What is the number one banned dog

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Ban on XL Bully dogs

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

Its 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

Its 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.

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 daysin 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 Defra with proof that its been renewed each year
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 byDogs 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 mustprovide Defra with proof that youve renewed the insurance each year. Email your insurance renewal confirmation document to [email protected], or post it to:

Dogs IndexPO Box 68250LondonSW1P 9XG

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.

Dogs age on 31 January 2024	Deadline
12 months old or older	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.

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 [email protected].

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

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

Stray and abandoned dogs

Its illegal to abandon an XL Bully dog or allow it to stray.

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

Rehoming organisations

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

If youre 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.

Controlling your dog in public

In the UK, its against the law to own certain types of dog.

These are the:

Pit Bull Terrier
Japanese Tosa
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasileiro

XL Bully dogs are banned in England and Wales.

Its against the law to:

sell a banned dog
abandon a banned dog
give away a banned dog
breed from a banned dog

Whether your dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name.

For example, if your dog matches many of the characteristics of a Pit Bull Terrier, it may be a banned type.

If you have a banned dog

If you have a banned dog, the police or local council dog warden can take it away and keep it, even if:

it is not acting dangerously
there has not been a complaint

The police may need permission from a court to do this.

If your dog is in:

a public place, the police do not need a warrant
a private place, the police must get a warrant
a private place and the police have a warrant for something else (like a drugs search), they can seize your dog

A police or council dog expert will judge what type of dog you have and whether it is (or could be) a danger to the public. Your dog will then either be:

released
kept in kennels while the police (or council) apply to a court

Youre not allowed to visit your dog while you wait for the court decision.

You can give up ownership of your dog but you cannot be forced to. If you do, your dog could be destroyed without you even going to court.

If you have a valid Certificate of Exemption for your dog and its not been acting dangerously, you may be able to keep it.

You cannot apply for a Certificate of Exemption. Youll only have one if a court gave you one or you applied for one in the past.

XL Bully dogs in England and Wales

You cannot own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless your dog has a valid Certificate of Exemption.

Check what to do if you own an XL Bully dog.

Going to court

Its your responsibility to prove your dog is not a banned type.

If you prove this, the court will order the dog to be returned to you. If you cannot prove it (or you plead guilty), youll be convicted of a crime.

You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 6 months (or both) for having a banned dog against the law. Your dog will also be destroyed.

If your dog is banned but the court thinks its not a danger to the public, the court may put your dog on the Index of Exempt dogs and let you keep it.

Youll be given a Certificate of Exemption.

If you have a Certificate of Exemption for your banned dog

A Certificate of Exemption lets you keep a banned dog as long as it does not behave dangerously, and you follow certain rules. It is valid for the life of the dog.

Your dogs must be:

neutered
fitted with a microchip
kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public
kept in a secure place so it cannot escape

As the owner, you must:

take out insurance against your dog injuring other people
be aged over 16
show the Certificate of Exemption when asked by a police officer or council dog warden, either at the time or within 5 days
let the Index of Exempt Dogs know if you change address, or your dog dies

Dogs Index PO Box 68250 London SW1P 9XG