The Laws on Dangerous Dogs

Originally written by Jeff Durham, updated by the editorial team on 17th October 2026

Most dogs cause no trouble. But an aggressive, poorly controlled or constantly barking dog next door can affect your safety and your peace at home. The law differs across the UK. In England, Wales and Scotland, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 covers prohibited dog types and dogs that are dangerously out of control. Northern Ireland has separate legislation, mainly the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 and the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983. Persistent barking may also be dealt with under nuisance laws. This guide focuses on England and Wales. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, check mygov.scot or nidirect.

Our free Neighbour Rights Checker points you to relevant guidance. It does not give a legal ruling on your situation.

Prohibited dog types

In England and Wales, it is illegal to own, breed, sell, give away or abandon these types of dog without a valid exemption:

Pit Bull Terrier
Japanese Tosa
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasileiro
XL Bully

XL Bully restrictions began in England and Wales on 31 December 2023. Owning one without an exemption has been illegal there since 1 February 2024. Scotland's equivalent dates were 23 February 2024 and 1 August 2024, and Northern Ireland's were 5 July 2024 and 31 December 2024. Each nation has its own procedures and penalties.

The law bans dogs by "type" rather than strictly by breed, so a dog does not need to be a registered pedigree to be covered. What matters is whether it has enough of the physical characteristics of a prohibited type. A police dog legislation officer usually makes the first assessment, and a court decides if the case is prosecuted.

Appearance alone does not prove a dog is kept unlawfully, because it may have a valid exemption. If you are concerned, report the facts to the police on 101 rather than accusing your neighbour.

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Exemptions and the conditions owners must meet

Some prohibited dogs can be kept legally under a certificate of exemption. The route depends on the dog type and where the owner lives. The transitional XL Bully application schemes have closed. Court proceedings can lead to an exemption in some cases, but this is never automatic.

In England and Wales, exempted dogs are recorded on the Index of Exempted Dogs. The conditions are legal requirements, including:

microchipping and neutering, within the deadlines set by the relevant scheme
keeping third party insurance in place
keeping the dog on a lead and muzzled in public
the certificate holder being at least 16, and anyone in charge of the dog in public also being 16 or over
keeping the dog securely so it cannot escape
the dog living at the certificate holder's address, apart from up to 30 days in any 12 months
showing the certificate to police or council officers when asked, and reporting changes such as a new address

Breaking these conditions can lead to the dog being seized.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Dogs that are dangerously out of control

In Great Britain, it is a criminal offence to allow any dog to be dangerously out of control, including on private property such as the owner's home. In England and Wales, a limited householder exception can apply where the injured person is a trespasser in a dwelling. A bite is not necessary: there may be an offence where there are grounds reasonably to fear that the dog will injure a person or an assistance dog. An attack on an ordinary pet is not automatically the same offence, but it is still worth reporting.

Penalties depend on where the offence happens and whether a person or assistance dog is injured. In England and Wales they can include prison, fines, a ban on keeping dogs and destruction of the dog. GOV.UK covers the maximum penalties for England and Wales.

If an attack is happening or someone is in immediate danger, call 999. Get prompt medical attention after a bite or other injury. For past incidents or ongoing concerns, call 101 or report online to your local police force. Note dates, times and what happened, and keep any medical records. Never put yourself at risk to take photos.

In England and Wales, councils and the police can also issue Community Protection Notices. The statutory conditions must be met, and a written warning normally comes first. A notice can require steps such as keeping a dog on a lead, mending a fence or attending training. In Scotland, councils can issue Dog Control Notices under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010. In Northern Ireland, council dog wardens handle dog control.

Barking dogs

Persistent barking can seriously disrupt neighbouring homes. Repeated or prolonged barking that unreasonably interferes with the use of your home may be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in Great Britain. Northern Ireland uses its own law, including the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

No set duration makes barking a nuisance. Your council's environmental health team will consider the time of day, frequency, duration and effect on you, and will usually ask you to keep a diary. If satisfied that a statutory nuisance exists, or is likely to occur or recur, the council must serve an abatement notice. An owner who ignores it may be prosecuted.

If you feel safe doing so, speak to the owner calmly first, as they may not realise their dog barks while they are out. Do not approach the dog. A local mediation service can help if talking directly feels difficult. Long periods of barking can signal distress or neglect. Report welfare concerns to the RSPCA in England and Wales, the Scottish SPCA in Scotland, or your council in Northern Ireland. For stray or roaming dogs, contact your council's dog warden.

