XL bully dogs were “never intended to be pet dogs”, an animal behaviourist has claimed. 

Earlier this week, Nicole Morely died reportedly after she was attacked by an XL bully dog.

The Government has set up a working group to consider whether the breed should be restricted and speaking to Lunchtime Live, Clinical Animal Behaviourist Maureen Byrne said she was wary of the idea of a legislative ban. 

“By and large, bans are not a good idea because they tend to drive the whole thing underground,” she said. 

“And you tend to get an evolution then of other big [dogs] in the place of the one that’s currently causing a problem. 

“That’s a general view that I would have but the situation has changed with the XL bullies, in my opinion. 

“They’re different and they’re different because they haven’t gone through this long process of decades of being bred to be pet dogs - the way that labradors have.” 

American XL bully

Ms Byrne said the breed is “very new” and were “never intended to be pet dogs”.  

“I’ve met some lovely ones,” she said. 

“But the problem with them is that they don’t have the same behavioural development that other breeds of dog have when it comes to living as a pet animal.”

'Really aggressive'

Also on the show, Orla Murray, the Chair of the Health and Welfare Committee of the Irish Kennel Club described XL bullies as a “really strong, really aggressive” breed and admitted many people find them “quite intimidating”. 

The Irish Kennel Club is part of the working group considering whether new restrictions on the breed should be introduced and Ms Murray explained what that would mean. 

“We have 11 breeds which are on our restricted breeding list,” she said. 

“That basically means that there are certain criteria around those breeds; so, they must be muzzled at all times when they’re out in public. 

“They have to be kept on a short-leash, they have to be handled by a person over the age of 16 and who has control of the dog as well. 

“They also have to be identifiable on their collar with the name and address of the owner.” 

File photo of a dark brown XL Bully dog. Image: Wirestock, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

Last year, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the XL bully would be banned in England and Wales. 

Several months later, the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive said they too would introduce their own restrictions.

Main image: An XL bully dog. Picture by: Justin Griffiths-Williams/Alamy Live News