American XL Bully dogs in Coulsdon are being sold for £1,500 each ahead of the ban which will begin at the end of the year, the Government has confirmed.

New rules due to come into force on December 31 will make it illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, rehome, abandon or allow XL Bully dogs to stray in England and Wales.

From New Year’s Eve, owners will also be required to muzzle the dogs under a law change laid in Parliament.

A Pets4Homes advert from a seller in Coulsdon, Croydon says: “We are looking for responsible parents for these fantastic quality dogs with fantastic temperaments, they are very sharp and quick to train, most of them sitting and doing paws & laying down, we are ideally looking for PET HOMES.

“Please remember these pups have direct imported linage their dad costing us over 10k to purchase and import from America from Bossy Kennels, these dogs are offered at a ridiculous price for their quality and health, but I do want to insure they find families before they get older.

“Please note these pups are microchipped and wormed and flea treatment up to date, they will all be leaving with their own puppy starter packs, to include food/treats/seatbelt and harness/collar & lead/little charms accessories for their collars and a pack of toys.

“Both parents are our pets and have heart stealing temperament’s, always mixing with other dogs & horses and children.

“Each puppy has slightly different temperaments so please be honest with me when looking for exactly what you want in order to find your perfectly suited pup.

“Homes will be vetted, pups have been wormed and fleas but will need their vaccinations, please ensure you have experience with big dogs. These are fabulous family dogs in the right hands.”

Pictures on the advert show the various puppies being sold as well as their mother and father.

The ad explains that there are two female dogs left which are a solid creamy brown and are both four months, 15 days old.

These puppies are currently the most expensive XL Bully dogs being sold online from Croydon and Sutton that we have found during our research – but listings can reach £8,000 in the UK.

Previously, the Newsquest team have seen dogs listed for as little as £200 in south east London and Dartford.

Following the announcement of an impending ban on the sale of American XL Bullies, a rush to sell the breed has been reported on selling sites across the country.

The Independent reports that hundreds of these dogs have been advertised for sale online since the ban was proposed by Rishi Sunak, and immediately following his confirmation, a surge of the breed appeared on sites such as pets4homes.co.uk and social media platforms.

It is feared owners may aim to sell these dogs quickly as it's unlikely they will be able to do so legally following the proposed ban.

It will also be illegal to own an XL bully from February 1, 2024, unless the animal is on an exempt list, called the Index of Exempted Dogs.

The two dates have been staggered to allow owners to prepare for the new rules.

Those who want to keep their dogs will have until the end of January to register them with the exempt list, and will then be forced to comply with strict requirements.

This will include the requirement to muzzle them and keep them on a lead in public, but the dogs must also be microchipped and neutered.

Dogs more than a year old on January 31 must be neutered by June 30 next year, while those less than 12 months old must be neutered by December 31, 2024.

Owners without a certificate of exemption will face a criminal record and an unlimited fine if they are found to be in possession of an XL bully as of February 1, and their dog could be seized.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey confirmed she is adding the breed to the list of dogs prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act, adding that ministers have taken “quick and decisive action to protect the public from tragic dog attacks”.

She said: “It will soon become a criminal offence to breed, sell, advertise, rehome or abandon an XL bully-type dog, and they must also be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. In due course it will also be illegal to own one of these dogs without an exemption.

“We will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, as we take forward these important measures.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had described XL bullies as a “danger to our communities” when he promised to instigate a ban following a spate of attacks involving the dogs over the summer, but said that work needed to be done to define the breed.

Earlier this month, a woman was injured after she was attacked by her own American XL bully in Norfolk.

Last month, 52-year-old Ian Price, from Staffordshire, died in hospital after being attacked by two American XL bullies.

In November last year, Jack Lis, 10, was killed by a American XL bully while at a friend’s house in South Wales. The owners of the dog, Amy Salter and Brandon Haydon, were jailed as a result of the attack.

Owners of the breed have staged protests against the ban, including a march through central London in September, where demonstrators did not take their dogs.

An official definition of the breed has now been published by the Government, with features including a “heavy, large and broad” head and a “blocky or slightly squared” muzzle.

It is also described as being “heavily muscled” with a “large, blocky body giving the impression of great power for size”, and a glossy, smooth and close coat.

Ahead of the ban coming into force, breeders have been told to stop mating XL bully-type dogs.

The XL bully joins a list of other banned dogs, including the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, fila Brasileiro and dogo Argentino.