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26 questions

Ask Problem Neighbours a Question

Trevor Biscombe Chri 02/09/2023 at 5:15 pm

Trevor Biscombe and Chris P Biscombe in the neighbourhoods of Hunstanton and Heacham are weird perverts who follow girls about and try and get them to get into their cars. People should be aware to keep away from them.

Sparkle 26/04/2022 at 9:23 am

I own my property and the people who live on both sides of me seem to have a problem with me, they throw rubbish into my garden and other things. I put cctv in place, they called the police on me and said I was a pedo watching their kids. They have since recruited other people in the hood to vandalise my car what can I do to protect my property.

Chrisdis 11/01/2020 at 6:36 pm

I never understood the dogo argentino being a dangerous dog. I've had them for years. Very intelligent, loyal, and protective. My dogos are good with people and other animals. Does anyone know the reason for them being on the dangerous dogs list. My guess is because of the Cordoba fighting dog in their genes.

Fly420 10/01/2020 at 10:08 pm

Wow! You all are a bunch of pansies across the pond huh? We love the American Pit Bull Terrier over here! Maybe Brexit will toughen up some of you lily-liver blokes (am I using the Queen's English correctly?)!

Medusa 10/01/2020 at 1:00 pm

The only dangerous animals in the world are the humans. Like my son said if humans never existed, the devil would not exist.

liza 12/12/2018 at 10:19 am

my daughter is being harrassed by moaning neighbour firstly she blocks her parking space then complains about bns then dirty nappy on garden which is not granson as he is out of nappies now say about childs toy squeakng now posted letter threw letter box saying about child aged 3 running about in he day playing just normal noise she bangs ceiling louder than any noise we make and when she at work her 2 dogs bark most day but my daughter dont complain ,I feel this lady is bullying my young daughter ,i spoken her few times about parking she says oh sorry all sweetly i am about same age as her i feel she doing it as my girl is young . she then added on note she wants quiet after 7 oclock when baby should be in bed now the child is in bed during week at 7 as mummy works he stays mine 2 nights days and playgroup two days she only ever there like one whole day ...what do we do about this my daughters worried she go landlady or council ???

ProblemNeighbours Editor 13/12/2017 at 12:30 pm

Just state the facts and tell the council's representative about the kinds of noise that might be made by you and at what times.

lewis 12/12/2017 at 5:14 am

I have lived in council flat for 25 year I have never had a complaint ever. got new neighbour s above me a couple of months ago. to my shock I receive a letter from council stating there has been complaints made of me pasting music all day and all night. I am speechless to say I never have music on just my telly which is not at a loud level , so someone from is coming to see this Friday I am in shock as this a complete lie what can I do about this

Bigsam 15/02/2017 at 4:22 pm

I have a dangerous dog that keeps trying to attack me, technically shes my ex girlfriend but shes comes at me like a pitbull in tesco! Can someone take her off my hands please?

rose 20/01/2017 at 11:05 am

We have new neighbours who moved in about 6 months ago at first eveything seemed fine and we were relieved that they were fairly quiet as we have had problems with other neighbours keeping hens taking in other peoples dog s etc.
Anyway the new neighbours are now coming round to my house at least once a week at 5.30 pm to give us an update on the new fence which we have agreed to pay for after the first two visits my husband went round to see them at a time that suited them despite it altering all our arrangements last weekend. They have been told on at least 3 occasions that 5.30 is not a convenient time. I am now on edge every day . I feel my husband has been too polite to them and now it may have opened the floogates for a list of demands we are very quiet and just want to be left alone. The constant harrassment is now causing me health problems related to stress unable to sleep racing heart etc. cannot rleax in my own home at tea time

net 01/01/2017 at 11:13 pm

Ive had a bit of a nightmare trying to set up home down south. After viewing loads of houses with my boyfriend and saving hard we opted for a small mid terrace with a garden which i loved at first. I didn't feel very welcome the first week we moved in getting notes stuck on the windscreen and hearing some neighbor noises id rather not talk about.
Because I wanted the house so much and felt quite comfortable with my partner I shot back to work and continued to pay bills and mortgage repayments and enjoyed all the jobs i did too. Both my parents and sister in law gave us some basic furniture because we arrived only with a mattress and some of my boyfriends stuff that night. I gave up work to get a feel of the house and Paul has started working from home. I can honestly say its been one of the most terrifiying experiences of my life either becasue ive realised to late we are incompatible or just dont fit into the street and neighbourhood.
I feel like a real burden and unwanted due to all the ignorance and isolation and its made me ill. Never move to Worthing

