Britain’s XL bully ban has sparked a growing interest in a powerful new “killing machine” dog breed which can weigh up to 50kg, experts have warned.
The cane corso, a powerful Italian mastiff descended from ancient Roman war dogs, is not subject to the same restrictions as XL bullies – which must be muzzled in public and hold exemption certificates.
This legal status has made the cane corso increasingly attractive to those seeking a formidable “status dog” in Britain.
Cane corso puppies are currently being advertised for between £600 and £1,600 on Pets4Homes, with over 200 posts listing new litters, while some fully grown cane corsos are being sold for as little as £75.
The new ‘status’ breed has been labelled ‘like an XL Bully on steroids’ and a ‘killing machine’
GETTY
The breed is not recognised by the Kennel Club, and many pet insurance companies refuse to provide cover for them.
Rob Alleyne, a canine behaviour specialist from Suffolk, has warned that the XL bully ban is pushing people towards potentially more dangerous large breeds.
“The cane corso is like an XL bully on steroids. It’s a killing machine and they’ve become much more popular now,” said Alleyne, who runs the Canine Instructor Academy.
In Croydon, southeast London, which had the highest number of registered XL bullies when the ban began, locals have said the same.
MORE ON XL BULLY DOGS:
‘I’ve literally not seen [an XL bully] for months, certainly not since the summer. People have got more interested in other big dogs,’ one Croydon dog walker said
PA
“I’ve literally not seen [an XL bully] for months, certainly not since the summer. People have got more interested in other big dogs. I’ve seen a few more cane corsos,” said dog walker Faith Throssell.
Another dog walker in the area said he also hadn’t seen any of the banned breed – but said he now had a client who recently purchased a cane corso-rottweiler cross.
Alleyne’s trainees are reporting increased numbers of cane corsos in their training classes – in the face of recent incidents which have sparked fears over the breed’s safety.
Just last month, reality TV star Jack Fincham was charged last month after his cane corso, Elvis, allegedly bit a man.
In a more serious case, Gary Stevens from Derby was jailed for four and a half years after his 50kg cane corso cross killed his brother.
The dog, named Ace, had to be shot dead by police marksmen after tasers proved ineffective.
Carmen Pintea, who owns Barbarian Corso Kennels in Sheffield, has also seen an increase in irresponsible breeding of the dogs.
“They are fantastic dogs and wonderful family protectors – with the right training, in the right hands,” warned Pintea, who breeds cane corsos.
Bill Lambert, a spokesman for the Kennel Club, warned that banning specific breeds could make certain dogs more appealing “to the wrong type of people” seeking “status dogs”.
“One of the failings of the current dangerous dogs legislation is that it identifies specific breeds as dangerous, implying that all other breeds are inherently safe,” he said.
“The fact is that the behaviour of a dog is shaped by the way that it is bred, raised, socialised and trained.”