HOW DANGEROUS ARE XL BULLIES AND HOW DOES THE BAN WORK?

It’s been a year since the introduction of strict regulations on owning XL bully dogs in England and Wales.

These restrictions now apply across the entire UK, but there have still been several attacks involving the breed – some of them fatal – since the laws came into effect.

According to BBC research, police seized nearly 2,000 dogs suspected of being banned in the first eight months of 2024, and destroyed over 800 of them.

What is an American XL bully and how dangerous are they?

An XL bully is the largest kind of American bully dog.

The UK government published guidance to help identify XL bullies, which are not recognised as a specific breed.

They are described as large dogs “with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for [their] size”.

Male XL bullies stand around 20 inches (51 cm) tall at the shoulder, with females being just slightly smaller. While there are no official statistics on the exact number of XL bullies in the UK, dogs are classified as XL if they meet the minimum height requirement and possess a range of other defining traits.

NHS consultant Richard Baker explained that the dogs’ powerful jaws can cause more severe injuries compared to other breeds, often resulting in broken bones, torn skin, and nerve damage. “It’s a crushing or tearing injury,” he said. “Once they latch on, they don’t let go.”

How many dog attacks are there in the UK and how many people are killed?

In the 2023-24 period, there were 10,924 hospital admissions in England due to dog bites, according to the latest NHS data, a rise from 9,424 the previous year. NHS Wales reported 614 admissions from dog bites or strikes in 2023-24, down from 765 in 2022-23. Meanwhile, Public Health Scotland recorded 1,105 admissions for dog bites in 2023-24, up from 940 the year before.

As of October 18, 2024, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported seven fatalities from dog attacks in 2024, compared to 19 in 2023 and six in 2022. However, the official data does not specify the number of attacks or deaths by dog breed.

When the previous government introduced the XL bully ban in late 2023, it stated that the breed had been “disproportionately involved” in fatal attacks since 2021.

How does the American XL bully ban work in England and Wales?

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, ownership of American bully XL dogs is now restricted. As of 31 December 2023, it became illegal to sell, give away, abandon, or breed XL bullies.

Since 1 February 2024, it is a criminal offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate.

Before the deadline, the government received 61,000 exemption applications. Owners who chose not to keep their XL bully had to take their dog to a registered vet for euthanasia by 31 January 2024.

Those who applied for an exemption were required to obtain insurance, microchip their dog, and pay a £92.40 fee per animal. Registered dogs must be housed securely, neutered, and kept on a lead and muzzled in public—though not at home.

Police have the authority to seize unregistered prohibited dogs, with owners facing up to six months in jail and/or an unlimited fine.

What are the rules for American XL bullies in Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Similar restrictions have applied in Scotland since 23 February 2024.

Owners who wished to keep their dogs had to apply for an exemption by 31 July.

In Northern Ireland, American XL bullies have had to be muzzled and kept on a lead in public since 5 July 2024.

The deadline to register for an exemption was 31 December 2024.

The requirements for owners of exempt XL bullies are the same across the whole of the UK.
Anyone breaking the rules in Scotland or Northern Ireland faces up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to £5,000.
How many people are prosecuted for dog attacks?
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Justice, in the year to June 2024 – which includes several months after the new rules began – 772 people in England and Wales were prosecuted for allowing a dog to injure another person in a public place.
There were 628 convictions.

That compares to 628 prosecutions and 498 convictions in the 12 months to June 2023.

Enforcing the new rules has sharply increased police costs, according to Chief Constable Mark Hobrough, the National Police Chief Council (NPCC) lead for dangerous dogs.

In December, Freedom of Information responses from 20 police forces in England, Wales and Scotland showed that in the first eight months of 2024:

• 1,991 suspected banned dogs were seized, up from 283 in the whole of 2023
• 818 dogs were destroyed, more than double the number in 2023