Image icon for the XL Bully information page

Due to the change in the law, the XL Bully breed of dog will be added to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and banned in England and Wales from the 1st of February 2024. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to the Government's XL Bully information page">changes in law</a>&nbsp;will come into force in two stages.

We have compiled the following information to prepare you as a dog owner and Everypaw policyholders who could be affected by the law changes. Even though the ban is not in force in Northern Ireland and Scotland at the present time, the effects of the ban will still affect the pet insurance of customers who live there.

The laws will come into effect in two stages. This has been designed to give owners of XL Bully dogs time to prepare for the new laws.

We know worrying about what your pet insurance does and doesn't cover can be stressful. After all, you want what's best for your furry bundle, so we've pulled together some guidance to our pet insurance exclusions to make sure you know where you stand.

Due to the recent change in the law, the XL Bully breed of dog will be added to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and banned in England and Wales from the 1st of February 2024. The <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to the Government's XL Bully information page">changes in law</a> will come into force in two stages.

We have compiled the following information to prepare you as a dog owner and Everypaw policyholders who could be affected by the law changes. Even though the ban is not in force in Northern Ireland and Scotland at the present time, the effects of the ban will still affect the pet insurance of customers who live there.

The laws will come into effect in two stages. This has been designed to give owners of XL Bully dogs time to prepare for the new laws.

From the 31st of December 2023, it is against the law to:

<ul>
	<li>sell an XL Bully dog.</li>
	<li>abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray.</li>
	<li>give away an XL Bully dog.</li>
	<li>breed from an XL Bully dog.</li>
	<li>have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.</li>
</ul>

From the 1st of February 2024, owning an XL Bully dog in England and Wales will be a criminal offence unless your dog has a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-certificate-of-exemption-to-keep-an-xl-bully-dog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to the Government's XL Bully Certificate of Exemption application page">Certificate of Exemption</a>.

The Government&#39;s ban only applies to XL Bully dogs. Other established breeds that meet some of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to the Government's XL Bully characteristics definition page">XL Bully breed types&#39; characteristics</a> are outside the ban&#39;s scope.

By Government definition, &quot;A suspected XL Bully breed type does not need to fit the physical description perfectly. If your dog meets the minimum height measurements and a substantial number of the characteristics in the official definition, it could be considered an XL Bully breed type.&quot;

If your dog does meet the minimum height and a substantial amount of characteristics, your dog may fall within the scope of the ban. Even if they were not originally sold as an XL Bully.

As an owner, you are responsible for establishing your dog&#39;s characteristics and applying for a Certificate of Exemption. It&#39;s recommended to take precautions and abide by the new laws for this type of dog, especially if you own a puppy that could grow to meet the characteristics of the XL Bully.

If you want to keep your dog, you must apply for a Certificate of Exemption by the 31st of January 2024. The alternative is to have your dog euthanised. If you decide to do this, it must be done at a registered vet practice by the 31st of January 2024.

If your dog is defined as an XL Bully or meets the criteria of the Government&#39;s definition, you also need to prepare for changes to your dog insurance policy.

Your pet insurance policy will commence on the date selected when taking out the policy. However, you will not be able to make a claim immediately; you will only be able to claim after 3 or 14 days.

If your dog falls within the ban&#39;s scope and you want to keep them, you must apply for a Certificate of Exemption. You must apply before the 31st of January 2024.

To get a Certificate of Exemption:

<ul>
	<li>You will need Third Party Liability insurance coverage.</li>
	<li>Your dog must be neutered, and you and your vet will need to complete a confirmation of neutering form and then return the form to Defra.</li>
	<li>Pay the non-refundable &pound;92.40 fee for each dog.</li>
</ul>

You can <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-certificate-of-exemption-to-keep-an-xl-bully-dog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to the Governments XL Bully Certificate of Exemption application page">apply for a Certificate of Exemption here</a>.

If I Apply for a Certificate of Exemption, Will My Insurance Cover the Cost of Neutering?

The excess for Maximum Benefit and Time Limited policies are applied per condition. This means for each condition you make a claim for, you will need to pay the excess on that condition.

