The Government has issued a statement on XL Bully dogs after more than 12,500 people signed a petition calling for a legal "de-exemption" pathway. Defra responded on October 13, announcing that owners who hold a Certificate of Exemption can now apply to withdraw it if they believe their dog is not an XL Bully type.
The petition, launched on April 7, 2026, urged the government to create a process for owners to have their dogs removed from the banned breeds list. Any petition surpassing 10,000 signatures requires a written government response, while 100,000 signatures would trigger consideration for a Parliamentary debate.
Petition highlights owner concerns
XL Bully dogs were added to the banned breeds list in 2023. Owners must hold an official Certification of Exemption and follow strict legal rules to keep one. The petition states that Defra and the Chief Veterinary Officer advised owners unsure of their dog's breed to "take a precautionary approach" and obtain a certificate of exemption "to be safe".
It argues that many dogs may not meet the legal "type", yet two years later there is still no pathway for de-exemption. The petition says dogs' welfare is "unfairly compromised by lifelong restrictions imposed solely because their owners followed Government advice".
Defra response and new application service
Defra's response acknowledged that some owners applied for Certificates of Exemption during the transition period as a precaution, particularly where they were unsure whether their dog met the XL Bully type standard. The department has launched a service for dog owners in England and Wales to apply to withdraw their dog if they are satisfied, after reviewing the XL Bully conformation standard, that it is not an XL Bully type.
Defra said the withdrawal process "fulfils a commitment made to owners when the XL Bully exemption scheme was introduced". It added that it is up to the owner or keeper to identify whether their dog may be in scope of the ban, and they should refer to Defra guidance with photographic examples of XL Bully breed types.
New law on dangerous dogs from November
Defra's response comes ahead of a new law on keeping banned dog breeds, set to come into force on November 1. From next month, it will be a criminal offence to leave a child under 12 in close contact with a dangerous dog in a private place, including homes and gardens, without adult supervision. The law applies to anyone with an XL Bully dog, even those holding a Certificate of Exemption.
The rules were confirmed in June under Sir Keir Starmer's government, with the aim to "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". Guidance published under Andy Burnham's premiership in September outlines how dog owners will be impacted by the new rules.
