XL Bully
Following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities caused by XL Bully dogs, the government has added this breed to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
To help current owners adapt to the new laws, these changes come into force in 2 stages.
On 31 December 2023 it became an offence to:
- Sell an XL Bully dog
- Abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray
- Give away an XL Bully dog
- Breed from an XL Bully dog
- Have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.
From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless your dog has a Certificate of Exemption.
Please visit the DEFRA website (external link) to register your dog, and/or for further information and guidance.
Dangerous dogs
Dangerous dogs can be reported to Greater Manchester Police on 101 or dial 999 for emergency cases.
It is an offence to own or keep the following breeds of dog (unless they are on the index of exempted dogs).
- Pitbull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Braziliero
- XL Bully.
If you are illegally keeping one of the dog breeds listed, or you do not follow the requirements needed to keep such breeds of dog, you could be fined up to £5,000 and / or face six months in prison.
Dog barking
Dog barking issues must be discussed with the dog owner as your first port of call. If you still have problems after doing this, you can report it to us as a noise nuisance.
Dog control
Dogs must wear a collar and ID tag in a public place. If your dog is found without these, you may face a fine of up to £5,000 if convicted.