When the UK government announced the XL Bully ban in September 2023, Sophie Coulthard went from posting dog training videos on TikTok to founding a grassroots movement that would raise over £200,000 and challenge the government in court.

In this episode, Sophie reveals what really happens when breed-specific legislation becomes law - the hidden consequences that go far beyond what most people imagine, and why the system of identifying "dangerous" dogs might not work the way you think it does.

We explore how an ordinary dog owner became an accidental activist, the personal costs of taking on the government, and what she learned about building a campaign from scratch.

Sophie also shares what she'd do differently if she could design dog policy, and why the legal challenge continues despite the odds.

This conversation goes beyond the headlines to examine what breed bans actually mean for families, communities, and the dogs caught in the middle.

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Please note: This episode contains discussion of dog attacks and related legislation that some listeners may find concerning.