Can Dog Walkers Walk XL Bullies in the UK?

Yes, a dog walker can walk an exempted XL Bully, but only if the dog is lawfully kept and the legal conditions are followed.

That means this is not a normal booking.

If you choose to walk an exempted XL Bully, you need to check the dog’s legal status, make sure the public-control conditions are followed, confirm your own insurance position, and keep a clear written record of what you checked.

What is the legal position?

In England and Wales, XL Bullies became prohibited dogs unless exempted. An exempted XL Bully must be on the Index of Exempted Dogs and kept under the required conditions.

In public, the dog must be:

• muzzled
• on a lead
• handled by someone aged 16 or over

Those are legal requirements, not preferences.

If you are the person in charge of the dog in public and those conditions are not met, you may commit the offence yourself.

So can a professional dog walker take the booking?

Yes, provided the dog is exempted and the legal conditions are followed.

But the real question is not only whether you can. It is whether you should, and if so, what checks you must make first.

What should you verify before accepting the booking?

1. Confirm the dog is exempted Ask to see the Certificate of Exemption and check that the dog matches the details provided. You do not need to overstate this as a statutory duty on dog walkers, but from a practical and evidential point of view, it is the sensible minimum. Record that you saw it, note the date, and keep the relevant details on file.

2. Confirm public-control conditions will be followed The dog must be muzzled and on a lead in public. There is no lawful off-lead exception for routine dog walking.

3. Check your own insurance Do not assume your pet business policy covers incidents involving prohibited breeds or exempted dogs. Check your wording and, where needed, get written confirmation from your insurer.

4. Assess the practical handling risk A breed label alone is not a full risk assessment, but a high-control dog with legal restrictions does justify a documented handling review. Consider route choice, public exposure, transport, equipment, and your own confidence handling the dog lawfully and safely.

What about the owner’s insurance?

An exempted XL Bully must have third-party liability insurance as part of the exemption conditions.

The important correction here is this: 30 June 2026 should not be framed as a simple point when all cover ends. It is better understood as a renewal cut-off and market disruption point. Owners and walkers should expect change, check current arrangements carefully, and avoid assumptions. If this issue is used as a hook in content, keep the wording precise.

What records should a dog walker keep?

If you decide to accept exempted XL Bullies, keep the paperwork stronger than usual. Your file should include:

• record that you saw the Certificate of Exemption
• microchip details and dog identification details
• owner declaration about exemption and legal compliance
• note that public handling will always be on lead and muzzled
• confirmation that your insurer has been checked
• breed-specific risk assessment or handling note
• signed service agreement and registration form

Why this matters

If there is an incident, the person in charge of the dog may face direct scrutiny. That includes the walker.

This is why casual arrangements are a bad idea. If you take these bookings, you need a written system.

A sensible professional position

There are two defensible business positions here.

The first is a blanket no.

The second is yes, but only with strict conditions, documented checks and a clear handling policy.

What is not sensible is saying yes without checking the exemption status, insurance position and legal handling requirements.