Why it’s not ‘alright’ if your dog is friendly

A series of recent attacks by XL bully type dogs in the UK, and government attempts to both define and control the breed, has refocused attention on how society manages “dangerous dogs”.

Much media coverage focuses on the trauma that pets or humans endure after they’ve been attacked by an XL bully, or protests from XL bully owners that their dogs are being unfairly singled out.

But my research showed that many owners have to deal with problematic behaviour when walking their dogs.