Bully Breed Ban

Reported By: Kate Mack

Illustrated By: Addie Patterson

On Dec. 31, the United Kingdom officially put into effect the new legislative ban on XL bully breeds. Due to the over 300 vicious dog attacks in 2023 that have become all too frequent throughout the UK, all countries except Northern Ireland have implemented this ban. Bully breeds, such as pitbulls, bull mastiffs, bulldogs, boxers, great danes, and rottweilers will need to be muzzled at all times outside of their home and kept harnessed and leashed. Also, people are  banned from breeding and selling these types of dogs. Dogs that already exist must be registered through the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. Any bully breeds in shelters, if unable to be adopted by December 31, were euthanized. 

The bully breed ban sparked protests in the UK and angered many citizens in the United States. Over 4,000 citizens in the U K have applied for their dog to be an exemption to the ban, as their dogs have not been aggressive or have records of being violent towards other dogs. The Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs has already granted multiple of these exemptions and continues to take in applications for more exemptions. 

Aggression in dogs is something that has fluctuated between a desirable and an undesirable trait. Matt Stump, a biology professor at George Fox University (GFU), explained aggression from a genetic standpoint. He stated that due to the domestication of wolves, there are traits in dogs that are still feral. Many dogs will guard their territory and protect their “pack” due to the biological necessity of survival. He explained that the environment the animals are in is also a factor in aggression. 

Stump questioned how dogs fit into different family dynamics. Some dogs are strong and dependable watch dogs, and aggression in these types of dogs is appropriate. However, others are more docile and such a trait would not make them effective guard dogs. Stump explained that aggression is something that will always be genetic in dogs because they are the products of  domesticated wolves.

When asked about his thoughts on the recent UK policy, Stump was able to see both sides of the legislation. There is a need to regulate attacks by bully breed dogs for the safety of the public because genetics and biology in every organism will overpower rational thinking. However, as a man who loves dogs, the policy is still something that is hard to completely agree with, as he believes that dogs make us more human, and that is something that should not be forgotten. 

The neuroscience behind aggression is just as complex and difficult as it seems with genetics. Jim Smart, another GFU professor, explained that aggression is common among every animal species. Due to natural selection, aggression kept these animals alive. Aggression was important in capturing prey and in self-defense. These are two traits difficult to breed out of dogs. Smart theorized that these attacks in the UK by bully breeds are probably for defensive reasons and explained that there are factors in the nervous system that could contribute to this behavior. 

Aggression is multifactorial and is controlled by many different things from the animal's genetics to its endocrine system and hormones. Smart explained that dealing with aggressive behavior in dogs is something that is, and will continue to be, extremely complex due to the balance between the health of the animal and the owner. 

This polarizing issue in the UK is something that is not going to go away. The ban in the UK is killing dogs that could have no signs of aggression, but it could also be saving the lives of those who could be attacked in the future. We cannot forget to remind ourselves of the importance of the companionship between dogs and man, but we cannot risk the safety of the public either. 

There is no perfect solution or perfect answer one could give to the bully breeds ban. The solution in effect now may solve the problem, and in the years to come these dogs may become less aggressive. However, the only way to truly know is to wait and see what happens.