Children will be better protected from dangerous dogs in the home under a new government measure introduced today to strengthen safeguards around banned breeds, including XL Bully types.
The change in the law will affect thousands of dog owners across the UK and means that from 1 November 2026, owners must not leave a child under the age of 12 in close proximity to a banned breed dog in a domestic setting or other private settings place without adult supervision. This will be a condition of the Certificate of Exemption, which allows owners to legally keep a banned breed.
The new safeguard will reduce the risk of serious injury to children in domestic environments, while allowing exempted dogs to remain with families where appropriate supervision is in place.
As with other conditions of exemption, failure to comply with this requirement may result in enforcement action. This can include seizure of the dog and potential prosecution, in line with existing powers under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Owners could also face penalties, including up to six months in prison or a fine of up to £5,000.
The five dog breeds are currently banned in the UK are the XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro.
Animal Welfare Minister, Baroness Hayman said: “Any attack on a child by a dangerous dog is unacceptable. The safety of children must always come first, and this new measure will strengthen protections in the home by ensuring young children are not left unattended around banned breed dogs, including XL Bully types.
“While many owners are acting responsibly – those that don’t should face the legal consequences.
“While this measure applies specifically to banned breed‑type dogs, young children should be supervised around all breeds of dog.”
All other legal requirements remain in place, including requirements for exempted dogs to be muzzled and kept on a lead in public places. Owners remain fully responsible for any harm caused by their dogs.
Responsible dog ownership continues to be encouraged across all breeds of dog and Defra keeps current dog control rules under review to ensure they are sufficient to ensure communities are protected.
In January 2024, it became illegal to sell, give away, or abandon an XL Bully, and it became illegal to own one without a valid certificate two months later. It is thought around 61,000 were issued.
In that same year, a Yorkshire teenager told GB News she feared she was going to die after being mauled by a 50kg rescue XL Bully whilst working at an animal shelter.
Gilana Milner, then 19, from Wakefield, was the victim of a savage attack which left her hospitalised and left with serious injuries to her leg and chest, which required emergency surgery.
Due to developing an infection from the dog bites, Gilana also nearly lost her leg. But despite the trauma she endured, she has spoken out against a ban on the breed.
The attack, at a rescue centre where animal lover Gilana worked, lasted for five terrifying minutes. “I thought he [Hugo, the XL Bully] was going to bite me and let go, like you see with everyone else but work when we’ve all got bitten at some point. But he never actually let go,” Gilana told GB News.
“So then it took a second to realise you’re probably going to die, and then you can’t really feel the pain of it. You can just feel like the sensation of him biting you. I was watching him bite me. I couldn’t do anything.
“All I could think about was my mum at the moment, the people that I loved. I don’t know, I never really I’ve never really thought about dying like that before.”
The XL Bully bit Miss Milner multiple times and refused to unclamp his jaws, until staff at the rescue centre eventually got the dog to release with the use of a special bite-back spray. The assault left her with permanent nerve damage and emotional trauma, which she is receiving therapy for.
She also has hypersensitivity in parts of her legs so it hurts to be touched, and numbness in other areas.
High-profile incidents involving young children and XL Bullies, such as a 12-year-old seriously injured in Sheffield and a 9-year-old girl attacked in Birmingham, prompted tighter legal protections regarding child supervision around these dogs.
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