The Government guidance explains this can be provided through the <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/membership" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to the Dogs Trust membership page">Dogs Trust Companion Club</a>. You will also be able to find other providers online.

When taking out Third Party Liability cover, you must ensure the policy:

<ul>
	<li>Covers you for the death or bodily injury to any person caused by the exempted dog.</li>
	<li>Is suitable for a prohibited breed as defined under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.</li>
</ul>

You must provide the policy&#39;s start date when applying for the Certificate of Exemption, and it must start no later than the 1st of February 2024.

If I Choose to Have My Dog Put to Sleep, Can I Claim the Cost of the Euthanasia and/or Cremation?

You will need to pay an excess for each condition you make a vet fees claim against. The excess payable is different across cover types.

We appreciate it can be difficult to determine whether your puppy will develop XL Bully characteristics at a young age. If your dog starts to develop the characteristics of an XL Bully, you must let us know.

Where you take out a new policy knowing your puppy is an XL Bully or if it develops substantial XL Bully characteristics over the course of your policy and you do not notify us, we won&rsquo;t be able to pay any claims and your policy will be cancelled from the start date.

If you&#39;re an existing customer and you are already aware of your puppy being an XL Bully type, Third Party Liability will be removed from your policy at your next renewal date.

What Other Dog Breed Could Be Potentially at Risk of Developing XL Bully Characteristics?

If you look to take out a new policy for one of the following dog breeds or a dog crossbred with any of these, and they exhibit characteristics of an XL Bully, we will not be able to provide cover:

Alapaha BlueBlood Bulldog, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Dorset Old Tyme Bulldog, Mastiff, Mongrel Large over 20Kg, Mongrel Medium 10Kg to 20Kg, Neapolitan Mastiff, Olde English Bulldog, Pyrenean Mastiff, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Sussex Bulldog, Tibetan Mastiff, Victorian Bulldog.

No, the costs of euthanasia and/or cremation as a result of the new XL Bully laws are not covered by your policy. However, you can <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claim-compensation-for-an-xl-bully-dog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to apply for the Government's XL Bully euthanasia compensation">claim &pound;200 compensation from the Government</a> towards the costs.

What Dog Breeds Are Not Covered by Everypaw Dog Insurance?

You are responsible for paying the first £250 of any costs or compensation awarded. Please be aware that the cost is subject to change. The excess will be displayed on your Certificate of Insurance.

Everypaw Dog Insurance does not cover the following:

Any dog that must be registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and/or the Dogs (Muzzling) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991, or any American Bulldog, American Indian Dog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Bandog, Boerboel, Bully Kutta, Canary Dog, Cane Corso, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Dingo, Dogo Argentino, Dogue Brasileiro, Fila Brasileiro, Gull Dong, Husky Wolf Hybrid, Irish Staffordshire Blue Bull Terrier, Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, Saarlooswolfhound, Tosa, Tosa Inu, Wolf Hybrid, Wolfdog, XL Bully, or any dog crossbred with any of these breeds.

Incidents of poisoning and accidents that happen in the first 3 days of your policy are not covered. After 3 days, you can claim for new accidents or incidents of poisoning – it cannot be from an incident that happened in those first 3 days.

No, your policy does not cover the cost of neutering your dog. Nor does it cover complications that arise as a result of neutering.

How Do the New Laws Around XL Bullies Impact My Insurance?

We will not provide new cover for XL Bully dogs or crossbreeds of XL Bullies, even if you have a Certificate of Exemption. If your dog has a substantial number of XL Bully characteristics defined by the Government, we cannot provide cover. It will be your responsibility to establish whether your dog&#39;s characteristics match the Government&#39;s definition.

If you own an XL Bully or a dog with substantial XL Bully characteristics, already have an <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Insurance Page">Everypaw Dog Insurance</a> policy, and are applying for a Certificate of Exemption, please let us know so we can update your policy. As a result, aspects of your policy will change. We will continue to honour your policy for vet fees and other benefits. However, at your next renewal, we will no longer be able to offer cover for Third Party Liability. Your renewal price will be adjusted to reflect the change. This includes Northern Ireland and Scotland customers, even though the ban is not in force there at the present time.

