THEY are status symbols loved by athletes, rappers and influencers across the country.

       Here is everything you need to know about the American XL Bully breed.

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       American Bullies are popular breeds Credit: Alamy What is an XL bully?

       The American Bully got recognition as a breed from US United Kennel Club in 2013.

       It's been called a "natural extension" of the better known American Pit Bull Terrier.

       These muscular dogs have been crossbred with other breeds including English Bulldogs, Olde English Bulldogge, and American Bulldogs.

       XL refers the the dog's size category, of which there are four: pocket, standard, classic and XL.

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       XL's tend to be around 33-50cm in height, and weigh in at 20-60kg.

       Are XL bullies illegal in the UK?

       Although the American Bully XL is closely related to the prohibited pit bull terrier, they are not constrained by any laws.

       But since 2021, the breed has been responsible for more than 70% of all dog-related deaths in the UK.

       Health Secretary Suella Braverman has commissioned urgent advice on the breed following another attack on a child that happened on September 9, 2023.

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       Writing on social media following the incident, Braverman said: “This is appalling. This is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children. We can’t go on like this.

       "I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them.”

       Despite this, the American XL Bully is yet to be subject to any prohibitions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, and it's legal to own one in the UK.

       The following breeds have been banned in the UK:

       Pitbull Terrier Dogo Argentino Japanese Tosa Fila Brasileiro How much does an XL bully cost?

       The price of a dog can vary considerably.

       Factors that affect this include the rarity of the breed, whether you're looking to buy a popular cross breed, or a purebred, and if the dog has been trained in advance.

       The price of puppies soared during national Covid lockdowns in the UK and it was reported in June 2021 that prices had quadrupled, as lockdown supercharged the demand for furry friends.

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       Prices for American Bully XLs will vary depending on the breeder, but they're not cheap.

       Pups are on sale for between ￡650 and ￡3,000 on dog selling platform Forever Puppy.