XL Bullys: Are dangerous dogs born or made?

As another attack hits the headlines, debate is once again sparked on their aggressive nature. But, is it nature, or is it nurture? Actually, it’s more complicated than that, says canine expert Louise Glazebrook who argues there is a simple solution

Supporters hold placards during a protest against the Government's plans to ban the XL bully breed (AFP/Getty)

As the country reeled in shock at the news that a woman was killed in an attack by her XL Bully dogs at her home in east London, another story was being told on Instagram. On there, one influencer was busy showing off a new breed of XL Bully – bred to be hairless so you could see the folds of its flesh, its muscles and the true beauty of “this real-life Gargoyle”, she gushed. 

Most people assume that XL Bullies are naturally aggressive. Their breeding would certainly suggest so. Created from crossing pit bulls – dogs we created to win dog fights years and years ago – this genetic heritage is certainly present in their DNA.

But these breeds have also been bred to be excellent people dogs, as years ago they would need to be able to distinguish between their handlers. So, it’s complicated.

My belief is that the real problem is that we have a great deal of breeders playing God – with absolutely no idea of what they are doing and the impact their decisions make. Such as breeding a dog for its “hairlessness” or colour rather than its temperament and health.

There are thousands of examples of this on social media. You only have to look at what breeders have done to dachshunds, cockapoos and French bulldogs to know that the decisions breeders are making are changing the face of dog ownership across the board. 

As a nation, we are no longer breeding dogs to be excellent healthy family pets. When the pandemic hit it sparked a breeding frenzy, with XLs and many others being selected. As the XL population exploded, with many of them being bred by unethical breeders, so did the number of attacks. 

As a society, we have become obsessed with purebreds, but this is leading to an inordinate amount of inbreeding and all the associated problems that come with that. My Instagram feed is filled with dogs with health and genetic disorders that are, I am sure, a direct result of breeders who are ignoring breeding standards.

As a New York Times opinion piece revealed in a discussion around the Westminster Dog Show, this isn’t just happening in backyards and puppy farms, this is happening within show circles too. 

Our breeding system needs a complete overhaul. For any breed of dog, we need to stop believing that our actions, our treatment and our lack of respect doesn’t have consequences. 

Barking up the wrong tree? The problem isn’t with dogs, it is with humans (Getty)

We will never truly know the answer to nature vs nurture as we don’t for humans. But it is abundantly clear that everything we do impacts our dogs. From the food they are fed to the environment they are raised in, to the way they are exercised and trained.

Every one of these things is a building block. A house can’t stand up to impact, weather and use if we have bricks missing or poor foundations. When you have a dog that has been poorly bred and then you don’t socialise it, walk it, train it, feed it properly and treat it with respect – that isn’t going to end well. 

Dogs are deeply emotional animals; they share our homes and lives with us. The way we treat them, the way we raise them, talk to them, the way we touch them all impacts their perception of the world they live in and how they interact with it.  

For any breed of dog, we need to stop believing that our actions, our treatment and our lack of respect doesn’t have consequences

We are seeing a catastrophic impact of deeply flawed breeding across many breeds. It just doesn’t hit the headlines but I’m dealing with Spaniels biting children, poodles biting adults, dachshunds being so triggered by people that they can’t be walked outside – so while XL bullies made the news because they have the power to seriously maim and kill when they attack, these wider issues are not confined to this breed.

Without proper regulation, the government is allowing puppy farmers to breed dogs not suitable for family homes. Third-party websites allow for the selling of puppies by unvetted breeders who just fancy giving it a go.

Add to this an explosion of dog ownership from people who do not understand dogs, who are not willing to learn about them and do not care; you can see the problem.

And most of us working with dogs on a daily basis, believe that until the breeding and care issue is tackled, the problem is not with the dogs per se, it is with the humans.

Policymakers need to work with experts to make sure all dogs are cared for (AFP/Getty)

Dog fertility clinics that are unregulated span the UK. Anyone can get involved and is doing so, creating horrific examples of breeding – just look at the Pocket Bullies being “made”.

A rescue dog in Wales recently had to put several of this new pocket breed to sleep, because they were so mutated, so poorly and so disfigured by their breeding. We have dog sperm that can be bought online by breeders with zero comprehension of what a family tree means and why it matters. 

Dogs have warning signs, what I call a traffic light system of reactions, to let us know if they like or dislike something. I’d like to sit down with policymakers and create free resources for all dog owners, so there is no excuse for not knowing about dog body language.

I’d like HMRC to get involved with all the breeders and see where all the cash they are earning from dogs is going. And I’d like puppy farming to be sorted out and banned. We have the power to make change but so far the government has decided not to and so the conversation about XL Bullies continues to go around in circles.

‘The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read’ by Louise Glazebrook is published by Orion