HUMZA Yousaf said on Friday that “no firm decision’’ has yet been made on whether XL bully dogs will be banned in Scotland. That was after Rishi Sunak announced a ban on the breed would be introduced in England later this year.

It comes in the wake of a spate of dog attacks on adults and children, including one last week in which a 52-year-old man was mauled to death by a dog, believed to be the XL bully breed.

In a statement posted on social media, the Prime Minister said: “These dogs are dangerous. I want to re-assure the public that we will take all necessary steps to keep people safe.”

According to a campaign group aiming to raise awareness of pit bull-related incidents, these types of dogs have been responsible for 351 attacks in the UK this year – though of course, XL bully dogs aren’t the only breed that have been responsible for fatal attacks in recent years.

The Dog Control Coalition – which is made up of various charities, including the RSPCA and the Scottish SPCA – say banning the breed will do little to prevent further attacks happening.

A spokesperson said: “For 32 years, the Dangerous Dogs Act has focused on banning types of dog and yet this has co-incided with an increase in dog bites and the recent deaths show that this approach isn’t working.”

READ MORE: No 'firm decision' made on Scottish ban of XL bully dogs, says Humza Yousaf

Instead, they say the focus should be on dealing with unscrupulous breeders and irresponsible owners. There will be owners of this breed who are feeling bereft right now, as they worry about the fate of their dog.

Many have taken to social media to try to show the public their dogs aren’t dangerous or deadly, but gentle and affectionate family pets. When talking about pets, and dogs in particular, it’s understandable that there will be some degree of emotion involved.

No breed is all bad or pre-destined to cause harm. And we’ve all heard stories about vicious smaller dogs that have been involved in incidents of biting and aggression.

The problem is, when you have a breed of dog that is as powerful as the XL bully, those incidents can easily escalate and become fatal.

Having a dog is a huge responsibility. Sadly, the very characteristics that make this breed potentially dangerous are the same ones that make them appealing to certain types of people, who are looking for a status or protection dog, rather than a well-adjusted, well-trained pet.

Banning a breed is a one-size-fits-all approach that will naturally attract criticism. There are plenty of responsible owners who have put in the time and effort to train their dogs and feel they are being unfairly punished for the actions of others.

I saw an interview with a woman last week who was so sure about the gentle nature of her XL bully that she said she felt completely safe letting the dog sit with her nine-month-old baby. I’ll admit reading that, and seeing the photos that accompanied the story, made me feel slightly nauseous.

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak announces XL bully dogs will be banned by end of year

The UK is a nation of dog lovers, but that doesn’t mean we should let the love we feel for our pets overrule our common sense.

They are our companions and our comforters. But they are also animals. There is no certainty that comes with any type of breed. It’s our job to manage the potential risks involved as much as we possibly can.

Having 100% blind faith and trust in an animal that could, under certain circumstances, maim or kill your child isn’t a sign that you really love your dog. It’s not heartwarming, it’s just daft.

However strong a bond we believe we’ve got with our pets, we do them – and the wider public – a disservice if the love we feel for them renders us unable to properly assess risk.

We could prevent many incidents happening if the basics were followed. That includes not leaving animals unsupervised around children and teaching children how to interact with dogs safely. It also means recognising that dogs that haven’t been trained to have perfect recall are a danger to themselves and others if they are off-leash in public spaces.

And it means considering other safety measures, such as muzzling, if the dog shows any sign of reactivity or aggression towards other animals or people.

Any legislation Scotland does decide to introduce to deal with dog attacks needs to go further than a simple ban.

Before taking on a dog, owners should be aware of their responsibilities and liabilities in relation to their pet. Dog licences would be a bureaucratic and annoying thing to deal with for the 99% of owners who are doing everything right.

But it is also these owners that would probably complain about such a move the least, given it would be one way to help hold irresponsible dog owners to account.