Nessa 19/03/2016 at 12:20 pm

My neighbours adjoing my house have had 3 dogs since they moved here 2yrs ago,the first one I ended up being g offered as they said that due to having a third child on the way then they couldn't walk it,so I had this very placid,loving lurcher type male dog,thwn I was asked if I wanted their cat due to the cat hairs everywhere,sadly the cat died before I could take it on,then several wks ago they came home with a dogue de Bordeaux female puppy who was constantly sworn at and shouted at,that went to the dogue de Bordeaux charity,but then two wks later they have been given a male 10-12 mtj old male dog,same breed, from same charity,yet no home check has been done,this is by the charity's own admission and that of the couple too.I reported my concerns to the charity due to the dog attempting to attack my 3 cats and my dog whilst in the garden,the house is totally unfit for any dog,no gate ,no secure garden,no secure fenceing,and the charity say they do not believey concern due to discussing my complaint with the couple concerned.also the husband is ' disablwd' and only takes the dog put for a walk after 9pm when it's dark,I love animals but worried that if that dog gets put on the street God knows how it would react to meeting a small child,they have a 6 mth old baby,a 3 yr old girl and an 8 yr old with behavioural issues is there anyone I can get some practical advice/help from,

scriuffyrabbit 07/03/2016 at 10:27 am

Our East End neighbours, Colin and Linda Banyard, moved in ten years ago. Their back garden adjoins our side garden. From the get go it was overbearing behaviour from them. Me and my husband are both disabled, (I am partially sighted with macular degeneration and have mobility problems from arthritis, my husband has replacement knees, a severe lung disease and rheumatoid arthritis.) At first Banyard wanted all the trees, (which are his boundary,) down to allow his two guard dogs free access to our garden. Our garden is about five feet higher than his and we would have been able to see directly into his back bedrooms, whilst he could watch us continually in our garden, let alone our cats being considerably harassed. When I pointed this out to him, he said:- "I have been in your garden many times when you are out to get my dogs back." I advised him not to enter my garden again, without permission and all hell broke loose. He shot one of the cats in the spine, leaving a 2.2 bullet hole in the fence. The Hobby Bobbies did nothing. The cat died. He has us both on his passive infra red security cameras and knows instantly if we go out in our back garden so he comes out and him and his wife make a dreadful noise, both of them coughing like my husband, mimicking him. If I try to sit in the garden in the summer to listen to one of my audible books, he makes so much noise I cannot hear them so I have to go in. If I click for my one remaining cat with a jam pot lid, (I daren't call the cat's name or he and his wife put up ten minutes of imitation of my voice, making fun of me,) he bangs his wheelie bin for half an hour with a broom handle. I feel as if we are being both stalked and bullied but the Police will do nothing.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 15/12/2014 at 11:31 am

@Honey. If your husband has assaulted you in any way you should report this to the police. As for the dog, you will need to try and discuss this with your husband, it should be housetrained after a month or so and should be at the stage where it will give things up if you catch it chewing. You could try crate training the puppy before it gets older, that will keep it out of harm's way when you're not able to watch it.

Honey 14/12/2014 at 7:29 pm

Hi there,
My husband came home with a Rottweiller puppy a couple of months ago with no prior warning and the dog has turned our lives upside down. he tears into everything, the newly laid carpet, the wall paper, the dinning chairs, barbecue cover and cupboards. he does his pooh and wee everywhere inside and in the garden. my husband does not want to do much about it and turns a blind eye.
Worst of all he beat me up over the dog today.
Where do I go from here?

Mo 27/11/2014 at 5:36 pm

I live in a property comprising 2 flats - the frontgarden is divided by a communal path. My neighbour allows her dog to defecate in her garden and leaves the mess for days before picking up. In the summer there are flies galore which I consider a health risk.
I understand that if you let a dog defecate in a public place you risk getting a fine but I dont think there is any legislation for private areas. Some housing assoc. state in tenancy agreements that dog fouling must be removed immediately. My main bay windows overlook her garden. I have views to the sea so when visitors come they look outof windows to the sea but very often thedogs mess will bethere. I think there needs to be an update in legislation.

