American XL Bully dog breed banned in UK and Wales

The UK government on Tuesday added American XL Bully to the list of dogs banned under Dangerous Dogs Act, making it illegal to breed or own it unless registered on a special list of dogs from January 31.

As per the government's decision, breeding, selling, advertising, exchanging, gifting, rehoming, abandoning or allowing XL Bully dogs to stray in England and Wales from December 31.

The government has also made it mandatory for owners to keep XL Bully dogs on a lead and muzzled when in public from December 31.


Owners who wish to keep their dogs will need to register them by January end and comply with strict requirements.

XL Bully owners,who are found without a certificate face a criminal record and an unlimited fine. Their dog could also be seized, as per the guidelines.

The government has also told breeders to stop mating XL Bully-type dogs. It has also made it mandatory for these type of dogs to be neutered by the end of the year, older dogs must be neutered by the end of June 2024.

Those owners who wish to put their dogs to sleep by a vet, would be given a compensation to cover such costs, ministers said. Details on how to apply for compensation will be provided by the government in due course. In UK, getting a dog neutered can cost hundreds of pounds.

What government's guidelines say:
* Breeding, selling, advertising, exchanging, gifting, rehoming, abandoning or allowing XL Bully dogs to stray in England and Wales from December 31
* By December end, owners must keep XL bully dogs on a leash and muzzled in public.
* By January end, owning the breed will become illegal unless it is registered on the Index of Exempted dogs.
* Dog older than a year on January 31, must be neutered by June 30.
* Dog who is less than a year old as of January 31, needs to be neutered by December 31.

"We are taking quick and decisive action to protect the public from tragic dog attacks and today I have added the XL Bully type to the list of dogs prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act. It will soon become a criminal offence to breed, sell, advertise, rehome or abandon an XL Bully type dog, and they must also be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. In due course it will also be illegal to own one of these dogs without an exemption. We will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, as we take forward these important measures,” Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said.