XL Bully dogs in Scotland

If you have an exemption

It is against the law to keep an XL Bully dog without a Certificate of Exemption. 

XL Bully dogs are covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and applications for an owner led Certificate of Exemption have closed. 

If you have a Certificate of Exemption, you must follow these rules for the life of the dog:  

• keep the dog at the same address as the certificate holder – you can temporarily keep it at a different address in Scotland for up to 30 days in a 12-month period  

• tell us if you permanently change address – you do not need to tell us if you temporarily keep the dog at another address in Scotland for up to 30 days in a 12-month period  

• tell us if the dog dies or is exported  

• keep the dog muzzled in public places – it's best to use a muzzle that lets the dog pant, breathe and drink easily  

• keep the dog on a lead in public places – someone over 16 years old must securely hold the lead  

• keep the dog in secure conditions so it cannot escape  

If you do not follow these rules, your Certificate of Exemption will not be valid and the police could take your dog because you have broken the law. 

If the police or local authority asks, you must also provide:  

• access to the dog to read its microchip  

• the Certificate of Exemption within 5 days of their request  

Replacement certificates  

We will only issue a new certificate if you:  

• lose your existing certificate   

• change your name or address  

How to contact us  

If you need to tell us about any changes or request a replacement certificate, email xlbullydogenquiries@gov.scot or send a letter to:    

XL Bully Dog Exemption Team 
Scottish Government  
St Andrew’s House - Room GW15 
2 Regent Road  
Edinburgh EH1 3DG 

Supervising children under 12

From 1 November 2026, the law in Scotland will change for people who own an XL Bully dog.

The new law means that children under 12 must not be left alone with any prohibited type dog in a home or private place.

An adult aged 16 or over must be present whenever a child under 12 is with an XL Bully dog. This can be the exemption holder or any other person aged 16 or over.

This change also applies to all prohibited dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Guidance to help XL Bully dog owners understand the new law will be published before 1 November 2026.

To be as safe as possible, it is best to never leave a child unsupervised with an XL Bully dog.

Insuring your dog  

Third party public liability insurance is no longer required for your dog. Insurance you have in place should continue to run until it expires.

Microchipping your dog 

Dogs must have a microchip and be registered on a database by the time they are 8 weeks old. The only exception is if a vet confirms your dog is unfit for a microchip. 

If you have a Certificate of Exemption for an XL Bully dog, it will usually include the dog’s microchip number.  

If your dog is unfit to have a microchip  

If you’ve sent us a vet’s certificate to say your dog is unfit to have a microchip, this will usually only be valid for a set time.  

Once the certificate runs out, you’ll have 28 days to microchip your dog and send us the microchip number. 

We’ll then send you a new Certificate of Exemption with the microchip number included. 

How to send us your dog's microchip number 

We gave your dog an index number when you applied for a Certificate of Exemption. You can find this on your certificate. 

Once you have the microchip number, send both this and your dog’s index number to us by email or post.  

Email: xlbullydogenquiries@gov.scot 

Post: XL Bully Dog Exemption Team 
Scottish Government  
St Andrew’s House - Room GW15 
2 Regent Road  
Edinburgh EH1 3DG 

Neutering your dog  

XL Bully dogs must be neutered. Male dogs must be castrated and female dogs must be spayed.  

If your dog was 18 months or older on 31 July 2024, the deadline to submit the neutering form was 31 January 2025. 

If your dog was younger than 18 months on 31 July 2024, we must receive the form by the time the dog is 19 months old. Fill in a confirmation of neutering form with your vet and return it to us straight away.   

Your vet may have to check that your dog is neutered if:  

• a different vet or practice neutered the dog  

• you are not sure if your dog is neutered  

You may have to pay a fee for the vet to do this. You can also ask your previous vet for help to fill in the form.  

Get help with muzzling your dog 

There are organisations that can help with advice on how to muzzle your dog: 

• how to train your dog to wear a muzzle (Dogs Trust) 

• how to muzzle train your dog (PDSA)