Important update for XL Bully Owners

Update on the situation regarding the use of our secure dog fields by dogs defined as an XL Bully and the impending change of law due to be implemented on the 31st December 2023.

Our insurer has contacted us to confirm that they will provide insurance cover for banned breeds to use secure dog fields subject to them meeting certain conditions.  These are as follows; (as provided to us by our insurer)

As your insurer, you will be covered to hire out your private fields for an XL Bully Dog on the following basis:

  1. The dog is registered with the index of exempted dog (IED) and a copy of the life certificate is obtained and provided

  2. A copy of the public liability insurance certificate for the dog is obtained and provided

  3. If the household has more than 1 dog, they can come to the field together as long as they have a minimum of 1 handler. All dogs leads and muzzles can be removed once in the field including the XL Bully. 

    If there are dogs from different households, the banned breed will need to remain muzzled and on a lead at all times with a 1:1 handler.

  4. The dog is Neutered – in line with Government Rules

    Owners will be required to provide proof that their dog has been neutered by a certain date, depending on the age of the dog. If an XL Bully is less than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 31 December 2024. If an XL Bully is older than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 30 June 2024.

  5. The dog is Micro Chipped

  6. The dog is kept on a lead and muzzled until the gate is shut when entering the field 

  7. The dog is put back on a lead and muzzled before opening the gate to leave the field

  8. You can remove the lead and muzzle once inside the secured field

Please use the gate hook once inside the field as a secondary security measure and as you know we have safety rules that you all agree to within the T&Cs whatever the breed, the most important being to keep all dogs on a lead in the parking areas AT ALL TIMES. 

This would also be a good time to reiterate the need for all of our customers to reread the T&Cs and safety rules which apply to all dogs that are not only necessary for our insurance but also for the smooth and safe running of the dog fields that we all love and enjoy.  

You can upload the required certificates either at the time of booking or by logging in to your account and uploading from there. Please be aware that these documents must be uploaded for any sessions after 31st December 2023.

Thank you for reading and as always thank you for your support and custom.

Julia, Joanne & Tony

Release the Dogs

Official definition of an XL Bully Dog

General impression

Large dog with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for its size. Powerfully built individual.

Height

  • Adult male from 20in (51 cm) at the withers

  • Adult female from 19in (48cm) at the withers

Head

  • Heavy, large and broad

  • The length from the tip of the nose to a well-defined stop (indentation between muzzle and the head) is equal to around a 1/3 of the length from the stop to the back of the head

  • Muzzle blocky or slightly squared to fall away below the eyes

  • Topline of muzzle straight

  • Prominent cheek muscles with strong, well-defined jaws and lips semi-close

  • Often having prominent wrinkles on face

  • Nose is large with well opened nostrils

Teeth 

Level or scissor bite.

Neck   

  • Heavy, muscular, slightly arched, tapering from the shoulders to the base of the skull

  • Medium in length

Forequarters 

  • Shoulder blades are long, well-muscled and well laid back

  • Upper arm length is about equal to the length of the shoulder blades and joined at a 35 to 45 angle to the ground

  • Front legs straight, strong and very muscular with dog standing high on the pasterns (area between feet and ankles)

  • Elbows set close to the body

  • Distance from the withers to elbows about the same as the distance from the elbow to the bottom of the feet

Body  

  • Heavily-muscled

  • Large, blocky body giving impression of great power for size

  • Broad, deep chest with well sprung ribs

  • Chest may be wider than deep

  • Topline level and straight

  • Loin short and firm

  • Generally appears square shaped from point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks compared with the withers (tallest point on the dogs body excluding head and shoulders) to the ground

Hindquarters

  • Strong, muscular and broad

  • Thighs well developed with thick musculature

  • From behind, both pasterns are typically straight and parallel to each other

  • Muscular development, angulation and width in balance with forequarters

Feet    

  • Rounded, medium in size and in proportion to body

  • Compact and well arched

Tail     

  • Medium length and low set

  • Tapers to a point to end at about the level of the hocks

  • Generally assumes a straight or pump handle shape when dog relaxed

Coat   

Glossy, smooth, close, single

Glossary  

Bite: the relative position of the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed.

Coat: the hairy outer covering of the skin.

Croup: part of the back from the front of the pelvis to root of the tail.

Forequarters: the front part of dog excluding head and neck.

Hindquarters: rear part of dog from behind the loin.

Loin: the region between the last rib and the beginning of the pelvis.

Muzzle: the length from the tip of the nose to the stop.

Pasterns: the pastern is the lower part of the foreleg, just above the foot and below the wrist. Similarly, in the hind leg, the pastern is the portion located above the foot and below the heel (also known as the hock). Every canine possesses a pair of front and rear pasterns.

Scissor bite: the upper front teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Spring of rib: degree of curvature of rib cage

Tail set: the position of the tail on the croup

Topline: an outline after the withers to the tail set. Viewed from the side of the dog or from above.

Withers: the highest point of body immediately behind the neck where height is measured.