XL Bully update as dog owners warned new rules take effect today

The government has made a number of updates to the rules and regulations for owners of XL Bully dogs

Changes have been made to exemptions for owning XL Bully dogs. Updates issued by officials show new information about third party public liability insurance that owners should look at.

Owners no longer need to send proof of their insurance renewal each year to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). However, Defra can ask for proof of third party public liability insurance and owners will need to supply this proof within five days.

If owners are unable to provide this proof in time, the Certificate of Exemption that allows them to own an XL Bully despite the ban will become invalid, according to the new update. Their insurance also still has to be renewed annually for the entire lifetime of their dog.

In February, the government made it a criminal offence to own, sell, abandon, give away or breed XL Bully dogs. Additionally, it was also made illegal to have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.

The move came after the dogs were involved in a series of fatal and serious attacks. The new laws angered owners across the country, but having a valid Certificate of Exemption allowed them to keep their animals.

Applications for Certificates of Exemption have closed and now the only way to obtain one is by contacting your local police force. It can only be authorised by a court order.

Owners with Certificates of Exemption are required to follow a set of rules and regulations for the entire lifespan of their dog. This includes having third party public liability insurance for their dog, keeping the dog muzzled and on a lead in public - with the lead being held by someone aged 16 or older.

XL Bully owners can also be stopped and questioned by police constables or authorised local authority officers. In this situation, if requested, the owners must provide access to the dog and their microchip, third party liability insurance information and their Certificate of Exemption.

What are XL Bullies?

According to the government, the XL Bully breed type is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type. "The XL Bully breed type is typically larger (both in terms of height and body shape) and more muscular than other American Bullybreed types such as the ‘Micro’, ‘Pocket’, ‘Standard’ and ‘Classic’."

In a document issued in February this year by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, officials described an XL Bully as a 'large dog with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength andpower for its size. Powerfully built individual."