Dog trainer says American XL Bully owners are too scared to leave their homes
In the wake of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's announcement to ban the American Bully XL breed on September 15, dog owners are reportedly living in fear.
Martin Winfield, a distinguished animal trainer from Caerphilly known for training Wales' most dangerous dogs, has been swamped with calls from anxious owners too terrified to venture outside with their pets.
The ban comes after a series of attacks by the breed, including a recent incident that left an 11 year old girl severely injured. However, Winfield, who owns Rockwood Animals on Film and has been working with dogs since his early teens, argues that the problem lies not with the breed but with irresponsible breeders.
In an interview with the BBC, he expressed his concerns: "We've had a lot of people asking for training and advice since reports of the attacks and the ban. People have come to us feeling really bad about leaving the house with their dog, and that's only going to make the situation worse. If you've got this dog, you should be coming out and seeking advice to help identify any problems."
He advises dog owners with concerns to seek professional advice (John Myers)Meanwhile, online marketplaces are seeing a surge in XL bullies being sold for as low as £500, as owners scramble to offload them before the ban takes effect, reports Wales Online. The 61-year-old dog expert stated that American Bully XLs, like all dogs, are "a product of selective breeding". He reminisced about the time when the breed first arrived in the UK, describing them as "lovely dogs, very loving, similar to the Staffordshire bull terrier in many ways, very affectionate and good with families."
XL Bully attack leaves her needing surgery on arms as she tries to save daughter
However, he lamented the unfortunate turn of events where, due to their crossbreed nature, certain breeders have introduced aggressive lines into the breed. These breeders have selectively interbred these dogs to enhance their aggression, leading to a worrying increase in violent incidents. He drew parallels to a similar situation that occurred with Dobermans in the 1980s, when breeders began producing aggressive Dobermans, resulting in numerous attacks.
Mr Winfield strongly advocates for stricter breeding laws as a solution to this escalating problem. He insists that breeders of these aggressive dogs must be held accountable and "bear the responsibility" for their actions. He firmly believes that severe consequences, such as asset forfeiture and imprisonment, should be imposed on owners if their dogs injure or kill someone. He added: "If you own one of these dogs, and they injure or kill someone, then that person must suffer the consequences of that, be stripped of their assets, any more made, they must lose it all and go to jail."
Emma Whitfield, a mother from Caerphilly whose 10 year old son Jack Lis was tragically killed by a seven-stone American XL Bully named Beast, has welcomed the government's ban on the breed. The fatal incident occurred when young Jack visited a house after school.
In an interview with the BBC, Whitfield argued that the government needs to do more than just banning the breed. She called for changes in sentencing laws to deter backyard breeders and irresponsible owners, pointing out that bully XLs have been responsible for numerous attacks and deaths. She added: "It hurts every time I hear of another fatality, and families should not be grieving because of a dog attack."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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