Guidance

XL Bully conformation standard

How enforcement officers can apply the conformation standard to check if a dog is an XL Bully.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Guidance for enforcers: applying the XL Bully conformation standard

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This document is intended to be used by the courts and Dog Legislation Officers to support identification of the XL Bully breed type for the purposes of enforcement of Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.  

This document can also be used as a guide for dog owners and keepers to help them to consider whether a dog may be within scope of the ban.

Updates to this page

Published 31 October 2023
Last updated 1 February 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated the guidance for enforcers and the conformation standard for XL Bully dogs.

  2. Added a video for how to measure a dog's height.

  3. Added example photographs of XL Bully dogs.

  4. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page