The DDA Explained
In the UK, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (DDA) strictly prohibits owning certain types of dogs traditionally bred for fighting. The recent, highly publicised addition to this list is the XL Bully. The other four are the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro.
The Exemption Certificate
If you own an XL Bully or a banned breed, having the dog is an illegal offence unless you hold a Certificate of Exemption. To get this, your dog must be neutered, permanently microchipped, and insured with third-party public liability insurance.
Rules in Public Spaces
A banned breed type must always wear a secure muzzle and be kept on a lead by someone over 16 years old whilst in public. Breaching these strict rules can tragically result in the dog being seized and potentially euthanised by police.
💡 Pro Tip
"Type" not breed: The police assess a dog by its physical characteristics against a standard, rather than its DNA or pedigree papers. Even a crossbreed scoring enough "characteristics" can be legally seized as a banned type.