Enforcing regulations and more education about dog breeds will reduce attacks – not a ban on XL bully dogs, according to a behavioural expert. 

Taoiseach Simon Harris has expressed support for a possible legal ban on dog breeds such as the XL bully. 

A cross-governmental working group is currently exploring the issue of restricted breeds of dogs and Mr Harris said it was his “instinctive” view that a ban is needed.   

Dog trainer Paula Feaheny, however, said Ireland is following the wrong example if they ban specific breeds. 

She told The Pat Kenny Show the UK banned pit bulls in the 1990s to reduce attacks – but it had the opposite effect. 

“Now they're doing this with the XL bully dog, hoping this will work, not learning from the mistakes that happened last time,” she said. 

She noted far more people have died in dog attacks in the UK than in Ireland in recent years, so it makes no sense to follow their example. 

“If someone is thinking of [buying] a pit bull puppy, it should be awkward, it should be expensive and it should have licencing requirements similar to what they do in Spain,” she said. 

“Why are we trying to copy a country like the UK where [attacks] are on the rise... instead of taking a country where they have an effective plan and effective legislation.” 

Banning the XL bully

Ms Feaheny said she wants to reduce the number of dog attacks - and banning XL bullies would just give rise to another “large, capable, strong” dog that could cause more attacks. 

“There are hundreds of breeds out there with these capabilities,” she said. 

Enforcement of existing regulations would be more impactful, according to the dog trainer, including making dog wardens more effective. 

“The number of dog wardens is a massive issue we have, also the education of dog wardens,” she said. 

“It's fine to have 100 million dog wardens in the country - but the education and getting them to enforce laws is a completely different thing.” 

A dark brown XL Bully dog. Image: Wirestock, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

Dog wardens need to get better at identifying dog breeds, for example, to prevent attacks from dangerous breeds. 

“If you go on Google now and type in 13 or 15 different types of dogs, they all look the same - short-coated, big dogs with muscly heads,” she said. 

Considering 40% of dog attack victims are under 14, there should also be more education around dangerous breeds, according to Ms Feaheny. 

“Then there needs to be a massive public campaign – there's apparently one at the moment no one has seen or heard of,” she said. 

“We need to be teaching children how do [you] read the signs in dogs [before they attack].” 

Nicole Morey (23) was killed by a dog, believed to be an XL bully breed, in Limerick on June 4th. 

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