Which Dogs Are In The Dangerous Dogs Act?

What is the Dangerous Dogs Act?

The Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991 following a spate of serious, and in some cases fatal, dog attacks – including a number involving young children.

The Act made it illegal to have a dog that’s ‘dangerously out of control’ in a public place. The law was updated in 2014 to include private properties – including the owner’s home.

In the eyes of the law, a dog can be considered ‘dangerously out of control’ if it injures someone or a person is worried that it could injure them.

A dog could also be considered dangerously out of control if it attacks another animal, or if the animal’s owner is concerned that they could be injured if a dog did attack and they had to intervene. It’s an aggravated offence for a dog to attack an assistance dog (a guide dog for example).

Although there are exceptions for dogs who attack trespassers inside your home, you could still be prosecuted if your dog attacks an intruder in your garden. This provision is there to protect ‘trespassers’ with good intentions, such as a child coming to collect a wayward ball from your garden.

The Dangerous Dogs Act applies to all breeds of dog. But there’s a few breeds that are forbidden by law.

Which dogs are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act?

The five breeds banned by the Dangerous Dogs Act are:

• XL Bully

• Pit Bull Terrier

• Japanese Tosa

• Dogo Argentino

• Fila Brasileiro.

It’s illegal to own, sell, breed, give away or abandon any of these dogs.

What’s more, whether a dog is considered illegal or not can depend on what it looks like, not just its breed. This means that if a dog, for example a crossbreed, shares physical characteristics with one of the five banned breeds, it could be considered illegal.

XL Bully

An American Bully XL, known as an XL Bully, is the largest of the American bully dogs. Male XL dogs stand from 51cm high at the shoulder, with females only a little smaller.

The Government has published guidance to help identify whether a dog is an XL Bully. A dog may be considered an XL Bully if it meets the height requirements and shares a substantial number of the other physical characteristics attributed to this breed.

Since 1 February 2024, it's illegal to own an XL Bully in England and Wales unless the dog has a Certificate of Exemption. A mirrored ban on the XL Bully was announced in Scotland later that same month, with Northern Ireland following suit and introducing its own ban on 1 January 2025.

That means it’s now illegal to own an XL Bully dog without a certificate of exemption in the whole of the UK.

Pit Bull Terrier

The Pit Bull Terrier, also called the American Pit Bull Terrier, is a medium-sized, intelligent, short-haired and solidly built dog, whose early ancestors came from the British Isles, where they were first bred for blood sports like bull-baiting.

Although Pit Bulls can be loyal, affectionate and good-natured in temperament, it was an attack by a Pit Bull Terrier that led to the creation of the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991.

The UK isn’t the only country to ban this breed. New Zealand, Spain, France, Denmark, Poland, Finland and Norway have laws to control, limit ownership of or completely outlaw Pit Bull Terriers. There are also bans on pit bulls in a couple of Canadian provinces and several US states.

Japanese Tosa

This rare breed of dog was originally bred in the Tosa province on the island of Shikoku, Japan, as a fighting dog. In Japan, Tosas are the dog equivalent of sumo wrestlers and are highly respected. They’re sometimes called Japanese Mastiffs, for their courage and athletic abilities.

As a result of their breeding, Tosas are large – weighing up to 90lb – solid and strong. They have short coats, reddish, blocky heads and thick, muscular necks.

Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino is a large, white, muscular dog. It was originally bred in the Cordoba province of Argentina as a fighting dog, but proved to be a good hunting dog. The Dogo Argentino’s athletic prowess, strength and intelligence made it ideal for hunting big game like wild boars and even puma.

Fila Brasileiro

The Fila Brasileiro, or Brazilian Mastiff, is a large working dog developed in Brazil. It was originally bred to herd cattle, catch large animals and act as a guard dog.

Fila Brasileiros have a strong instinct to guard and can be fiercely protective of their family, but when well-socialised and trained they are said to be a quiet, loyal and confident breed.

Why are these dogs on the Dangerous Dogs list?

The XL Bully, Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro are on the Dangerous Dogs Act list because the UK Government considers them a risk to the public.

