A dog behavioural specialist has raised a concerning alarm as the popularity of a breed described as “dangerous” is on the rise in the UK, potentially posing a more significant threat than the notorious XL bully breed. Despite strict regulations governing the ownership of XL bullies in the UK, there has been a worrying surge in interest surrounding the Cane Corso, an Italian mastiff type. Thought to be descendants of the ancient Molossian war dogs of Rome, the growing presence of this breed in the UK has sparked concerns among dog behaviour experts about potential risks to the public. Rob Alleyne, from the Canine Instructor Academy in Suffolk, did not mince his words when describing the breed: “The Cane Corso is like an XL bully on steroids. It’s a killing machine and they’ve become much more popular now.” Alleyne, speaking to the Times, pointed out how restrictions may inadvertently drive people towards even more dangerous dogs: “[The ban] has just pushed people towards an even worse dog that doesn’t need to be registered and God help us if they become too popular,” as reported by the Express. Noticing a rise in the number of Cane Corsos at his facility, the canine behaviour expert sees a worrying pattern emerging: “We saw it happen with the Pit Bull Terrier. When they banned the Pit Bull Terrier, what did we get? We got a dog far more dangerous than the Pit Bull Terrier. They just made a new one worse than the preceding one: the XL bully.” This cautionary advice from Mr Alleyne comes in the wake of an incident where a woman in her thirties required plastic surgery after attempting to separate her XL bully and Cane Corso from fighting at home, as reported by the Independent in October. Presently, there are 220 Cane Corso puppies listed for sale on the Pets4Homes website, with prices ranging between £380 and £2,000. The expert highlighted that the population of Cane Corsos has reportedly been on the rise due to the restrictions imposed on XL bullies. Since February last year, it has been illegal to own an XL bully in the UK without an exemption certificate. This permits owners to keep their dogs under the condition that they are securely housed and kept on a lead and muzzled when in public.