Short answer: An XL Bully is the tallest variety of the American Bully — ABKC standard males measure over 20 up to 23 inches at the withers. Since 1 February 2024 it has been a criminal offence to own one in England and Wales without a Certificate of Exemption, according to GOV.UK; Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland now have similar bans. There is no nationwide ban in the US or, as far as we could confirm, in India.
The XL Bully is simply the largest size class of the American Bully breed — but since 2024, it’s also the one size class carrying specific legal restrictions in the UK and Ireland, which makes “XL Bully” a term worth understanding precisely rather than casually.
What Makes a Bully “XL”?
XL is one of the American Bully Kennel Club’s four varieties (Pocket, Standard, Classic and XL). The ABKC defines it by adult height: males over 20 inches (51 cm) up to 23 inches (57 cm) at the withers, and females over 19 inches (48 cm) up to 22 inches (54 cm). The ABKC says the XL “is simply taller than the Standard American Bully” and shares the same build, and the United Kennel Club uses the same height bands. It’s not a separate breed.
The UK government wrote its own definition for enforcement. Its XL Bully conformation standard describes a “large dog with a muscular body and blocky head” and sets height from 20 inches (51 cm) for adult males and 19 inches (48 cm) for adult females — with no upper limit. A dog doesn’t need papers or the “XL” name to fall under it.
How Big Does an XL Bully Get, and How Fast?
Height is defined; weight isn’t. The ABKC standard states there is “no particular weight for the breed,” only that weight should be in proportion to the frame and dogs should never be obese, and the UKC lists “overly massive dogs” as a disqualification. Weight figures you see online for XL Bullies aren’t from either standard, so judge a puppy by its parents’ actual size.
Like other large, heavily muscled dogs, XL puppies benefit from controlled growth: a diet formulated for large-breed puppies (see why calcium matters for large-breed puppies), a lean body condition, and no forced, repetitive running while the skeleton is still growing. Size also matters for heat safety — a 2020 VetCompass study of 905,543 UK dogs found that dogs over 50 kg, dogs heavier than their breed average and brachycephalic dogs had higher odds of heat-related illness.
Where Is the XL Bully Banned or Restricted?
| Where | Status (as of September 2026) | Key dates |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | Owning without a Certificate of Exemption is a criminal offence; exemption applications closed | Ownership offence from 1 February 2024 |
| Scotland | Criminal offence to keep one without a Certificate of Exemption; applications closed | Check mygov.scot for current rules |
| Northern Ireland | Offence to own without an exemption certificate; application window closed | From 1 January 2025 |
| Ireland | Import, breeding, sale and rehoming banned; ownership requires a Certificate of Exemption | 1 October 2024 and 1 February 2025 |
| United States | No nationwide ban; some local breed-specific rules | Varies by city and county |
| India | No national ban confirmed; March 2024 circular quashed | Delhi High Court, 18 April 2024 |
Sources: GOV.UK, mygov.scot, nidirect, Ireland’s Department of Agriculture and LiveLaw. These laws change often; always check the official page before buying, breeding or traveling.
What Do UK Owners of Exempted Dogs Have to Do?
In England and Wales, GOV.UK lists these conditions for the life of an exempted dog:
- Keep it at the certificate holder’s address (it can stay elsewhere for up to 30 days in any 12 months) and tell Defra about a permanent move, the dog’s death or export
- Keep it muzzled and on a lead in public, with the lead held by someone at least 16
- Keep it in secure conditions so it can’t escape
- Have it neutered (all neutering deadlines have now passed) and microchipped, and show the certificate within five days if asked
- From 1 July 2026, third-party liability insurance is no longer required for banned breed dogs
- From 1 November 2026, never leave a child under 12 in close contact with the dog in a private place, such as a home or garden, without adult supervision
It remains an offence to sell, give away, breed from or abandon an XL Bully, and new exemptions can now only be authorised by a court. GOV.UK also notes that whether a dog is a banned type “depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name.” Northern Ireland’s rules are similar and add a dog licence requirement; nidirect lists a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment and/or a £5,000 fine for owning an XL Bully without an exemption certificate.
What Should US Owners Know About Insurance and Housing Rules?
- Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance — some insurers apply breed-specific exclusions or higher premiums to “bully” and “pit bull-type” dogs, and XL Bullies can be included in that broad language even without being named specifically
- HOAs and apartment leases — many private housing agreements restrict breeds by appearance or by broad category rather than precise breed name, so an XL Bully can be affected even where local law doesn’t restrict it
- Municipal breed-specific legislation — check city and county ordinances, since breed rules exist at the local level in some US jurisdictions even where state law doesn’t address them
- Documentation matters — keeping vaccination, training and any temperament-assessment records organized can help with insurance underwriting or a landlord’s screening
If you’re comparing bully-type dogs, our guides to the American Bully vs the Pitbull and what “bully breed” actually means explain how the names overlap.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the official source for where you live, and ask your veterinarian about your dog’s health.
Sources
- American Bully Kennel Club — American Bully standard
- GOV.UK (Defra) — Rules for owning an XL Bully dog in England and Wales, updated September 2026
- GOV.UK (Defra) — XL Bully conformation standard, February 2024
- GOV.UK — Controlling your dog in public: Banned dogs
- mygov.scot — XL Bully dogs in Scotland, July 2026
- nidirect — XL Bully dogs
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Ireland) — Ban on XL Bully dogs, June 2025
- LiveLaw — Delhi High Court quashes Centre’s circular banning sale and breeding of “dangerous & ferocious dogs”, April 2024
- Hall EJ et al., Scientific Reports — Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016, 2020
