when joggers, cyclists, roller-bladers or skateboarders pass home while dog is outside (7.85; OR = 0.993(0.991–0.995)); when approached directly by unfamiliar female dog while being exercised on leash (10.98%; OR = 0.996(0.994–0.998)); when unfamiliar person approaches owner or another family member at home (5.87%; OR = 0.996(0.994–0.998)); toward cats, squirrels or other small animals entering yard (6.76%; OR = 0.996(0.994–0.998)); and when unfamiliar persons visit home (5.41%;—OR = 0.996(0.994–0.998))."
The article goes on to discuss that increases in both fear and aggression in castrated males may be coping mechanisms developed in response to perceived threats, and perhaps that increased exposure to gonadal hormones proofs the dog against threat perception.
Certainly worth delving into more, as I was under the impression until I read this article that castration was a preventative against unwanted/antisocial behaviours. (Indeed, it was because I was under that impression that my dog was "done" when he attained adulthood.)
I don’t understand why people have dogs that could’nt be called a pet as I know a loving dog to be
I’m writing about my life wife with golden cocker spaniel, Gweni- I’d like to share the post if that’s okay, I think you and your readers might enjoy it - get a gentle dog!
https://cocker-spaniel-journal.com/cocker-spaniel-show-dog/ Thanks again,
Thank you for all you are doing to raise awareness of the dangers these dogs pose. It angers me that rescue centres are still able to rehome these dogs -I saw one advertised today-needs a home with no cats, no kids, no other dogs, is boisterous and ‘humpy’ oh-not overkeen on men either! Another tragedy waiting to happen…but the ‘it’s not the breed it’s the owner’ lobby are very vocal
Thank you Lawrence for all the hard work to produce the evidence and statistics on the bully XL and campaigning for a ban. It is a tragic shame that it has took recent attacks for the government to listen to yourself, but thanks for the work to produce clear evidence of the dangers this breed presents.
In the 1990s my family had a Pit Bull (the smaller Pit Bull, not the massive Bully XL.) She was a really nice dog and we never had a problem with her. Would I get another one? In a word, NO. In the 20+ years since, Pit Bulls became the "dog of choice" for gang members who bred them to fight. About ten years later, when I was looking for another dog I went to the local shelter to adopt. It was sad to see kennel after kennel occupied by Pit Bulls that had been picked up off the streets, abandoned, or turned in to the shelter. There were signs over each kennel, "not available for adoption". They were simply put down. It was a case of better cautious than culpable. Since then local breed groups in my area have been working to rehabilitate the breed's reputation and some Pit Bull/Pit crosses are available again. Even so I wouldn't want to risk it.
In the US, some insurance companies will not write homeowners policies or will jack up the premiums for homeowners with Pit Bulls. What is the practice in the UK? That might be a route to discourage people from owning this breed.
Pit Bulls are a banned breed in the UK however you can still own one as long as you register them on the IED(index of exempted dogs) you have to have third party liability insurance, they have to be on a lead at all times and must be muzzled at all times. They also have to be neutered/spayed and tattooed. The problem we face in the UK is American Bully XLs which are a Pit Bull cross, they aren't a banned breed, they're everywhere and are killing/injuring humans and other animals at an alarming rate. Our government are doing nothing about it and the big rescues/charities want to end BSL (breed specific legislation) so that no breed is banned, as they say no breed is inherently more dangerous than another. A case recently was of an XL Bully, that had been bought online by a 19 year old lad, the dog was aggressive, it had already attacked other dogs, it killed a 10 year old boy, his mum had to identify him by his shoes, the owner of the dog was sentenced to a little over 4 years in prison, even though the dog had bitten 2 people before it killed the young boy. The dog owner will serve 2 years pro ably then come out on parole. The last thing any country should go is look to the UK as an example as to how to solve their issue with dangerous dogs.
Still, if you have the time and patience, you can train them too. And they’re very good dogs when said time and effort is put in. It’s not a dog you get frivolously. It’s not a dog you buy and don’t train. Most of these issues come from people acting like they’re golden retrievers they can just put in their house and walk around with little work. It’s unfortunate.
Looks like you have no clue about golden retrievers
For this argument to endure, would it not require that the breed had only just been introduced to the UK (two years ago)?
The US is also experiencing a notable increase in bites that are deadly or severe...
Dogs are extraordinarily sensitive to even small changes in the people around them; our dog avoided us if we were sick; it seemed our smell was altered?? Could Covid or the vax, with the introduction of various proteins and LNP's change our smell or how our animals perceive us??