XL Bully dogs in Scotland

If you work for a rehoming organisation 

It is illegal for you to rehome, sell or transfer ownership of XL Bully dogs.  

Use our guide to check if a dog is an XL Bully if you're not sure. 

If you have an XL Bully dog in your care and want to keep it, you must apply for an exemption by 31 July 2024. Find out more about: 

• what you need to apply for an exemption 

• how to apply for an exemption 

If an XL Bully dog is euthanised in your care, you can claim £100 towards the cost. To do this, download and fill in the compensation claim form for rescue and rehoming organisations and return it to us by 30 September 2024. 

If you are a vet 

The XL Bully dog safeguards in Scotland involve vets. This is because XL Bully dog owners must prove their dog has been microchipped and neutered.

Owners may ask for help to find a microchip number or to fill in a confirmation of neutering form.

Owners who decide to have their dog euthanised can claim compensation towards the cost.

To claim, they must: 

• make arrangements for the euthanasia by 31 July 2024 

• send us the owners' compensation claim form and proof of euthanasia by 30 September 2024 

Owners may also ask you to confirm an XL Bully dog has been neutered.  

It is the responsibility of owners to check if their dog is an XL Bully. If they are not sure, they should follow the XL Bully safeguarding rules as a precaution.

As a vet, you do not have any enforcement role. We do not expect you to report XL Bully dogs or their owners to the police, or to keep copies of their exemption certificates.