What the four nations actually allow

Animal welfare is devolved, and since 2023 the four nations have genuinely diverged. This is the same practice compared across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the primary source and a last-checked date against every cell.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026; the oldest cell on this page was last checked against its primary source on 22 August 2026. Every cell carries its own date and source below. Data: /api/law.json.

This is a description of the law, not legal advice. Every row links to the primary source and carries the date it was last checked. Check the source before relying on it — general licences are reissued each January and commencement dates move.

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Companion animals

Can I keep an XL Bully?

All four nations have designated the XL Bully as a type to which section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, or its Northern Ireland equivalent, applies. Keeping one is an offence unless the dog is on an exemption register, and in every nation the deadline for applying has passed.

England

Banned, with exceptions
In force from
1 February 2024
Instrument
Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (England and Wales) Order 2023, articles 2 and 3

Article 2 designates the XL Bully for the purposes of section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, with effect from 31 December 2023. From that date it is an offence to breed from, sell, advertise, exchange, give away or abandon an XL Bully, or to have one in a public place without a lead and muzzle. Article 3 set 31 January 2024 as the last day for applying for a Certificate of Exemption, so possession without one has been an offence since 1 February 2024. Defra states that it will only process applications received by 31 January 2024.

legislation.gov.uk · checked 25 August 2026

Wales

Banned, with exceptions
In force from
1 February 2024
Instrument
Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (England and Wales) Order 2023, articles 2 and 3

The Order applies to England and Wales, so the designation, the dates and the exemption conditions are identical to England's. Article 2 designates the XL Bully for the purposes of section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 with effect from 31 December 2023, and article 3 set 31 January 2024 as the last day for applying for a Certificate of Exemption.

legislation.gov.uk · checked 25 August 2026

Scotland

Banned, with exceptions
In force from
1 August 2024
Instrument
Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (Scotland) Order 2024, article 2

Article 2 designates the XL Bully for the purposes of section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The Order came into force on 23 February 2024, from which date it is an offence to sell, advertise, gift or exchange an XL Bully, to let one stray, or to have one in a public place without a lead and muzzle. From 1 August 2024 possession is an offence unless the owner holds a certificate of exemption, or has applied for one, under the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024.

legislation.gov.uk · checked 25 August 2026

Northern Ireland

Banned, with exceptions
In force from
1 January 2025
Instrument
Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024, article 2

Article 2 designates the XL Bully for the purposes of Article 25A of the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983. DAERA states that safeguards came into operation on 5 July 2024, requiring a lead and muzzle in public and prohibiting sale, gift, exchange and breeding. Possession or custody is prohibited from 1 January 2025 unless an exemption certificate was applied for by 31 December 2024, or by 15 December 2024 for postal applications, under the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.

legislation.gov.uk · checked 25 August 2026

How to read this

Status describes the position today. Anything proposed, consulted on or before a legislature is shown separately as a proposed change, and is never counted as law.

“Not recorded” means not recorded. Where a commencement date or an instrument has not been confirmed against a primary source, the cell says so rather than estimating.

Data: /api/law.json. Corrections with a primary source are welcome — a wrong cell here is worse than a missing one.