XL Bully dogs in Scotland

It is a criminal offence to keep an XL Bully dog without a Certificate of Exemption. 

It is also an offence to:  

• have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle 

• breed or breed from an XL Bully 

• sell, give away or rehome an XL Bully 

• abandon an XL Bully or let it stray 

Applications for a Certificate of Exemption to keep an XL Bully dog have closed. New exemptions can only be granted by a court order. 

Check if a dog is an XL Bully 

Use our guide to check if a dog is an XL Bully. 

Report a stray, abandoned or out of control dog 

If you find a stray, abandoned or out of control dog of any breed, report it to your local council. 

They'll work with the police if they think the dog is an XL Bully.