If you own an XL Bully, the law states that you must have Third Party Liability cover for your dog. The cover must be in place before the 1st of February, and you must renew annually for the dog&#39;s lifetime.

Where you take out a new policy knowing your dog is an XL Bully or has substantial XL Bully characteristics and you do not notify us, we won&rsquo;t be able to pay any claims and your policy will be cancelled from the start date. If you&#39;re an existing customer and you are already aware of your dog being an XL Bully type, Third Party Liability will be removed from your policy at your next renewal date.

What Should I Do If My Puppy Starts Developing XL Bully Characteristics When It Comes to My Policy?

How the XL Bully Ban Affects Your Insurance If You Live in Northern Ireland or Scotland.

Even though the XL Bully ban does not apply to Northern Ireland and Scotland, if you live in these areas, it will still affect your Everypaw Dog Insurance policy.

We will no longer provide new cover for any XL Bully, a crossbreed of an XL Bully or any dog with the characteristics of an XL Bully, even if you have a Certificate of Exemption. If your dog falls into these criteria, we will still provide cover under an existing policy for all other benefits except Third Party Liability. Third Party Liability cover will be removed from your policy at your next renewal.

Where Can I Get Third Party Liability Cover?

What Are the Characteristics of an XL Bully?

The Government deem the general appearance of an XL Bully to be a powerfully built large dog with a muscular body and blocky head that suggests great strength and power for its size. Height ranges from 20in (51cm) at the withers in adult males and 19in (48cm) at the withers in adult females.

Height is measured at the withers, the body&#39;s highest point immediately behind the neck. You can find the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to the Governments XL Bully characteristics definition page">complete list of XL Bully characteristics here</a>.

The Government&#39;s definition adds: &quot;A suspected XL Bully breed type does not need to fit the physical description perfectly. If your dog meets the minimum height measurements and a substantial number of the characteristics in the official definition, it could be considered an XL Bully breed type.&quot;

Is My Dog Affected by This New Ban on the XL Bully Dog Breed?

If you think your dog might be affected by the ban or are unsure, you should read the Government&#39;s definition of XL Bullies. Unfortunately, we can&#39;t advise whether your dog is in the ban&#39;s scope.

How Does the Ban Affect Me If I Own an XL Bully?

The new law requires you to apply for a Certificate of Exemption. In addition to the Certificate of Exemption, you must abide by several other laws that affect your ownership...

<ul>
	<li>You must be over 16 years old.</li>
	<li>Your dog must be microchipped.</li>
	<li>Your dog must be neutered.</li>
	<li>Your dog must be kept on a lead and muzzled at all times in public.</li>
	<li>Your dog must be kept in a secure place so it cannot escape.</li>
	<li>Your dog must be covered by Third Party Liability insurance. This covers you for death or bodily injury to any person caused by your dog.</li>
	<li>You must present your Certificate of Exemption when asked by the Police or Council Dog Warden. This can be either at the time or within five days.</li>
</ul>

How Do I Apply for a Certificate of Exemption?

The laws will come into effect in two stages. This has been designed to give owners of XL Bully dogs time to prepare for the new laws.

From the 31st of December 2023, it is against the law to:

<ul>
	<li>sell an XL Bully dog.</li>
	<li>abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray.</li>
	<li>give away an XL Bully dog.</li>
	<li>breed from an XL Bully dog.</li>
	<li>have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.</li>
</ul>

From the 1st of February 2024, owning an XL Bully dog in England and Wales will be a criminal offence unless your dog has a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-certificate-of-exemption-to-keep-an-xl-bully-dog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to the Government's XL Bully Certificate of Exemption application page">Certificate of Exemption</a>.

The Government&#39;s ban only applies to XL Bully dogs. Other established breeds that meet some of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to the Government's XL Bully characteristics definition page">XL Bully breed types&#39; characteristics</a> are outside the ban&#39;s scope.