.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 04/08/2014 at 12:54 pm

@spoony. Your dog should really be kept under control and away from strangers unless you are with it. Until you know who the other person is that reported your dog and learn more of the facts, you cannot really do much about it.

Spoony 01/08/2014 at 5:30 am

My staffy is now five years old I have had him since a puppy I never had any trouble with him till the 25 July and the postman said he attack him now I had a voice mail of my rent office telling there has been to two reports one from the postman and I know it the old man next door as I have never got on with him and what is my right as I know the seconde one is loads off rubbish what can I do as it's just a voicemail from them and it's happen once please help me as I am getting mad and I will fight for my dog right

kitty 27/03/2014 at 7:18 am

I own my house my neighbour rents from a private landlord he has harrased us since the day we moved in 18months ago we have never informed anyone in case we wanted to sell .now we do because its got so bad its making me ill the neighbour has come out and been abusive to the estate agents and buyers one buyer made an offer then withdrew it when neighbour came out we have been in touch with his landlord but all he's done is have a word with him he is on an assured short term tenency we don't know what to do we have limited funds for solicitors but I feel I can't live there anymore he has spoilt our enjoyment of our house please help us

lizzy 10/05/2013 at 11:46 am

I need advice i own my property but the house next door is rented, just under a year ago new neighbours moved in with a very large and aggressive male rottweiler. it has damaged my garden fence as it constantly jumps up when anyone leaves or enters my property, myself and my children are terrified that it will one day break through the fence. i have been in touch with the estate agents but they have just ignored my conerns. What else can i do?

Tracey Dempsey 25/04/2013 at 2:43 pm

Its not the dogs that should be punished or put to sleep. Dogs can be re trained throug rehab and taken away from irresponsible owners. Owners should be dealt with severely and EDUCATED. Perhaps all people owning dogs should have compulsory training on xanine behaviour and attend basic training. human beings are disgusting sometimes and same humans putting animals to sleep for a bite caused by an owner.

LAW IS WRONG!!!!!!

granpa billy 15/01/2013 at 7:34 am

We have neighbours with four large dogs that are fouling in there back garden and the smell is awful, the couple have four children that could not play there. what can I do as Im afraid it will encourage rats ?

Eaglemac50 06/08/2012 at 12:25 pm

My neighbours acquired a Rottweiller puppy about 3 years ago. The main problem is that for 3 years now we have had to put up with an incredibly scary, snarling dog that growls and barks at us when we are on our own property. If we pull up on the drive and get out of the car it barks like crazy at us, when we come out of our front door it barks like crazy at us, when we are in our garden it can make us jump out of our skins by suddenly barking and growling at us. Visitors to our house get feightened by it barking at them and children are terrified.My wife looks after very young children for the Homestart charity and we feel extremely worried should the dog get loose and get into our garden, which thankfully it has not been able to yet.I have spoken to our neighbours on a number of occasions over the past 2 years about the situation and while they say they will get the dog trained and introduce various measures to mitigate the situation it is no better in real terms.We have been very patient and extremely reasonable but whilst I feel they know it is a problem for us they are unable to resolve the situation satisfactorily.How do we stand stand legally in getting a permanent solution in place?Thank you.

frog 28/06/2012 at 7:03 pm

I need advice for a similar situation to the above. I have a new neighbour who has a ferocious rottweiler that constantly threatens to attack me and visitors, over the fence. It leans on the fence barking ferociously or jumps up barking and growling. Do I have to put up with being intimidated in my own garden.

damsin 31/01/2012 at 2:57 am

Seeking advice on neighbour playing football with her three dogs ( directly below my bedroom window ) this goes on daily till midnight. The constant thumping of the ball is making it impossible to sleep. She was abusive when asked to stop.Any advice welcome. I have reported this to housing and police, but this has had no affect on her she still continues with the noise.

Capuchi 09/01/2012 at 10:29 am

Hi Can you advise me on how to deal with a situation in which a new neighbour has moved in with a ferocious rottweiler guard dog that constantly threatens to attack me my visitors and my family including young children even when on our own land?Thanks

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