Defra published guidance on 1 October 2026 explaining how a named certificate holder can apply to withdraw a Certificate of Exemption when they no longer believe their dog is an XL Bully. The service applies to England and Wales.
Read the official criteria first
The guidance places responsibility for assessing the dog against the official conformation standard on its owner. It says the applicant must be the person named on the certificate. Separate applications are needed for multiple dogs.
Check restrictions and consequences
The service is for registered holders of certificates issued for dogs in England or Wales between 14 November 2023 and 1 February 2024. It excludes court-issued certificates and certificates for other banned dog types.
Defra says an uncertain owner should keep the certificate and continue meeting exemption conditions. Withdrawal cannot be reversed or replaced. Withdrawing for a dog later found to be an XL Bully can lead to a criminal offence and seizure.
Read Defra's complete guidance and application instructions. Keep dog and certificate details within the official service; do not send them to GroomNear.
What this update means
This is a report about a published guidance service, not a GroomNear assessment of any dog's type or legal status. The England-and-Wales scope must not be assumed to apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland. The cover is an original editorial illustration and does not identify a real dog, certificate or case.
Discuss appointments directly
Before booking, tell your chosen grooming business what handling arrangements your dog needs. Browse dog-welfare reading for other topics.
Source: Defra, published1 October 2026; checked 6 October 2026. Original GroomNear news explainer prepared with AI assistance. Corrections: support@groomnear.com.
