Dangerous dogs UK: Four banned breeds of dogs that can land you a fine & more

There are several dog breeds that are illegal in the UK and after an attack on three people, including an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham, by an American XL Bully the breed could end up joining the list. The attack took place in Bordesley Green on Saturday (September 9).

Home Secretary Suella Braverman called for a ban on the breed since the incident. She wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “This is appalling. The American XL bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children. We can’t go on like this. I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them.”

Currently, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs lists only four breeds of dogs in their banned list. It’s against the law to sell a banned dog, abandon a banned dog, give away a banned dog and breed from a banned dog.

If you have a banned dog, the police or local council dog warden can take it away and keep it, even if it is not acting dangerously and there has not been a complaint. The police can also take the dog away without a warrant if it’s in a public place. They can also be taken away from a private place and will be kept by them until it is judged what type of dog you have and whether it is (or could be) a danger to the public.

Penalties for owning a banned dog include an unlimited fine and/or a six-month prison sentence. If a dog is dangerous, it could be destroyed but owners can seek a certificate of exemption if you can prove to the court your dog’s not a danger to the public. Here are the four dog breeds that are banned in the UK: