It is now illegal under the Dangerous Dogs Act for anyone in England or Wales to own an XL Bully type dog without a Certificate of Exemption.
To help our members with the implications of the ban, we've collated the most up-to-date information into this practical guide for veterinary teams in England and Wales.
This is a live resource, which will be updated as further details on the ban are released or clarified by the Government. This information was last updated April 2024.
Latest updates
- 15 January 2024: [New addition] Defra clarification on whether a veterinary practice or consult room are classed as a 'public space'.
- 18 January 2024: BVA publishes blog on navigating the XL Bully ban.
- 31 January 2024: Scotland confirms XL Bully ban timeframe.
- 1 February 2024: It is now illegal to own an XL Bully type dog without a Certificate of Exemption in England and Wales.
- 23 February 2024: It is now illegal to own an XL Bully type dog without a Certificate of Exemption in Scotland.
- 1 March 2024: [New addition] 'Exempted dogs in practice - key points'
- 5 March 2024: Update to the Scotland XL Bully ban timeframe (See Legislation section)
- 7 March 2024: Dog Control Coalition responds to restrictions on XL Bully type dogs in Northern Ireland
- 7 March 2024: Scottish Government extends XL Bully neutering window following BVA pressure
- 14 March 2024: Defra extends XL Bully neutering window in England and Wales
- 1 April 2024: Scottish Government has opened exemption and compensation schemes for XL Bully owners in Scotland.
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