New legal duty on supervising children around banned dog breeds starts in November

The government has added a new legal condition to the scheme that allows owners to keep banned dog types, such as XL Bullies and Pit Bull Terriers, under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. From 1 November 2026, keepers of a dog on the Index of Exempted Dogs must not leave a child under 12 in close proximity to that dog in a private setting, such as a home or garden, without adult supervision. This sits alongside the existing conditions of an exemption certificate, which already require the dog to be muzzled and kept on a lead in public. Failing to meet the new supervision requirement can lead to enforcement action, including seizure of the dog and prosecution.

Announcing the change, Defra said it was designed to reduce the risk of serious injury to children in the home while allowing exempted dogs to remain with families where appropriate supervision is in place. Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman said the safety of children "must always come first." The same package of measures also removes the requirement for owners to hold third-party public liability insurance from 1 July 2026, reflecting the withdrawal of the only insurer that had offered the cover — so the practical effect for exempted-dog keepers is broadly a swap of one condition for another, rather than a net loosening of the rules.

Defra has said further detailed guidance will be published before the November start date, including how "close proximity" and "adult supervision" will be defined and enforced. For breeders, trainers and anyone advising new owners, the change is a useful prompt regardless of breed: government guidance is clear that young children should be supervised around all dogs, not only those on the exempted list.