But critics of the Dangerous Dogs Act, and ‘breed-specific legislation’ (BSL) in general, argue that banned breeds can make great family pets when properly trained and cared for. And that just because a breed was originally bred for fighting or hunting - or looks like a breed that was - it doesn’t make it inherently dangerous.

How is the Dangerous Dogs Act enforced for ‘out of control’ dogs?

The Dangerous Dogs Act is enforced through civil proceedings in a Magistrates’ Court. A dog owner can be brought to court if the local authority, the police or a member of the public makes a complaint that their dog is dangerously out of control or has caused injury to a person or animal.

If a dog owner is convicted of owning a dangerously out of control dog, they could face an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison. Their dog will be put down and they may be banned from owning a dog in future. In the cases of dog attacks, owners can be sentenced to:

• Five years in prison if the dog has injured someone

• Three years in prison if the dog has injured an assistance dog

• A maximum 14-year prison sentence if the dog causes a human fatality.

What happens if I own a banned dog?

If you own one of the dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, the police (or a dog warden) have the legal right to confiscate the dog, even if it hasn’t behaved dangerously and no complaint has been made. They require a warrant to seize the dog if it’s on private property.

Once a dog has been seized, the police or a council dog expert will assess what type of dog it is and whether it could pose a danger to the public. Their judgement on whether your dog is from a banned breed is based on size and physical characteristics, rather than genetic testing.

Depending on the results of the assessment, your dog could be released or put in kennels until the court case.

If you can prove to the court that your dog is not a banned breed, your dog will be returned to you. If, however, you’re found guilty of owning a banned dog, your dog could be put down and you could face an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison.

There are, however, some circumstances in which you can own a banned dog. If your dog is classed as a banned breed but the court decides it’s not dangerous, your dog could be put on the Index of Exempted Dogs and you’ll be allowed to take your dog home.

What is the Index of Exempted Dogs?

The Index of Exempted Dogs (IED) is a national record, kept by the UK Government, of dogs that have been granted special status by a court. When a banned dog is reported, the court can decide that the dog in question does not pose a danger to the public and grant the dog owner a Certificate of Exemption, which is valid for the dog’s lifetime.

Once the certificate is issued, the dog will be put on the IED. The owner – who must be over 16 – can keep the dog, providing they:

• Have the dog neutered

• Ensure the dog is microchipped

• Keep the dog on a lead and muzzled in public

• House the dog in a secure space where it can’t escape

• Have pet insurance that covers public liability

• Notify the IED as soon as possible if they change address or if the dog dies

• Produce the Certificate of Exemption within five days of being asked by the police or a dog warden.

Controversy around the Dangerous Dogs Act

The Dangerous Dogs Act has attracted criticism from animal rights charities and organisations, such as the RSPCA, Blue Cross, Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, The Dogs Trust and the UK Kennel Club, who argue that the legislation is in serious need of an overhaul.

The biggest criticism is that the emphasis is on banning ‘types’ of dog, based on the way they look. This means that a dog could be put down just for sharing physical characteristics with one that’s considered illegal.

Critics of the breed-specific legislation of the Dangerous Dogs Act say that the law is misleading and promotes the idea that other dog breeds are safe.

They argue that a dog’s aggression is more heavily influenced by its upbringing than its breed, and that training owners to read dog body language would be a more effective solution.

Critics also point to the failure of the ban to reduce dog attacks, with data from the police showing there were 31,920 recorded dog attacks in England and Wales in 2024, a 2% increase on the year before, despite the XL Bully ban coming into force that year.

Can ‘dangerous dogs’ be covered by pet insurance?

An animal that’s successfully registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs must have pet insurance that includes third-party liability cover. However, if you own one of these dogs, you’ll almost certainly have to look for a specialist provider as most pet insurance providers won’t cover them.

Compare the Market doesn’t offer quotes for dangerous dogs, so it may be best to contact insurance providers directly to see which ones will provide cover.

If you’re looking for pet insurance for a dog that’s not classed as dangerous, we can help with that. Compare quotes with us and search for the right cover for your four-legged friend.