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The U.K. government has announced new legislation that will make it a criminal offense to leave children under the age of 12 alone with XL bully dogs and other exempt dangerous breeds in England and Wales.
The measure, introduced in Parliament this week, forms part of an extension to existing controls under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and is expected to come into force on 1 November 2026.
Under the new rules, owners of exempt banned-breed dogs who leave young children unattended with such animals may face fines, prosecution, and the potential seizure of their dogs.
The decision follows a series of serious and fatal dog attacks involving children in recent years, including incidents in which a 10-year-old girl and a nine-month-old baby were killed in separate attacks involving XL bully-type dogs.
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XL bully dogs, a large and powerful American pitbull-type breed, have been subject to strict regulation since February 2024.
It is currently illegal to own one without an exemption certificate and owners must comply with conditions including muzzling and leashing in public, microchipping, neutering requirements and restrictions on breeding, sale, and transfer.
Animal welfare minister Baroness Sue Hayman said the new restrictions prioritize child safety, stating that no child should ever be left alone with a dangerous dog.
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