XL Bully dogs without exemption

Yes. XL Bully dogs are banned in the UK unless the owner has a Certificate of Exemption. In England and Wales, it has been a criminal offence since 1 February 2024 to own an XL Bully without one. Scotland brought in its own version of the ban in 2024, and Northern Ireland followed from January 2025.

Why the UK banned XL Bullies

The government added the XL Bully to the list of banned dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 after a rise in serious and sometimes fatal attacks in 2022 and 2023. The XL Bully is a larger, heavier type of American Bully, and it became only the fifth type of dog banned under the Act.

How the ban was phased in

The ban was announced on 31 October 2023. From 31 December 2023, it became illegal in England and Wales to breed, sell, advertise, give away, rehome or abandon an XL Bully, and the dogs had to be muzzled and on a lead in public. Owners who wanted to keep their dogs had until 31 January 2024 to apply for an exemption. From 1 February 2024, owning one without a certificate became a crime.

The exemption rules

To keep an XL Bully, owners had to pay a fee, hold third-party liability insurance, microchip the dog and have it neutered by set deadlines, according to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Exempt dogs must be muzzled and on a lead in public, and owners must be at least 16. Owners who did not want to keep their dog could have it put down by a vet, with compensation offered.

Penalties

Owning a banned dog without exemption can lead to an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison, and police can seize the dog. The deadline for new exemptions has passed, so new owners now need a court order.

Other countries ban dog breeds too. Singapore prohibits pit bulls and several other breeds. For more UK rules, see the ivory trade ban or the UK page.