Dog owners in England and Wales face prosecution from Sunday 1 November 2026 if they leave a child under 12 in close contact with a banned breed in a private place without adult supervision, under a new condition added to Certificates of Exemption.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said children would be better protected from dangerous dogs in the home under the measure, which applies in domestic settings such as houses and gardens. It covers all five banned breeds in the UK: the Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, the Fila Brasileiro and the XL Bully.

What changes, and what stays the same

Owners who hold a certificate of exemption may legally keep a banned dog, but only under strict lifelong conditions. The dog must be neutered and microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled in public, and kept in a secure place from which it cannot escape. The new supervision rule is added to those conditions, rather than replacing any of them.

Owners who breach the new condition risk having their dog seized, and face up to six months in prison and an unlimited fine.

Why the rule was brought in

The XL Bully was added to the banned list in February 2024, when owning one without a certificate of exemption became a criminal offence. Reports put the number of XL Bullies registered with Defra at more than 57,000 by the end of 2024, showing how many of the dogs remained in homes after the ban. Ministers say the supervision rule closes a gap that left children exposed where a banned dog lives in the family home.

Owners should check current Defra guidance, as the rules carry criminal penalties.