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XL bully ban 'probably won't work' - Northants dog expert

Rob Constantin/BBC Mike BarnettRob Constantin/BBC
Mike Barnett says the ban is unlikely to significantly reduce the number of American XL bullies

A dog expert has said that the American XL bully ban, which comes into force on 1 February, "probably will not work".

Mike Barnett from Northamptonshire, who was a police dog handler, said it was unlikely to significantly reduce the number of American XL bully dogs.

The ban was introduced after a number of people were attacked by the dogs, some of which resulted in deaths.

Mr Barnett said education would be a more effective solution than banning a specific breed.

The American XL bully breed was developed through the crossing of various bull breeds, including the American pit bull terrier.

American XL bully dogs are typically larger and more muscular than other bully breed types, such as the micro and the classic.

Among the incidents involving the breed was the death of 10-year-old Jack Lis in 2021, and the fatal attack on 52-year-old Ian Price in 2023.

Jack Lis
Jack Lis died after being attacked by an American XL bully dog in 2021

The government has introduced a new law to England and Wales that has made owning an American XL bully dog illegal, unless the owner has an exemption certificate. The deadline to apply for the certificate was 31 January.

Mr Barnett, who now runs a dog behaviour consultancy, told BBC Radio Northampton the ban would "probably not" work.

He said: "When [the government] brought in the pit bull legislation back in 1991, it said that would eradicate pit bulls.

"We've routinely run at 3,500 on the exemption register.

"Two days ago, there was over 30,000 dogs registered as XL bullies."

Jacob King/PA Media Brown and white XL Bully dog standing on grassJacob King/PA Media
Mr Barnett says that banning a specific breed was not the way to reduce the danger

Mr Barnett added that any dog could be dangerous and react to a situation by biting: "I dealt with a case many years ago where a child came running down the stairs and the dog was fast asleep at mum and dad's feet.

"The seven-year-old did a flying leap off the bottom of the stairs onto the dog, which wasn't any of the banned breeds. The dog whipped its head around because it was startled.

"One of the canine teeth went into the neck and missed the main artery vein by 2mm."

Mr Barnett agreed that the public had to be protected but education was the answer.

He said: "We need owner education, to understand some of the signs that dogs [show to] say to human beings 'I'm not comfortable'."

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