Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which professions have legal authority to (a) assess and (b) identify dogs suspected of being an American Bully XL.

During the transition period, it is up to owners to identify whether they think their dog may be in scope of the XL Bully ban and whether they wish to apply for a Certificate of Exemption.  We recommend taking a precautionary approach. If they are unsure if their dog is a XL Bully or whether any puppies may grow up to be of this dog type, owners should comply with the relevant requirements and restrictions as they come into force. From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without a Certificate of Exemption. Dog Legislation Officers are responsible for identifying prohibited breed types for the purposes of Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and enforcing the ban once it comes into force. If the police find an XL Bully dog after the transition period that does not have a Certificate of Exemption, the police can seize the dog, take the owner to court for a criminal prosecution, and the court may decide to euthanise the dog if the court decides that the risks the dog poses to public safety are not acceptable.