By Government definition, &quot;A suspected XL Bully breed type does not need to fit the physical description perfectly. If your dog meets the minimum height measurements and a substantial number of the characteristics in the official definition, it could be considered an XL Bully breed type.&quot;

If your dog does meet the minimum height and a substantial amount of characteristics, your dog may fall within the scope of the ban. Even if they were not originally sold as an XL Bully.

As an owner, you are responsible for establishing your dog&#39;s characteristics and applying for a Certificate of Exemption. It&#39;s recommended to take precautions and abide by the new laws for this type of dog, especially if you own a puppy that could grow to meet the characteristics of the XL Bully.

If you want to keep your dog, you must apply for a Certificate of Exemption by the 31st of January 2024. The alternative is to have your dog euthanised. If you decide to do this, it must be done at a registered vet practice by the 31st of January 2024.

If your dog is defined as an XL Bully or meets the criteria of the Government&#39;s definition, you also need to prepare for changes to your dog insurance policy.

XL Bully Information | Pet Insurance Exclusions | Everypaw

XL Bully Information

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Zoomies to Senior Snoozes, We've Got Them Covered

The benefit values featured in the table may vary across the different levels of cover and will depend on the cover you choose. Please check your cover before purchasing. Be aware, for some breeds of dogs we do not provide our &pound;8k and &pound;10k Lifetime cover. 
 
All policies and features are subject to special conditions and exclusions of the insurers, please click the link to read about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Insurance Exclusions page">our policy exclusions.</a> 
 
Excess is applicable to all vet fees claims. When your pet reaches a certain age, the excess payable may change. The excess will be your set excess plus a percentage of your claim amount.

Getting your furry friend covered shouldn&#39;t just come down to cost. There&#39;s a lot more to it than that, so take the time to do a pet insurance comparison. Think about their breed, the level of cover they might need, and what would be important to you. After all, insurance is there for both of you.

One of the best ways to do that is to compare cover levels. This will give you an idea of how much your pet insurance will cost, how much you can claim against vet bills, as well as the policy benefits. It&#39;s all about finding the Lifetime Pet Insurance that works best for you and your pet.

*Based on Everypaw claims data from February 2024 to March 2025

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As our furry companions age, they&#39;re more likely to suffer from ailments and illnesses here and there. And we want you to be able to look after your pet well into retirement. That&#39;s why we don&#39;t have age limits on our policies. Our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-for-older-pets.html">pet insurance for older pets</a> can help you do the most important thing &ndash; looking after your pet.

What about younger pets? We also offer <a href="/cat-insurance/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">kitten</a> and <a href="/dog-insurance/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppy insurance</a>, covered by our cat and dog insurance. No matter how old or young your purr-fect pet is, our pet insurance can give you all-important peace of mind.&nbsp;

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Whether you are looking for a playmate for your pet or if your house is more like a <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Insurance page">dog</a>, <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cat</a> and <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbit</a> smallholding, you need multi-pet insurance that works for you. Everypaw&#39;s policies are just that and give you a discount on every pet too. No matter how many pets you have, from glorious <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides/golden-retriever-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Golden Retriever Dog Breed Guide page">Golden Retrievers</a> and majestic <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides/maine-coon-cat-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Maine Coon Cat Breed Guide page">Maine Coons</a> to lovely <a href="/rabbit-insurance/rabbit-breed-guides/lionhead-rabbit-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Lionhead Rabbit Breed Guide page">Lionheads</a>, it&#39;s there for every single paw.

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How Does Pet Insurance Work: Getting a Quote

Our pet insurance quote form takes just 3 minutes to fill out. Here&#39;s how it works:

<ul>
	<li>Select which type of pet you&#39;re looking to insure and enter their age, breed and sex</li>
	<li>Enter basic personal details about yourself including your email and home addresses</li>
	<li>Select your vet fees limit</li>
	<li>We&#39;ll give you a pet insurance price! And we&#39;ll show you what the cost is for the year, plus what your monthly instalments will look like if you choose to pay that way</li>
</ul>

Will my pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Ever found the urge to discover what the best dog breeds to train are or maybe you want to get to the bottom of your pet&#39;s worm problem.&nbsp;<a href="/Home/all-things-pet.html" title="Link to Everypaw's All Things Pet blog">Everypaw&#39;s All Things Pet blog</a>&nbsp;has the content to keep you informed.

