An update on American XL Bully dogs
An update on American XL Bully dogs
In 2024 it became illegal to breed, sell, exchange, gift or abandon an XL Bully dog. Existing owners of XL Bully dogs were required to apply for a certificate of exemption and abide by special conditions.
How do I know if my dog is an XL Bully?
A breed standard description is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog/xl-bully-conformation-standard
I have an XL Bully dog but did not apply for a certificate of exemption – what shall I do?
It is illegal to own an American XL Bully without a certificate of exemption. The deadline to apply for an exemption certificate has now passed. XL Bully owners who have missed this deadline need to contact their local police force to find out how to exempt their dog.
What about neutering?
Neutering by surgical spaying of female dogs and castration of males is mandatory for XL Bully dogs. Most XL Bullies have already been neutered under the new rules. However, dogs that were too young to be neutered previously (dogs that were less than 7 months old on 31st January 2024) have until 30th June 2025 to be neutered. If you have an XL Bully dog that is not yet neutered, please contact your veterinary surgeon to arrange neutering before this date.
Muzzling
XL Bully type dogs must be muzzled and kept on a lead whenever they are in a public place. It is important to select a muzzle that fits well and is of a “basket” or “cage” type so that your dog can pant normally while exercising (muzzles that hold the mouth closed will prevent panting and cause distress and collapse or heatstroke).
Other requirements
XL Bully dogs must be microchipped and have third-party public liability insurance.
At Acorn House we treat many lovely XL Bully dogs and understand that the past 12 months has been very difficult for owners of these dogs. Although the government requirements are outside of our control, we are keen to help owners keep their dogs legally and safely.
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