Topline

Britain's home secretary has said she is pushing to ban the American XL Bully dog breed after an 11-year-old girl and two men were injured in an attack, the latest call to restrict certain dog breeds that some claim are genetically prone to aggression while others point to a decades-long cultural shift that has led to unfair bias.

Key Facts

Key Background

The American XL Bully is a relatively new dog breed that originated in the United States in the 1980s. It was originally a mix between the American pit bull terrier and American Staffordshire terrier, but has since been crossed with other breeds to create an ultra-muscular dog described by the United Kennel Club as having a "powerful appearance." The American Bully is one of four pedigreed breeds of dogs that are considered to be "pit bulls," along with the American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier and Staffordshire bull terrier. The pit bull has been the target of much ire since the 1970s, when increasing crime in American cities led to a mass buying and beeding of guard dogs by uninformed breeders who sold "unstable dogs'' in mass, Bronwen Dickey, author of Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon, told NPR. The dog bite rate went through the roof at the same time media outlets were profiling pit bulls and other aggressive breeds in a push to ban dogfighting, Dickey explained, which led to the "terribly sad and wrong-minded" demonization of the breed as overly aggressive. The biggest myth advocates have fought to repel is that pit bulls have aggression and danger in their DNA. While the original bull and terrier dogs in the 19th century were bred to be fighters, Dickey said breeding a dog with fighting traits has always been a statistical rarity, and a dog's behavior is much more dependent on its early development and socialization.

Contra

The American Veterinary Medical Association says breed-specific legislation is not a reliable solution for dog bite prevention. While dog bites are common and do pose a danger—more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year, the National Institute of Health says—the Association says it is individual history, behavior, size and number of dogs involved that determines the likelihood of a bite—not the breed. Breed-specific bans cause more problems and confusion than they solve, are hard to enforce and are discriminatory against responsible owners and their dogs without addressing the social issue of irresponsible pet ownership, according to the organization. Some, including researchers from the Lewis & Clark Law School, have said bias against pit bulls may be rooted in racism. Strong cultural ties exist between pit bull dogs and the Black community, and breed-specific legislation works to not only keep the dogs out of the cities or states where they are illegal, but often the Black people who own them.

Tangent

Home and rental insurance companies have increasingly restricted policies to the owners of dog breeds they consider an exceptional liability. A Forbes Advisor report found the expensive liability claims against dog owners have led insurers to be cautious of dozens of breeds they fear will force them to pay out for dog bites or other dog-related injuries—the average dog bite claim is around $44,760, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The most commonly banned breeds are the doberman pinscher, pit bull and rottweiler—which are banned by 100% of insurance companies that keep a list of banned breeds—followed by the chow chow, presa canario, akita, German shepherd, husky and mastiff.

Surprising Fact

An increasing number of celebrities have used their voice to advocate for pit bull breeds. Actor Jon Bernthal brings his pit bulls—named Boss and Venice—to every set, he told Insider, and has said he wants to "change people's idea of these dogs." Kaley Cuoco has had several pit bulls—including the late dog she named her Yes, Norman Productions company after, and in 2017 took to Instagram to defend her then-new puppy who was denied entry to a building based on his breed. Sir Patrick Stewart and his wife Sunny Ozell have fostered several pit bulls and the actor uses his social media accounts to dispel myths about the breed—he was honored by the ASPCA with the 2021 Pit Bull Advocate & Protector Award. Other celebrities who've been vocal about their love of pit bulls include Justin Theroux, Jessica Biel, Rachael Ray, Katherine Heigl and Channing Tatum, according to Insider.

Further Reading

What is an American bully XL and should they be banned? (BBC News)

Dog Breeds Banned By Home Insurance Companies (Forbes)

Why Does Warren Buffett Want Pit Bulls Instead Of Cocker Spaniels In The Boardroom? (Forbes)

Pet Ownership Statistics 2023 (Forbes)