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For that extra peace of mind when your pets get up to mischief, there&#39;s Everypaw. Our pet insurance is for cats, dogs and rabbits, and every policy comes with unlimited 24/7 access to vet nurses and vets. So, if you ever feel a bit &#39;for pet&#39;s sake&#39;, know Everypaw is here for you and your pet when you need us most!

Why Choose Everypaw for Pet Insurance in the UK?

<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/multi-pet-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Multi-pet Insurance page">Insure multiple pets</a>&nbsp;for a multi-pet discount

99% of claims paid in 5 working days*

Unlimited 24/7 access to UK vet nurses and vets with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/petcall" title="Link to Everypaw's Petcall vet page">Petcall</a>

Manage your UK pet insurance policy online in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/pet-portal-info" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Portal Information page">Pet Portal</a>

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Choosing the right pet health insurance isn&#39;t always easy. We know that. And we also know that a key part of deciding is knowing what&#39;s not covered. That way, at least there are no nasty surprises in terms of coughing up for bills that you thought were going to be taken care of by your policy.

So, here are a few of the main exclusions on our pet insurances:

<ul>
	<li>Treatment for any pre-existing conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment for poisoning or any accidental injury that occurs in the first 3 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment for any illness that occurs in the first 14 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment related to vaccine-preventable conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment related to breeding, pregnancy or birthing</li>
	<li>Treatment on baby teeth if your pet is over 16 weeks when your policy starts</li>
</ul>

*Switching to Everypaw Pet Insurance? If you can prove your previous insurance runs up to the policy start date, we can waive this for you.

Please see our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Policy Exclusions page">exclusions page</a>&nbsp;for further details.

Fingers crossed, you never have to! We want to reassure you that claiming on your pet health insurance is as hassle-free as possible. That&rsquo;s why we have Vet Pawtal. A direct platform for vets so they can submit claims and leave you to care for your pet.

Vet Pawtal is the fastest and most efficient way to claim. There&rsquo;s no more paperwork for you, and we&rsquo;ll keep you updated every step of the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If your vet can&rsquo;t submit the claim, don&rsquo;t worry; you can still submit it in the <a href="https://petportal.everypaw.com/register#login" target="_blank" title="Link to the Everypaw Pet Portal">Everypaw Pet Portal</a>. It&rsquo;s straightforward; just log in and follow the instructions. Alternatively,&nbsp;you can <a href="https://www.everypaw.com/downloads-2020/everypaw-claim-form.pdf" target="_blank" title="Link to download an Everypaw claim form">download a claim form</a>, but this can take longer.

Please refer to the guidance in your policy documents for Third Party Liability claims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, head to our <a href="/Home/claims.html">Pet Insurance Claims information page</a>.

We know pets are just as much a part of your family as any human. So, we know how important it is to you that they&#39;re protected. Choose Everypaw for pet insurance in the UK and give yourself that priceless peace of mind.

We know things can be tough right now, with many people facing money worries. If you have such concerns, please get in touch with us, as we may be able to offer some options to help, which could include reducing your cover or increasing your excess.

If you wish to find out more and your eligibility for any options, please call <a href="tel:03445431009" title="Call Everypaw Customer Services and Claims">0344 543 1009</a>.

Two levels of our Lifetime Pet Insurance cover have been rated 5 Stars by independent financial business, Defaqto, for 8 years in a row.

Deciding which pet insurance your furry bundle of fun needs can be tricky, especially if you&#39;re a new fur-parent. That&#39;s why here at Everypaw.com, we&#39;re trying to keep things simple, we&#39;re all about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/lifetime-pet-insurance.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime Pet Insurance</a>.

Our Lifetime cover is available for your cats, dogs and rabbits. And if you&#39;re looking to cover your cat or dog, there&#39;s a range of cover levels to choose from. Lifetime covers your pet up to a set vet fee limit, and the limits reset for every year of cover.

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