Home → Country guides → UK banned dog breeds
Last updated: September 27, 2026: verified against GOV.UK (Control of dogs, banned dogs) and Defra guidance published 16 September 2026.
The dangerous dogs list UK 2026 has five types: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully. The ban is on the type, judged by what the dog physically looks like, not on its breed name or its papers. That single detail is why dogs are seized at the border even when every document is in order, and why a banned type cannot enter or transit the UK at all.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 it is against the law to sell, abandon, give away or breed from any of these types. Whether your dog counts as a banned type depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or its name. A crossbreed that matches the characteristics of a Pit Bull Terrier, for example, can be treated as a banned type.
A Certificate of Exemption lets you keep a banned dog provided it does not behave dangerously and you follow the conditions. It is valid for the life of the dog, and it is not available for a dog you are importing: it is for dogs already lawfully held in Great Britain.
The dog must be: neutered · fitted with a microchip · kept on a lead and muzzled at all times in public · kept in a secure place so it cannot escape.
You must be aged over 16, show the certificate when asked by a police officer or council dog warden (at the time or within 5 days), and tell the Index of Exempted Dogs if you change address or your dog dies.
Third party public liability insurance is not required for banned dogs. The Index of Exempted Dogs can be reached at [email protected].
If a court decides your banned dog is not a danger to the public, it may issue a Contingent Destruction Order, which gives you the chance to apply for a Certificate of Exemption.
This is the part that catches out owners who read only the pet travel rules. The UK pet travel scheme (microchip, rabies vaccination, animal health certificate) is a separate layer from the breed ban, and it cannot override it:
Traveling to the UK with a breed that is not banned? Get the exact checklist with dates.
Five types: the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully. The test is the dog's physical type, not its breed name or paperwork.
Yes. The XL Bully was added to the banned list in 2024. Dogs already owned could be kept under a Certificate of Exemption, subject to neutering, microchipping, being muzzled and kept on a lead in public, and being kept secure.
From 1 November 2026, owners of banned breed dogs must ensure a child under 12 is not left in close contact with the dog in a private place without appropriate adult supervision. The guidance was published by Defra on 16 September 2026.
No. A banned type cannot enter the UK, and it cannot transit the UK to another country either. There is no permit or paperwork that allows it.
Yes. Carriers and border control check breed and physical characteristics. A dog that matches a banned type can be refused entry or seized, even with a valid health certificate.
No. The English Bulldog, French Bulldog and Doberman are not on the banned list. Only the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully are banned, and each is judged on physical type.
PetPass Ready is an independent tool and is not affiliated with the UK Government. GOV.UK is the controlling source: check it before you book.
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