Bad owners are to blame not the breed - don't ban the XL bully
621,046 people signed this petition to the UK Parliament after it opened on 13 September 2023; it closed on 13 March 2024. The Government responded on 23 November 2023. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 27 November 2023.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Bad owners are to blame not the breed - don't ban the XL bully
I believe that the XL bully is a kind, beautiful natured breed that loves children and people in general, and are very loyal and loving pets.
An XL bully is a "Heinz 57", a mixture of different breeds, so if you ban them then this will have implications for cross breeds of dog because nobody can be sure on the breed specifics. They are all different sizes and shapes. Just because a dog is big and muscular doesn't mean it can be labelled an XL bully, it is unfair to do this.
It is also a well-known fact that how a dog acts is a reflection of the owner's actions. Bad owners should be punished, not the breed of dog – hold bad owners accountable.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 23 November 2023; the petitions site lists the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as responsible. Its summary:
Following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities caused by XL Bully type dogs, the Government has added this breed to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
The opening 329 words of the 718-word response:
We recognise that some people are opposed to the Government’s decision to add the ‘XL Bully’ to the list of types of dog prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. However, the Government has a responsibility to maintain public safety.
XL Bully dogs are large, muscular animals which can be difficult to control due to their size and cause serious injury. We have seen an increase in dog attacks in recent years, including those causing injuries and fatalities, with the XL Bully being disproportionally involved in this rise. As a result, we have taken decisive action to add XL Bully breed types to the list of breeds prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. We firmly believe that this approach is needed to reduce the risks to the public from this type.
The Government has acted quickly to develop a definition for the XL Bully so the breed type can be banned in law. We convened a group of experts to define the physical characteristics of the breed type. This included representatives from the police, local authorities, devolved administrations and animal welfare experts. We believe the definition correctly captures dogs of this breed type. We recognise that there are other established breeds such as those recognised by the UK Kennel Club that may meet some of the characteristics of the XL Bully breed type. These are not within scope of the ban. This definition and guidance can be found on the government's website, here: Official definition of an XL Bully dog: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog
From 31 December 2023 all owners of XL Bully breed types must comply with strict conditions. Breeding, selling, exchanging, gifting, abandoning or allowing these dogs to stray will be banned. Owners will also be required to keep their dog on a lead and muzzled in public. We are encouraging all owners to start training their dogs to wear a muzzle and walk on a lead now, ahead of the restrictions coming into force on 31 December 2023.
Read the full response on the petitions site.
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies on the boundaries used until the 2024 general election. The largest number, 2,056, came from Knowsley.
616,183 of the signatures were from the UK and 4,863 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Knowsley | 2,056 |
| Wansbeck | 2,055 |
| North Tyneside | 2,052 |
| Blyth Valley | 1,919 |
| Telford | 1,888 |
| Wellingborough | 1,804 |
| Airdrie and Shotts | 1,748 |
| Washington and Sunderland West | 1,716 |
| Aberdeen North | 1,680 |
| Motherwell and Wishaw | 1,655 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| North West | 83,627 |
| South East | 75,341 |
| Scotland | 61,836 |
| West Midlands | 60,354 |
| East of England | 55,589 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 54,998 |
| East Midlands | 50,626 |
| South West | 47,425 |
| London | 41,102 |
| North East | 39,098 |
| Wales | 31,857 |
| Northern Ireland | 9,427 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 27 November 2023. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/643611.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
beaf8ddd9c79a453… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.