Hundreds of ‘status’ dogs loved by celebs dubbed ‘XL Bullies on steroids’ on sale for £75 – and banning them WON’T help
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HUNDREDS of dogs - feared to be more dangerous than XL bullies - are being traded online for as little as £75. Italian mastiffs known as Cane Corsos, which have been dubbed XL’s on steroids, can weigh up to 50kg (8st) and are fast becoming the new status symbol dog.
![[Some of the puppies being sold by breeders in Coventry, West Mids]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/killing-machines-hundreds-dogs-dubbed-962359772.jpg?strip=all&w=400)
Celebrity owners including soccer star Marcus Rashford and Love Island’s Jack Ficham are helping make them even more popular - with many celebs now buying them to guard properties. And now a Sun Online probe has found hundreds of the puppies are being offered for sale by breeders across the country.
![[A breeder in Burton-on-Trent placed one puppy in a basket for the ad]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/killing-machines-hundreds-dogs-dubbed-962359494.jpg?strip=all&w=402)
One site, Pets4Homes, currently has 224 advertisements placed by people looking to sell puppies or rehome adult Cane Corsos. While full-grown versions of the dog are being flogged for as little as £75, the popularity of the breed means that some puppies are costing up to £3,500 a time.
![[One of the puppies in Aldershot]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/killing-machines-hundreds-dogs-dubbed-962359615.jpg?strip=all&w=400)
Alarmingly many of those being sold can be linked to Romania where animal welfare standards are well below those in the UK. Dogs there routinely have their ears cropped and tails docked - a practice which is illegal in the UK. Experts say this can create severe behavioural problems in dogs and make them aggressive.
![[Cane Corso on a lead (stock image)]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/strong-muscular-man-holding-cane-845436672.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Cane Corsos are fully legal in the UK and the breed isn’t subject to the same restrictions as XL bullies. There aren’t any official numbers showing how many cane corsos are in the UK – the Kennel Club doesn’t recognise the breed, for instance – but canine behaviour specialists say they’re seeing the dogs more frequently.
