XL Bully Owners Face Tougher Safety Requirements

Children under the age of 12 will no longer be allowed to be left unsupervised with dangerous dogs, including XL Bullies, under new government regulations set to be announced today.

The measures mean owners who leave young children alone with prohibited breeds in homes or other private locations could face legal action and may even have their dogs removed.

The restrictions will take effect on November 1 and will become a condition of owning a dog that is exempt from existing breed bans.

The government says the changes are intended to reduce the risk of serious attacks on children while allowing responsible owners to continue keeping their pets under strict conditions.

Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman said child safety must come first, adding that children should never be left alone with dangerous dogs.

The new rules will be introduced through a Statutory Instrument that is expected to be presented to Parliament today.

The decision follows several fatal incidents involving children. These include the death of Jack Lis, aged 10, in South Wales in 2021, and Jonte William Bluck, a nine-month-old baby who was fatally attacked by a family XL Bully in Wales last year.

Although XL Bullies were banned in 2024, owners are still permitted to keep existing dogs if they have obtained an official exemption certificate and comply with the required conditions.