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

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 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 the requirements, your dog will no longer be exempt from the ban and it could be taken by the police. 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 can be provided by Dogs Trust Membership.

The policy must:

• be renewed annually for the life of the dog
• be in the same name as the person named on the Certificate of Exemption

If you use a different insurance provider, you must check that the policy:

• covers the policyholder for death or bodily injury to any person caused by the exempted dog
• is suitable for a prohibited breed as defined under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

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

You will still need to have third party public liability insurance for the lifetime of your dog. 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.

Neutering an XL Bully dog 

For your Certificate of Exemption to remain valid, you must arrange to have your XL Bully dog permanently neutered. Male dogs must be neutered through castration, and female dogs must be spayed.

You must use the confirmation of neutering form to tell Defra your dog has been neutered. You must provide the completed form to Defra on or before the relevant deadline.

Dog’s age on 31 January 2024	Deadline for receipt of form
12 months old or older	26 July 2024 (but the dog must have been neutered by 30 June 2024)
At least 7 months old, but less than 12 months old	31 December 2024
Less than 7 months old	30 June 2025

Defra recommends having your dog neutered as soon as possible so that you meet these deadlines. 

Dogs aged 127 months or older on 31 January 2024

The deadline for neutering and submitting confirmation of neutering for these dogs has passed. Defra will get in touch with everyone who submitted evidence that their dog has been neutered.  

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. 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.

Microchips for dogs less than 8 weeks old 

If your dog was less than 8 weeks old when you applied for a Certificate of Exemption, the deadline for sending the microchip number to Defra was 31 March 2024.

Dogs certified as unfit for a microchip 

If your dog was unfit to be microchipped when you applied for a Certificate of Exemption, you must have sent a copy of the veterinary certificate to Defra by 31 March 2024.

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.

The closing date for all claims was 15 March 2024. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is processing all claims made by this date.

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, 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.

Compensation for rehoming organisations

Rehoming organisations can no longer claim £100 towards the cost of euthanasia for dogs that were euthanised in their care. The closing date for all claims was 15 March 2024.

Vets

Owners of XL Bully dogs who chose to have their dog euthanised by a registered vet can no longer claim compensation towards the cost. The closing date for all claims was 15 March 2024.

Vets may also be asked to confirm an XL Bully dog has been neutered.

Vets will not be expected to report XL Bully dogs and their owners to the police.