Support for XL Bully owners

Which types of dogs are banned in the UK?

The Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991. It gave the government the power to ban any breed appearing to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 section 1, the following breed types are banned in the UK:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• XL Bully

It’s illegal to breed, sell, give away or abandon a banned type of dog. There are also specific requirements that you have to adhere to if you have a dog of this type.

If you own a dog of this type and don’t have a certificate of exemption, the police can seize the dog and keep them. This can happen even if they’ve not acted dangerously and no complaint has been made. The next step could be a court process to determine if the dog poses a danger to the public and if the owner can apply for an exemption certificate.

What happens if I own a dog of one of these types?

Your dog will need to be:

• neutered
• microchipped
• kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public
• kept in a secure place so they cannot escape.

And owners must:

• have third-party liability insurance
• be aged over 16
• show the Certificate of Exemption when asked by a police officer or council dog warden, either at the time or within five days
• let the Index of Exempt Dogs know if you change address, or your dog dies.

Please make sure that your dog is neutered, microchipped, and trained to wear a muzzle. It is a legal requirement to microchip any dog in the UK by the time they are eight weeks old.

What is an XL Bully dog?

Since the initial announcement of the proposed ban, the government has developed a definition of an XL Bully. This definition includes their height, shape and other distinguishing features.

In short, the XL Bully is defined as “a large dog with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for its size”.

How will I know if my dog will be classed as an XL Bully?

The law relates to the type of dog rather than the breed, and prohibited types are identified according to their appearance rather than their breed name, genetics (DNA), or parentage. The government’s definition (as stated above) includes specific features of the type, such as their height, shape and other features. It describes the XL Bully type as a “large dog with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for its size.”

Height is an important factor. If your dog is smaller than the height specified in the government’s definition then they are not an XL Bully, and you don’t need to look at any other aspects in the definition. The height should be measured from the ground to the withers (which means the point of the body immediately behind the neck and at the top of the shoulders), not any higher point on the dog.

The government has defined an XL Bully as:

• Adult male from 20in (51 cm) at the withers
• Adult female from 19in (48cm) at the withers

If your dog is larger than this height, then they still may not be an XL Bully. Check against the remaining criteria to see if your dog has the features of an XL Bully type.

If you’re unsure whether your dog matches the official definition of an XL Bully, the government recommend complying with the exemption process to be on the safe side. And if you’d prefer to talk to someone, please call our Pet Helpline team on 0300 303 9333.