A DOG trainer has warned the XL Bully ban is having a “snowball effect” with the world now ‘looking at these dogs differently’.

James Hill said some people with XL Bullies have “completely shut down their dog’s world” in fear of negative public reaction.

Hiding a dog away can lead to anxiety and reactive behaviour, seeing the problem worsen, he warns.

James owns Pawseideon – a Poole-based training and education centre for dogs and their owners.

He has been working alongside the charity ‘Every Paw Matters’ to support XL Bully owners after the ban on the breed was announced.

The demand for their services has been high as many owners look to exempt their pets from the law before the deadline of February 1.

James, who provides behavioural and muzzle training, said: “They’re a breed that can be so stubborn, but the XL Bullies I’ve worked with have been so nice.

“In my opinion, it was a law that shouldn’t have come through because it doesn’t solve or fix anything. I do get frustrated with the laws, but there’s nothing we can do.

Bournemouth Echo: James started Pawseidon after serving time in the militaryJames started Pawseidon after serving time in the military (Image: James Hill)

“I’m just out there helping and seeing what I can do.”

Discussing the behaviours he has seen in XL Bully dogs, James said: “There’s a lot of reactivity in these dogs.

“I think a lot of people now have completely shut down the dog’s world, so it lives in a bedsit or stays in a garden.

“So, the dog’s anxiety keeps building and building because it’s kind of in a different world at the minute – it’s being looked at differently, and spoken to differently, and dogs pick up on this.

“So, the reactivity gets more and more. And it's pent-up energy because they’re not allowed to run around freely in a park.

“It’s a massive snowball effect, people don’t realise how bad it can get.”

James is also looking to find a community hall he can hire to allow him to train and assist more dogs.

He said: “Everyone’s getting a quick tutorial at the moment.

“The majority are muzzle-trained, but I want to go to the next stage. That way I can say, ‘guys I’m here, pop in and we can do anything to help’.”