Dog owners of American bully XL dogs attended a free training session in Hull to learn how to keep their pets safe. The dogs are set to be banned by the end of the year under a law that applies in England, Wales and Scotland once work has been finalized to define the breed. The session was held by Scott Godman from GDA Godman’s Dog Academy. He said that he wanted to represent the breed in its true form and help owners keep their pets safely.
About 25 people and their pets participated in the event on Oak Road Playing Fields. Godman said that everybody who had turned up was a family with a family dog and that it is all about helping people and helping the breed, regardless of the breed in question. He mentioned that no two dogs look alike, so the breed is hard to define. The American bully originated in the US in the late 1980s when American pit bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers were crossed, and there are four variations — standard, pocket, classic, and XL.
The XL can weigh more than nine stone (60kg) and is strong enough to overpower an adult. The American bully is regarded as a specific breed in the US. However, it is not recognized as such by the main British dog associations, such as the Kennel Club. The ban was announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following a spate of recent attacks, including the death of Ian Price, who was attacked by two dogs on 14 September in Stonnall, Walsall.
A few days later, an 11-year-old girl and two men were attacked by an American bully XL in Bordesley Green, Birmingham. Aaron Hall was at the event with his dog, Kimber, and said that he wants people to realize that they are not a bad breed. He added that they are just misunderstood and that he knows more people who have been bitten by little dogs than bigger dogs. Ash Irvine and Brooke Osborne also brought their dogs, Versace and Dixie, to the event and said that if they are brought up correctly by the right people, they can be really good dogs
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