18/01/2024
Owners who want to keep their type dog should register it by applying for a Certificate of Exemption before 1 February 2024.
Strict criteria will apply. If you’re applying by post or email, Defra must receive your application by 15 January.
Remember, new legal restrictions on XL Bully type dogs are now in place.
They must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. It is also illegal to sell, advertise, gift, exchange or abandon these dogs, or let them stray.
Owners who no longer wish to keep their XL Bully type dog can arrange for a vet to euthanise them and apply for compensation towards this.
You do not need to take these steps if your dog is clearly identifiable as another breed, even if it meets some of the criteria of an XL Bully.
Read our guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs