Rise of the Exotic Bully: How pet owners are dodging exemptions by breeding nano, micro or pocket versions of banned dog - but experts warn extreme interbreeding of the XL bully's smaller sibling is cruel and could still pose a 'risk to the public'

Pet owners who long for an XL Bully are dodging exemption requirements by buying a nano, micro or pocket version of the banned dog, experts claim.

The past year has seen several horrific attacks by XL Bully dogs, including on 68-year-old grandmother Esther Martin who was mauled to death in February by two of her son-in-law's allegedly unregistered dogs.

Last September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decided to ban the dog - meaning owners have to register them and apply for an exemption.

But owners who may try to avoid the hassle of this process are finding a loophole by buying nano, micro and pocket versions of the dog.

They claim this tiny breed - which grows to 22-27cm in height - is not aggressive and the only problem owners say they have is the dogs chewing their skirting boards.

However, experts have warned that the extreme levels of inbreeding that occurs to create the bite-sized dogs is problematic and they can still be a 'risk to the public'.

There are currently only a few hundred genuine Exotic Bully dogs (which is the overarching term) in the UK, according to The Independent.

Exotics are bred to be extremely musculature and strong - like their XL Bully counterparts - but half the height and the aggression is meant to be bred out.

The first dog of this type to be bred was a small and squat grey dog called Mr Miagi in 2008, in the United States.

The intention behind breeding these minuscule dogs is to keep their powerful appearance but make them more docile and gentle with other dogs and children.

According to BRC Global Pedigrees - which registers pets to take part in competitions - Exotics are very rarely aggressive. 

They came about by breeding American Bullys with dogs such as French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and American Staffordshire Terriers.

While there are several types of Bully dogs which are recognised breeds, many - such as the Exotic - are not.

And while owners and breeders claim the dogs have a sweet temperament, they have come under fire for 'unethical' breeding practices.

This is because there are many hereditary health problems in these dogs which go on to affect their offspring and shorten the breed's lifespan and lower their quality of life. 

Many Exotic bully types have major health issues due to the extreme downsizing, especially orthopaedic conditions.

Due to their weight being out of proportion with their small bodies, this causes intense pressure on their joints leading to back pain and loss of mobility early on.

Vet Nick Horniman told MailOnline: “Exotic bully breeds, including pocket bully variants, have started to captivate many pet owners due to their compact size. 

'In the previous year, I've observed a rising popularity of these breeds over their larger counterparts. 

'This rise in popularity could be due to owners who live in smaller living spaces with strict landlord policies, or societal biases against larger bully breeds due to the recent attacks. I would not be surprised if the demand for these smaller variants kept on increasing as people seek out bully-type dogs but want ones that fit their living situations.'

He added that bully breeds can be 'well-tempered' pets with 'responsible breeding and proper care'.

But he warned: 'The compact size of pocket bullies should not be mistaken for a lack of strength, or a reason to treat them any differently. Like any dog, if not properly socialised and trained, they can exhibit undesirable behaviours. It is crucial for owners to commit to thorough and ongoing socialisation, plus consistent training to ensure their pocket bully is well-adjusted for meeting other dogs or people.

“The desire to achieve specific physical traits in dogs, such as a smaller size, has led some breeders to make selection choices that prioritise appearance over the health of their dogs. This practice can lead to a higher incidence of genetic disorders and health issues within the breed.'

Roz Pooley, an animal behaviourist, told MailOnline that any time a breed is restricted by laws people will try and get around it by breeding a new type of the banned dog.

He said: 'There will be plenty of dog owners who do not wish to own an exempt breed due to not wishing to muzzle them, due to not wishing to register them as exempt or wanting to avoid neutering them too early (or at all) and to avoid any issues with housing such as rented or council accommodation.

'The issue with 'exotic' breeds and types, which includes breeds that are not XL Bullies, is that there may inbreeding to try and achieve the look.

'Inbreeding to achieve an extreme look and the features associated with such a look, such as a heavyset dog that is shortened in height or even an unusual colour, can result in health problems which can affect a dog's behaviour, including the tendency for aggression.

'To achieve these looks the temperament of a dog is rarely taken into consideration- leading to individuals being bred from that have unstable temperaments and traits that are likely to pass on to offspring.

'The risk of these behaviour problems and health issues are associated with all breeds but we have to acknowledge that powerful dogs are likely to cause more serious injuries than less powerful dogs.

'So when we see powerful dogs have health issues and undesirable temperament traits due to poor breeding practice then these dogs may pose a greater risk to the general public.'

He advised those looking at buying these breeds to avoid choosing 'trendy, rare or extreme and exotic breeds'of dog.

But Dr Daisy May, who is a qualified vet, said she can see why these 'pint-sized pups' are popular.

She added that their 'squished snout' can potentially cause the dogs to experience breathing issues and any owner needs to be careful.

However she added that they may have 'inherited some of the same tendencies' from their Bully lineage.

Traits such as 'potential dog aggression, stubborn streaks and strength' in these dogs mean any owner looking to buy a pocket bully needs to understand them and have experience with Bully breeds.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: 'Breed is not a reliable indicator of aggression in dogs. All dogs have the capacity to be aggressive. Aggression in dogs develops because of complex interactions between genetics and the experiences dogs have throughout their lives.'

The RSPCA added that their campaign Born to Suffer raises concerns around how certain types of dogs are being bred in an extreme manner to have exaggerated features and the resulting health issues of this.