You may well have seen news reports last week that the Isle of Man government has now brought in legislation in relation to American XL bully type dogs.

The island does not have the equivalent of the UK’s Dangerous Dogs Act (1991), but instead regulates the ownership of so-called banned breeds through the Wild Animals (Restriction on Importation, etc.) Act (1980).

This Act lists animals that require an import license before they can be brought to the island – animals that could be potentially dangerous to the public, be an ecological risk if they escaped, or whose captivity presents a welfare concern.

The American XL bully now joins pit bull terrier types, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Braziliero as domestic dogs on the list. It is, therefore, not illegal to own such a dog on the Isle of Man, but a license must be obtained from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture before one can be imported.

‘Banning the breed not the deed’ has come in for much criticism, and the RSPCA and other national animal charities have campaigned for many years against breed specific legislation (BSL). A new campaign group, ‘Don’t ban me – license me’, has now been formed in the UK by American XL bully owners and dog experts, who hope to obtain an injunction delaying the UK legislation before the end of the year.

As things stand, after December 31 any identified American XL bully dogs will be prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act and it will be illegal to sell, advertise, give away, abandon, breed or rehome these dogs. Rescue organisations will no longer be able to rehome them after this date.

After January 31 it will be illegal to own an American XL bully unless it has been exempted under the exemption scheme. Any dog that is exempted must be muzzled in public, neutered, microchipped, have third party liability insurance, and be under the control of an adult.

‘Don’t ban me – license me’ is campaigning for better education and mandatory training for dog owners, licensing for large breeds, and better control over breeding.

But, sadly, many American XL bullies have already been put to sleep, and the UK government has set up a compensation scheme which pays £200 to private individual owners and £100 to rescue centres.

Whilst the legal framework in relation to American XL bullies differs between the UK and the Isle of Man, it is important in both jurisdictions for there to be a statutory definition of an American XL bully. This is because it is not a breed recognized by the Kennel Club.

The UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has now published guidelines to help identify the American XL bully, describing it as a heavily muscled, deep-chested dog.

It has also issued measurements that define the type: the adult male should measure from 51cm at the withers, and the adult female from 48cm; and the large head should have specific dimensions – the length from the tip of the nose to a well-defined stop should be equal to around a third of the length from the stop to the back of the head.

Whether or not you are the owner of an American XL bully on the island, or you own (or you are about to become the owner of) a dog with similar proportions, we cannot recommend strongly enough the use of a muzzle for these dogs when they are out in public.

We have a selection of muzzles costing just £2 in the ManxSPCA’s reception area, and next week’s article will provide advice about muzzle training – if it’s done gradually and gently it does not cause a dog any discomfort or anxiety. And it could save a life.