From 1 November 2026, in England and Wales, owners of exempt XL Bully dogs must not leave a child under 12 in close contact with the dog in a private place, such as a home or garden, without adult supervision. The condition becomes part of the dog’s Certificate of Exemption. Official registration figures do not show how many XL Bullies are still alive or living in the UK today.
What changes on 1 November 2026?
The new condition applies to exempt XL Bully dogs in England and Wales. An owner must not leave a child under 12 in close contact with the dog in a private place without adult supervision. A home or garden are examples of private places. The requirement is added to the Certificate of Exemption, so it is distinct from the existing rules for handling the dog in public. Defra’s current guidance sets out the certificate requirements.
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The government says failure to comply may lead to enforcement action, including seizure of the dog and possible prosecution. In its 9 June 2026 announcement, Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock said: “Any attack on a child by a dangerous dog is unacceptable.” The announcement said further guidance would be published before the change; the current guidance now includes the condition.
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How many XL Bullies are still in the UK?
There is no current official UK-wide count in the sources cited here of XL Bullies still alive or resident in the country. The figures published by the government are historical registration and scheme figures, not a present-day population estimate.
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| Figure | What it measures | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Over 57,000 owners registered XL Bully type dogs under the exemption scheme, reported by Defra in 2026 | Registrations under the England and Wales exemption scheme, as cited in the government’s 25 March 2026 response | How many dogs are still alive or living in the UK now |
| Over 55,000 registered dogs, reported by Defra in February 2024 | A historical registration figure published in the 2024 announcement | A current UK-wide population total |
| 406 dogs euthanised with compensation claimed under the scheme, reported by Defra in 2026 | A reported scheme figure in the government’s 2026 response | How many dogs later died, moved, or otherwise left the UK |
The government has noted that the original population evidence was limited and that the number of dogs exempted exceeded initial estimates. Registration totals therefore cannot be treated as a live count. If a report says “thousands remain,” that claim needs to be attributed to that report and its date; it is not established as a current official UK-wide figure by the statistics above.
Which XL Bully rules still apply in England and Wales?
The 1 November supervision condition is one part of a wider set of requirements for exempt dogs. The current Defra guidance says:
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- Keeping or possessing an XL Bully without a valid Certificate of Exemption is a criminal offence. The original application scheme has closed; a new exemption can only be authorised by a court order.
- In public, an exempt dog must be on a lead and muzzled. It must also be microchipped and kept securely contained.
- Deadlines for neutering and submitting evidence have passed. If the dog was not neutered by its deadline and evidence was not submitted, the certificate is not valid. The guidance directs owners in that situation to contact their local police force and continue following the other requirements.
- It is illegal to sell, buy, give away, rehome, breed, or abandon an XL Bully, or to allow one to stray.
- Third-party public liability insurance is no longer required for banned-breed dogs, including XL Bullies, from 1 July 2026. Earlier guidance may say otherwise, so owners should use the current version.
- From 1 November 2026, owners must comply with the new child-supervision condition for close contact in private places.
Does the new rule apply across the UK?
The guidance described here applies to England and Wales. The sources cited do not establish a complete current account of the corresponding rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so do not assume the 1 November condition or every other requirement applies uniformly across the UK. Check the relevant devolved government guidance for the dog’s location.
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What owners should check before November
- Confirm that the dog has a valid Certificate of Exemption and that all applicable certificate conditions have been met.
- Plan how to prevent unsupervised close contact between the dog and children under 12 in private places from 1 November 2026.
- Review the current Defra guidance rather than relying on older information, particularly about insurance and certificate validity.
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