XL Bully Ban- What does it mean?

December 7, 2023

As you may already be aware, the government has announced that it is adding XL Bully dogs to the list of banned breeds in the UK. This means that it will soon be illegal to buy, sell, or rehome these dogs; and there will be strict measures imposed on existing owners. We know this is a worrying time and it can be hard to understand all of the information out there, so we’ll try to break it down here for you.

 

What are XL Bullys?

XL Bullys, or the American XL Bully, is a recent variant of the American Bully breed. Other variations include micro, pocket, standard and classic. XL Bullys were initially crossbreeds, thought to originate in a mixture of the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terriers and American Bulldogs.

Because of this, the government has produced details of what they consider the physical characteristics of an XL Bully to be. One of the key features laid out is the height of the dog. They consider XL Bully adult males to be 20in (51 cm) or more in height at the withers, and adult females from 19in (48cm). Other characteristics include being heavily muscled, having a large broad head and a deep chest.

 

A trained Dog Legislation Officer (DLO) will need to identify whether your dog is classed as an XL Bully or not, based on their physical characteristics, rather than any genetic tests or claimed parentage.

If your dog meets their description, then you should prepare for the ban, even if the dog was not sold to you as an XL Bully. However, if your pet is an established breed recognised by the Kennel Club and does not meet the criteria, then these details will not affect you.

 

Why are the government banning XL Bullys?

The government have reacted to a recent rise in dog attacks on humans, with the XL Bully being frequently involved. Sadly, both adult and child fatalities have occurred. From 15th September 2023, the XL Bully has joined the list of dogs which are banned in the UK under section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. This list also includes the American Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.

 

What do I need to do if I own an XL Bully?

The government are introducing the ban in two stages, which gives existing owners time to adapt to the new rules.

 

Stage one – which takes effect from 31st December 2023

From this date it is illegal to –

 

· Sell, abandon or give away an XL Bully dog. Owners are also responsible for securing their property to ensure their dog is secure and cannot accidentally escape

· Breed from an XL Bully dog.

· Walk an XL Bully dog in public without a lead and muzzle on

· Have an un-microchipped XL Bully (microchipping is a legal requirement for all dogs anyway)

 

Stage two – which takes effect from 1st February 2024 From this date onwards you will need to have a Certificate of Exemption for your XL Bully, which will allow you to continue keeping your dog legally. You will need to pay £92.50 and apply for this certificate via the government website, by post or by email. Your dog will be assessed and included on a list called the ‘Index of Exempt Dogs’. However, this will only be granted if a court decides your dog is not a danger to the public.

 

In addition to the requirements previously listed in stage one and the Certificate of Exemption, you must also –

 

· Neuter your XL Bully dog if this hasn’t already been done. This must be performed by 30th June 2024, if they are over a year old on 31st January 2024. If your dog is less than 1 year old on 31st January 2024, then you will have up until 31st December 2024 to get them spayed or castrated. Your vet will need to confirm that your dog has been neutered.

· Insure your XL Bully for third-party public liability, which can be done through the Dogs Trust (giving insurance against him/her injuring human beings).

· Be able to show your Certificate of Exemption to a police officer or a council dog warden when requested, either at the time or within 5 days.

· Inform the Index of Exempt Dogs of any changes to your home address, or if your dog dies.

 

What can you do now to prepare? There are some immediate steps you should be taking to prepare for the new legislation –

 

· Start applying for a Certificate of Exemption – if you are applying by post or email this needs to be received by Defra no later than 15th January 2024.

· Start muzzle training your dog if they are not already familiar with wearing one. Introduce the muzzle gradually, using positive reinforcement training so that they are happy wearing it.

· Talk to your vet about neutering. Vets are likely to be busy in the coming months so booking your neutering procedure promptly may help.

· Keep an eye on the government website for any changes.

 

What if you can no longer care for your XL Bully?

This is a complicated time for XL Bully owners, and some may decide that they can no longer care for their dog or meet the requirements set out in the legislation. In this situation, euthanasia is advised.

This will undoubtedly be a tough decision, as sadly these healthy dogs will not be able to be rehomed or sold under the new government rules. You should take your dog to a veterinary surgeon before 31st January 2024 if you have decided on euthanasia.

 

The government will compensate you £200 in this scenario to help cover the costs of the euthanasia and they have now produced a form for this.

 

 

What happens if you don’t comply with government legislation?

If you don’t comply with the government’s legislation, then you will be breaking the law. The rules of the Dangerous Dogs Act must be followed, or you will risk being fined and/or serving a prison sentence, which will result in a criminal record. The police are also within their rights to seize and euthanise your dog. You must therefore take the XL Bully ban seriously and read all the guidelines carefully.

 

Summary

We appreciate this is a tough, emotional time for owners of XL Bully dogs, and we are here to support you. We urge you to pay attention to the timeline set out by the government and the rules that they have stipulated. Please give us a call if you need to further discuss any of the issues outlined in this blog.