# The Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 2) Order 2026

S.S.I. 2026/212 · made 25 June 2026

Article 3 of this Order amends the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024 (“the 2024 Order”), which permits the continued ownership of XL Bully Dogs where a valid certificate of exemption is in place. Compliance with conditions of exemption set out in the 2024 Order is required for a certificate to remain valid. Article 3 amends the exemption conditions contained in article 7 of the 2024 Order to add a requirement to ensure that the dog does not come into close contact with a child under the age of 12 in any private place unless the dog or child is being supervised by a person aged at least 16. (Section 1(2)(d) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”) requires a XL Bully to be kept muzzled and on a lead while in a public place).

Made under: Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (Section 1)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/dangerous-dogs-compensation-and-exemption-schemes-miscellaneous-amendment-scotland-no-2-order-2026/pdf/ssi_20260212_en.pdf; Policy Note https://openlegislation.uk/dangerous-dogs-compensation-and-exemption-schemes-miscellaneous-amendment-scotland-no-2-order-2026/pdf/ssipn_20260212_en_001.pdf

## Introductory text

DOGS
Made 25th June 2026
Laid before the Scottish Parliament 26th June 2026
Coming into force 1st November 2026
The Scottish Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 1(5) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and all other powers enabling them to do so.

## 1 Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 2) Order 2026 and comes into force on 1 November 2026.

## 2 Amendment of the Dangerous Dogs Compensation and Exemption Schemes Order 1991

(1) The Dangerous Dogs Compensation and Exemption Schemes Order 1991 is amended as follows.
(2) In article 10(2) (certificate of exemption), after sub-paragraph (f) insert—
“(fa) a requirement to ensure that the dog does not come into close contact with a child under the age of 12 in any place, other than a public place, unless the dog or the child is being supervised by a person (whether the holder of the certificate or some other person) aged 16 or over,”.

## 3 Amendment of the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024

(1) The Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024 is amended as follows.
(2) In article 7(c) (certificate of exemption), after sub-paragraph (vi) insert—
“(via) to ensure that the dog does not come into close contact with a child under the age of 12 in any place, other than a public place, unless the dog or the child is being supervised by a person (whether the holder of the certificate or some other person) aged 16 or over,”.

## Signature

KIRSTEN OSWALD
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
25th June 2026

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)
Article 3 of this Order amends the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024 (“the 2024 Order”), which permits the continued ownership of XL Bully Dogs where a valid certificate of exemption is in place. Compliance with conditions of exemption set out in the 2024 Order is required for a certificate to remain valid. Article 3 amends the exemption conditions contained in article 7 of the 2024 Order to add a requirement to ensure that the dog does not come into close contact with a child under the age of 12 in any private place unless the dog or child is being supervised by a person aged at least 16. (Section 1(2)(d) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”) requires a XL Bully to be kept muzzled and on a lead while in a public place).
Article 2 of this Order makes a corresponding amendment to the Dangerous Dogs Compensation and Exemption Schemes Order 1991, which contains the exemption scheme applicable to other breeds of dog designated in or under section 1(1) of the 1991 Act.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2026/212 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/dangerous-dogs-compensation-and-exemption-schemes-miscellaneous-amendment-scotland-no-2-order-2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.