NEW XL BULLY RULES COME INTO FORCE ACROSS THE UK

Dog owners who fail to comply with new XL Bully rules that took effect on 1 November face legal consequences, the Government has said. The change is expected to affect thousands of owners across the UK. Those who breach the rules risk up to six months in prison, unlimited fines and having their dogs seized. The Government has called the measures "tough" and warned of "legal consequences" for owners who do not comply. The rules govern how dangerous dogs, in particular XL Bullies, must be kept at home.

The XL Bully is one of five breeds banned in the UK, alongside the Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro. Owners may keep a banned dog only if they hold a valid Certificate of Exemption and the dog is not behaving dangerously. It became illegal to sell, give away or abandon an XL Bully in January 2024, and illegal to own one without a certificate from March 2024. Around 61,000 certificates are believed to have been issued, according to the Government. Under the exemption rules, a dog must be neutered, microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled in public, and housed securely to prevent escape. Owners must be aged over 16 and show the certificate to a police officer or council dog warden within five days of being asked.

Owners must notify the Index of Exempted Dogs if they change address. They must also notify the register if their dog dies. It remains illegal to sell, abandon or give away a banned dog, or to breed from one. Defra, the Government department responsible for the exemption scheme, has issued a statement on the change.