Ban on XL Bully dogs

It’s a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless you have a valid Certificate of Exemption.

It’s also an offence to:

• sell an XL Bully dog
• abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray
• give away an XL Bully dog
• breed or breed from an XL Bully dog
• have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle

Applications for a Certificate of Exemption to keep an XL Bully dog have closed. New exemptions can only be authorised by a court order.

If you do not have a Certificate of Exemption

It’s against the law to keep an XL Bully dog without a Certificate of Exemption. If you think you have an XL Bully dog and you have not applied for a Certificate of Exemption, you should contact your local police force.

Read more about banned dogs.

If you have a Certificate of Exemption

For the life of the dog, you must:

• keep the dog at the same address as the certificate holder (you can keep the dog at a different address for a maximum of 30 days in a 12-month period)
• tell the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) if you permanently change address (you do not need to do this if the dog is temporarily kept at a different address, which is allowed for a maximum of 30 days in a 12-month period)
• tell Defra if the dog dies or is exported
• have third party public liability insurance for your dog and provide proof of this within 5 days if asked by Defra
• keep the dog muzzled in public places – Defra recommends using a muzzle that does not inhibit the dog from panting, breathing or drinking
• keep the dog on a lead in public places – the lead must be securely held by someone at least 16 years old
• keep the dog in secure conditions that will stop it from escaping

When asked by a police constable or authorised local authority officer, you must also provide:

• access to the dog to read its microchip
• confirmation of suitable third party liability insurance within 5 days of their request
• the Certificate of Exemption within 5 days of their request

If you do not follow these requirements, your dog will no longer be exempt from the ban and it could be taken by the police. You could also be prosecuted. New exemptions can only be authorised by a court order.

Third party public liability insurance

If you have a Certificate of Exemption for your XL Bully dog, you must have third party public liability insurance for your dog. This applies to all banned breed dogs (not only XL Bully dogs).

This insurance is currently provided by Dogs Trust through its Companion Club subscription. Dogs Trust will stop issuing new insurance policies for banned breed dogs after 30 June 2026. Owners with existing subscriptions will continue to receive the insurance benefit until their next renewal date. For more information, visit the Dogs Trust website.

Your insurance policy must:

• provide cover until at least 30 June 2026
• be in the same name as the person named on the Certificate of Exemption

You no longer need to send proof of your insurance renewal each year to Defra.

You must have valid insurance up to and including 30 June 2026. You must provide proof of this within 5 days if asked by Defra.

If you do not provide proof of insurance, your dog’s certificate of exemption will become invalid.

From 1 July 2026, you will no longer need third party public liability insurance for banned breed dogs, including XL Bully dogs.

Neutering an XL Bully dog 

Your XL Bully dog must be permanently neutered and evidence of this submitted to Defra. Male dogs must be neutered through castration, and female dogs must be spayed.

The deadlines for neutering and submitting confirmation of neutering XL Bully dogs have passed:

If your dog was not neutered before the deadline and you have not submitted evidence of neutering, your certificate of exemption will not be valid. In this case, you should: 

• contact your local police force   
• continue to comply with all other exemption requirements to protect public safety

Neutering your dog is recommended even if you have missed the deadline.

Replacement certificates

Defra will only issue a new certificate if your existing certificate is lost or if you change your name or address.

To get a replacement certificate, email dogsindex@defra.gov.uk. 

Withdraw a Certificate of Exemption

If you no longer think your dog is an XL Bully, you will be able to ask Defra to withdraw your certificate. Defra will provide more information about how to do this soon.   

Claiming compensation for euthanasia of an XL Bully dog

You can no longer claim compensation for euthanasia of an XL Bully dog.

Buying, selling or transferring XL Bully dogs 

It’s illegal to rehome, sell, buy, or transfer ownership of an XL Bully dog to another person. 

Stray and abandoned dogs 

It’s illegal to abandon an XL Bully dog or allow it to stray. 

If you find a stray or abandoned dog of any breed, you should contact your local council. 

Rehoming organisations

It’s illegal to rehome, sell or transfer ownership of XL Bully dogs. Rehoming organisations should not rehome XL Bully dogs. 

If you’re not sure whether a dog in your care may be considered an XL Bully dog, use our guide to check if a dog is an XL Bully.

If you think you have an XL Bully dog in your care and you did not apply for a Certificate of Exemption, you should contact your local police force.

Leaving children unsupervised with XL Bully dogs

From 1 November 2026, you must not leave a child under 12 in close contact with an XL Bully dog in a private place (for example a home or garden), without adult supervision.

This will be a condition of your Certificate of Exemption.