This is the Guardian. So I was walking to the shop with my sister, my older sister and the dog was staring at me.

I got terrified and he jumped on the arm and he bit me.

That's Anna, a young girl from Birmingham in the UK who was attacked last weekend by an American

bully Excel Cross, a fairly new breed of dog that's been involved

in several fatal attacks, like the one that killed 10-year-old Jack Liz in 2021. If Jack was attacked by a Jack Russell or a small dog I can

guarantee you he'd be next to me but these Excel bullies have got the power to kill.

A video of the attack on Anna and the two men who tried to help her

has reignited a debate about whether or not

this breed should be banned.

The Home Secretary has called for American Excel bullies to become a banned breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Suella Braverman said they are a clear and lethal danger,

especially to children.

The conversation often comes down to,

are the dogs the problem or the owners nature or nurture. So today we're

asking what do we know about the American bully Excel breed? Are these dogs just genetically predisposed to be aggressive and violent?

And, if they are, is a ban the answer?

From the Guardian, I'm Madeline Finley,

and this is Science Weekly.

Jessica Murray, you're the Guardians Midland's correspondent and you've recently written about

this breed of dog, The American Bullie Excel. When I looked at pictures of these dogs,

it kind of looked like they'd been working out of the gym quite hard.

Yeah, yeah, so I think they're kind of bred for that appearance.

...