Support for XL Bully owners | Dogs Trust (2024)

There are restrictions on owning an American Bully XL dog in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Restrictions come into place in the Republic of Ireland later this year.

We want to do everything we can to keep you and your dog together. We have a full programme of support including muzzle training and behaviour advice, information regarding third party insurance, and guidance on microchipping and neutering.

We know this has been a difficult time for dog owners, with lots of information to navigate. You can find the latest rules for your nation below. We also recommend visiting your local Government website to familiarise yourself with the latest rules and guidance.

Owning an American Bully XL dog in England and Wales

On 1 February 2024 it became illegal to own an American Bully XL dog without a certificate of exemption. The deadline to apply for an exemption has now passed. If you missed the deadline, you need to contact your local police force for advice on how to exempt your dog.

Upcoming deadlines to be aware of:

• 31 December 2024 - deadline for dog who was at least 7 months old but younger than 12 months on 31 January 2024 to be neutered, and confirmation of neutering form submitted to Defra.
• 30 June 2025 - deadline for dog who was less than 7 months old on 31 January 2024 to be neutered, and confirmation of neutering form submitted to Defra.

Find out more information about the ban in England and Wales.

Owning an American Bully XL dog in Northern Ireland

On 5 July 2024 it became illegal to breed, sell, exchange, gift or abandon an XL Bully type dog. Owners must also ensure their dog is muzzled and on a lead when in public places.

Upcoming deadlines to be aware of:

• 31 December 2024 - it will become illegal to own an American Bully XL without an exemption.

Find out more about the ban in Northern Ireland.

Owning an American Bully XL dog in the Republic of Ireland

On 12 July 2024, the Republic of Ireland announced the intention to ban American Bully XL dogs later this year.

Upcoming deadlines to be aware of:

• 1 October 2024- new regulations will prohibit the importing, breeding, selling and rehoming of American Bully XL dogs.
• 1 February 2025 - It will be illegal to own an American Bully XL dog without a certificate of exemption.

Find out more about the ban in the Republic of Ireland.

Owning an American Bully XL dog in Scotland

On 1 August 2024 it became illegal to own an American Bully XL dog without a certificate of exemption. The deadline to apply for an exemption has now passed. If you missed the deadline, you need to contact your local police force for advice on how to exempt your dog.

Upcoming deadlines to be aware of:

• 31 January 2025 - if your dog is 18 months of older, deadline for dog to be neutered and confirmation of neutering form submitted to Defra. If your dog is younger than 18 months, Defra must receive the form by 31 January 2025 or within one month of the dog turning 18 months, whichever is later.

Find out more about the ban and how to apply for an exemption in Scotland.

If you own an American Bully XL type dog, your dog needs to be muzzled and kept on a lead in public at all times. We’ve got lots of support available to help train your dog to be comfortable wearing a muzzle and calm on a lead.

We’re offering a 50% discount on our online muzzle training 1-2-1's for anyone who needs to muzzle train their American Bully XL type dog. The session will include:

• information about the most suitable types of muzzle
• how to ensure a good fit
• how to teach your dog to enjoy wearing their muzzle.

Our expert trainers, who have muzzle trained thousands of dogs in our care, will also be able to answer any questions you may have.

Our Companion Club (formerly called our Membership Scheme) provides third-party public liability insurance cover for Companions, and covers banned breeds that are registered on the Index of Exempted dogs (run by Defra). To become a companion, you must pay the fee of £25 per year.

You can become a Companion Club member at any time, and you will benefit from our third-party liability insurance. However, it is a criminal offence to own or possess a banned breed in England and Wales without a Certificate of Exemption. If you own a dog that you suspect may be a banned breed, you must contact Defra for a Certificate of Exemption and they will require you to have third-party public liability insurance in place before they can issue a Certificate of Exemption. If you do not have a Certificate of Exemption, the third-party public liability insurance will not cover you for your banned breed.

The third-party public liability insurance cover, included within our Companion Club, offers up to £1million per claim, subject to legal liability being established against you if your dog causes damage or injury to another person, their property or person. An excess of £200 applies for the UK, and £500 in the Republic of Ireland. The cover is subject to any changes insurers make.

This cover currently meets the insurance needs within the conditions of exemption. It covers all dogs including banned dogs that have been exempted. Please note, this cover may be subject to change if government guidelines change, or our insurers change their terms.

Please be aware that if you own an exempted dog and make a claim, in order for your claim to be valid, you will need to prove that you were complying with the law at the time. This means that your dog has a Certificate of Exemption covering them when the incident occurred.

If you are part of our Companion Club (formerly called our Membership Scheme), our third-party public liability insurance covers any dogs that are your pets in your home. We do not insure businesses, breeders, or anyone caring for dogs that are not their own pets. If you were to make a claim as a breeder, organisation or company, your claim would be null and void.

The start date of your insurance is the date that your payment cleared to join the Companion Club.

Your insurance start date and policy number are in your welcome email from Companion Club.

If you own an American Bully XL type dog, it’s important your dog is neutered and microchipped. Speak to your vet for advice on neutering and microchipping. We are unable to offer a subsidised neutering scheme or a microchipping service.

Other organisations are currently offering a contribution towards neutering XL bully dogs to those who are struggling financially.