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Five types of dog are banned in England and Wales, the XL Bully being the latest. Since 1 November 2026, there is a new rule about children too. Here is what the law actually says, what an exempted owner must do, and what happens if a dog is “dangerously out of control”, whatever its breed.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is illegal to own, sell, give away, abandon or breed from these types of dog in England and Wales:
The key word is type. Whether your dog is banned depends on what it looks like, not on its pedigree or what the seller called it. A crossbreed with the right measurements and build can fall under the ban.
You must not leave a child under 12 in close contact with a banned dog in a private place, such as your home or garden, without an adult supervising. This applies to exempted XL Bullies and every other banned type.
As a trainer, we’d say the same about any dog, whatever its size: young children and dogs should never be left alone together.
The only legal way to keep a banned dog is with a Certificate of Exemption, valid for the dog’s life. The conditions:
The third-party liability insurance requirement was dropped on 1 July 2026.
Having a banned dog without an exemption can mean an unlimited fine, up to six months in prison, or both, and the dog will normally be destroyed. Police or dog wardens can seize a banned type even if it has never shown aggression. In court, it is up to the owner to prove the dog is not a banned type.
If the court decides the dog is not a danger, it can issue a Contingent Destruction Order, giving the owner the chance to apply for an exemption.
This part of the law applies to every dog, from a chihuahua to a Labrador, in public and in private places, including your own home and garden. A dog is dangerously out of control if it injures someone or makes someone worried it might. Attacking another person’s animal can count too.
The owner can also be banned from keeping dogs.
The rules above are those for England and Wales. Scotland brought in its own XL Bully rules in 2024, and Northern Ireland has its own legislation too. If you live there, check gov.scot or nidirect for the details that apply to you.
Breed bans don’t replace good handling. A well-socialised dog, trained with positive methods and never left unsupervised with children, is the best protection there is, whatever it looks like. If your dog worries you, see a qualified behaviourist sooner rather than later.
The deadline for existing XL Bullies passed in 2024. New exemptions are now only possible through the courts, after a dog has been seized.
No. The third-party insurance requirement ended on 1 July 2026. Many owners keep cover anyway.
No, neither is on the list. But remember it’s the dog’s type that counts, and every dog must be kept under control.
Sources: GOV.UK, banned dogs, GOV.UK, controlling your dog in public, PDSA, banned dog breeds: the 2026 updates, gov.scot, XL Bully rules
