The Dangerous Dogs Act

The Act has been in the headlines after the XL Bully was added to the list after a spate of attacks by this breed.

If you own a dog listed in the Dangerous Dog Act you are likely to find it difficult to find pet insurance.

Key takeaways

• It is illegal to own, sell, breed, give away or abandon prohibited breeds

• A Certificate of Exemption lets you keep a banned dog as long as it does not behave dangerously, and you follow certain rules.

• Exempt dogs must be neutered, microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled in public, and kept in a secure place

• The American XL Bully was added to the dangerous dogs list on 31 December 2023.

• It is very difficult to find pet insurance for banned breeds due to potential attacks and health issues

What is the Dangerous Dogs Act?

Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits the ownership of specific types of dogs. This law makes it illegal to own, sell, breed, give away, or abandon any of these dog breeds. The dog breeds currently included on this list are:

• Pit Bull Terrier

• Japanese Tosa

• Dogo Argentino

• Fila Brasileiro

• American Bully XL

When was the XL Bully added to the list?

The American Bully XL, also known as the XL Bully, was added to the list in 2023. This followed a concerning number of serious dog attacks involving XL Bully dogs, including some fatalities.

It's now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow XL bully type dogs to stray in England and Wales.

The XL Bully was banned in Scotland from 23 February 2024 and in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2025.

What does a ‘dangerous dog’ look like?

The UK Dangerous Dogs Act classifies dogs by “type” and not breed. The law doesn’t recognise a dog’s family tree or DNA. Instead, the decision as to whether or not the dog is illegal is usually based on physical characteristics alone. This can pose a threat to similar-looking breeds which aren’t banned.

Between 1991 and 1997, if a dog looked like one of the prohibited breeds mentioned above, it would be euthanised even if it had never shown aggressive behaviour.

What is a Certificate of Exemption?

A Certificate of Exemption lets you keep a banned dog as long as it does not behave dangerously, and you follow certain rules.

The Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act in 1997 gave courts the right to add dogs that looked like a banned type to an ‘exempted’ list if they passed a behavioural assessment and were thought to pose no risk to the public.

Anyone who already owned an XL Bully had until 1 February 2024 to register their dog on the Index of Exempted Dogs and get a certificate. Now the ban is in full effect, it is illegal to own a XL Bully without a Certificate of Exemption from the government.

What are the rules if you have a Certificate of Exemption?

Owners of exempted XL Bullies (and other exempted dogs) need to comply with additional restrictions. These include:

• Getting the dog microchipped and neutered

• Keeping the dog muzzled and on a lead in a public place, including in cars

• Keeping the dog in a secure place so it cannot escape

• Having third party public liability insurance cover for the dog

• Keeping the dog at the same address as the certificate holder

As the owner, you must also be aged over 16, show your Certificate of Exemption within five days of a request by a police officer or council dog warden, and inform the Index of Exempted Dogs if you change your address or your dog dies.

How can I get a Certificate of Exemption?

You can apply for a Certificate of Exemption from Defra, (Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs), a government department. To do this, you need to:

• Go through a court assessment

• Provide third-party public liability insurance

• Prove that your dog is not dangerous to the public

• Prove that you are a fit and proper person to own the dog

• The certificate costs £92.40 and is valid for the life of the dog

Are some breeds more aggressive than others?

Certain types of dogs can be more aggressive than others, in particular dogs who have high guarding or protective tendencies. There are also certain dog breeds that were bred specifically for fighting, which has given them particularly dangerous traits. Your pet insurance premium can also be impacted, MoneySuperMarket data shows you can save 8.50%^{^} if you pet doesn't show signs of aggression.

If your dog harms someone, or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that it could have harmed someone, both you as the owner and anyone in charge of the dog at the time could face charges as a result.

If you suspect that your dog might be aggressive and pose a threat, you can talk to the police, the RSPCA, or your vet for more advice on the best course of action to take.

Does the Dangerous Dogs Act affect any other breeds of dog?

If the courts decide your dog poses a threat, you risk it being destroyed. This rule is applied whether it is a pure breed or simply conforms to one of the “types” mentioned in the Dangerous Dogs Act.

All dog owners could also be affected by Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1997, which relates to dogs being “dangerously out of control” in public, regardless of the breed or “type”.

Dangerously out of control has been defined as: "Any occasion on which there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that a dog will injure any person."

Charges could therefore be brought against any owner whose dog is a danger to the public, even if his or her dog does not actually injure anyone.

How can you prevent your dog from becoming dangerous?

Responsible ownership, rearing, and training are vital in preventing dog behavioural problems and dog attacks.

If your dog is acting aggressively towards you or strangers by growling, showing teeth, lunging, or snapping, it’s advisable to determine what is triggering this behaviour.

Can I insure a banned breed dog?

If you own one of the blacklisted breeds, it’s unlikely you will be able to insure your dog with a standard pet insurance policy. Many insurers are too concerned about costly claims, meaning that you will have no choice but to cover any vet bills yourself.

However, third-party liability insurance is a requirement to exempt your dog if you own a banned breed.

How do I get third-party public liability insurance for a banned breed?

Some specialist third-party liability insurers might insure your dog if it has a good track record but these providers typically won't be found through comparison websites such as MoneySuperMarket.

If you have a Certificate of Exemption for a dangerous dog you can get third party public liability insurance via Dogs Trust Membership. If you use a different insurance provider, you must check that the policy covers the policyholder for death or bodily injury to any person caused by the exempted dog and that the policy is suitable for a prohibited breed as defined under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

The insurance policy must:

• Be renewed annually for the life of the dog

• Be in the same name as the person named on the Certificate of Exemption

If Defra ask you for proof of insurance, you’ll need to provide proof of this within five days. If you do not provide proof of insurance, your dog’s certificate of exemption will become invalid.

Are banned dog breeds more expensive to insure?

If you find an insurer that is willing to provide cover for a dog on the banned dog list, you should expect to pay more money. This is because XL Bullies and other banned dogs are considered high risk due to potential attacks. This, in turn, will lead to higher insurance premiums.

In terms of health, Pit Bulls and similar purebred dogs are also more likely to suffer from specific health and genetic conditions such as hip dysplasia and myotonia are common issues for Pit Bulls. Their high energy use and larger diets can also lead to bloating. Steps can be taken to help prevent medical problems, but insurers will likely charge a higher premium due to these factors.

Find insurance for your pet

MoneySuperMarket unfortunately cannot help you find a pet insurance policy if you own a dog that is banned in the UK.

But if you're looking for standard pet insurance, we can provide you with pet insurance quotes from UK insurers to help you find the best price for your cover. We also have a lot of useful advice to share in our pet insurance guides about pet ownership and the ins and outs of pet insurance.