Has ban on XL Bully dogs made Scots safer?

It’s been one year since Scotland introduced restrictions on XL Bully dogs following a series of high-profile attacks that shocked the nation.

But 12 months on, has the legislation improved public safety?

Those on both sides of the ban don’t think so, with owners of the breed saying it has caused chaos and confusion.

Meanwhile, others believe the ban should be extended to other breeds.

‘She had lacerations under her eye’

Rose was just five years old when she was mauled by a dog near her home.

It wasn’t an XL Bully but a smaller, similar breed.

Rose was left scarred by the attack. STV News

Gillian Dempster, Rose’s mum, told STV News: “There was a lot of blood. I was checking her head and her ear was detached from the back of her scalp.

“She also had lacerations under her eye that were quite bad. She had lacerations under her lip and to the front of her lip.

“She had lost two teeth and her body was full of scratches.”

Rose needed surgery. Her physical wounds have healed, but the psychological trauma lingers as she’s now fearful around dogs.

Gillian believes the current ban on XL Bullies doesn’t go far enough and should be extended to include other dangerous breeds.

‘Law has been poorly implemented’

On the other side of the argument is Kerryanne Shaw, who rescued Bilbo just before the ban came into force in Scotland last year.

She says the law has been poorly implemented, causing confusion for responsible owners and unfairly targeting the breed.

“It’s targeting the wrong people and the wrong dogs,” said Shaw, who is chairwoman of All Bullie Charity Rescue.

She added: “They are seen as status symbols, so they are used for the wrong reasons. This is where we’re seeing lots of attacks.

“Until we start to tackle that and the irresponsible breeders, who aren’t breeding well-tempered dogs, healthy dogs, then we’re not going to make any difference.

“We’re still seeing owners coming to us and asking ‘do you think my dog meets the criteria?’. People just don’t have a full grasp of the legislation, so we’re dealing with a lot of chaos and confusion.”

What are the current rules around XL Bullies?

XL Bullies are the first breed in more than 30 years to be added to the UK’s banned list.

Under the law, they can’t be bred, sold, or rehomed, and must be muzzled and kept on a lead in public.

Owners must also have their dogs microchipped, neutered, and insured to qualify for exemption.

Enforcement falls to Police Scotland, but officers say they’re under-trained, under-resourced, and stretched thin.

David Threadgold, chair of the SPF, said: “Our officers are being asked to handle aggressive or distressed dogs without proper training or facilities.

“It’s putting people at risk and it’s not sustainable.”

The latest data shows a sharp rise in dog attacks over the last two decades, with nearly four times as many hospital admissions now than in the late 90s.

There has been a slight drop following the July ban.

But some fear another breed – like the Cane Corso – will simply become the new so-called “status” dog and question whether the legislation will have any meaningful long-term impact.

Animal welfare groups, including the Scottish SPCA, agree the problem isn’t breed, but behaviour.

The Scottish Government says it’s working with police local authorities and others to make sure these legal safeguards to support responsible ownership are effectively implemented.