September 17th 2023.
Matt Fiddes, a self-defence specialist who previously worked as a bodyguard for king of pop Michael Jackson, is speaking out amid calls for the American XL bully breed to be banned in the UK following a spate of attacks. He believes the breed is ‘not fit’ to be a family pet.
Matt, 44, is calling on the government to introduce a licensing system for all dogs, classifying them by dangerousness, and to make it expensive and virtually impossible to get insurance for the XL bully or other dogs related to the breed. He also suggests that all dogs of this breed should wear a muzzle when out in public.
Matt, who is a black belt in taekwondo, kickboxing and kung-fu, says XL bullys are ‘impossible to fight off’ with your bare hands, and the best way to protect yourself during a dog attack is to run or call for help. If this isn't possible, he suggests using items from your surroundings such as a table, chair, or even a handbag, to fight the animal off.
Matt, a dad of six, is concerned about dangerous dogs on our streets and says: ‘How many more innocent victims need to die before people wake up to the reality that these dogs pose a serious risk to the public?’
In response to the recent spate of attacks, the government has announced it will take a ‘vital first step’ towards adding the XL bully to the banned list under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Environment secretary Therese Coffey said: ‘Dog attacks are devastating for victims and their families and it is clear that more now needs to be done to stop them and protect the public.’
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