The UK Government has confirmed that American XL bully dogs will be banned in Wales and England starting from the end of the year.

New rules set to take effect on December 31 will make it illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon, or allow XL bully dogs to go stray in both regions. In addition, owners will be required to muzzle their dogs under a law amendment laid in Parliament.

Owning an XL bully will also become illegal from February 1, 2024, unless the animal is on an exempt list known as the index of exempted dogs.

The two dates have been staggered to give owners time to prepare for the new regulations.

Owners who wish to keep their dogs will have until the end of January to register them with the exempt list and must comply with strict requirements thereafter. These requirements include muzzling the dogs and keeping them on a lead in public. The dogs must also be microchipped and neutered.

Owners without a certificate of exemption will face a criminal record and an unlimited fine if found in possession of an XL bully after February 1, and their dog may be seized.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

"We are taking quick and decisive action to protect the public from tragic dog attacks and today I have added the XL Bully type to the list of dogs prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act."

"It will soon become a criminal offence to breed, sell, advertise, rehome or abandon an XL Bully type dog, and they must also be kept on a lead and muzzled in public."

"In due course it will also be illegal to own one of these dogs without an exemption. We will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, as we take forward these important measures."

Last November, a 10-year-old boy named Jack Lis was killed by an American XL bully while visiting a friend's house in South Wales. The owners of the dog, Amy Salter and Brandon Haydon, were subsequently imprisoned. Earlier this month, a woman in Norfolk was injured after being attacked by her own American XL bully. Last month, a 52-year-old man from Staffordshire, Ian Price, died in the hospital after being attacked by two American XL bullies. Owners of the breed have organized protests against the ban, including a march through central London in September, though demonstrators did not bring their dogs.

The Government has now released an official definition of the XL bully breed, which includes features such as a "heavy, large, and broad" head, a "blocky or slightly squared" muzzle, a "heavily-muscled" body giving the impression of great power, and a glossy, smooth, and close coat. Breeders have been advised to stop mating XL bully-type dogs ahead of the ban to be implemented.

The XL bully will join a list of other banned dogs, including the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, fila Brasileiro, and dogo Argentino.