A Doggone Shame: Countries Where Pit Bulls Aren’t Welcome

A Doggone Shame: Countries Where Pit Bulls Aren’t Welcome

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced an upcoming ban on the breed of dogs called American Bully XL.

According to the Independent, the American Bully Kennel Club defines the American XL bully as a crossbreed of the American pit bull terrier, olde English bulldogge, English bulldog and the American bulldog, while the American Dog Breeders Association defines it as a crossbreed of the American Staffordshire terrier and the American pit bull terrier.

These inconsistent definitions are one reason dog owners are concerned about other breeds that may be banned, but pit bulls are already banned in the UK.

Americans love their pit bulls, giving them affectionate nicknames like pittie or pibble. If you want to take yours abroad, here are countries and territories where they’re restricted or not allowed:

Argentina

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Some sites report that pit bulls are banned in Argentina, but Wikipedia doesn’t. Other sites say that they’re banned in certain regions. Check with your immigration attorney.

Australia

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You can’t bring your pit bull to Australia, and you can’t buy or breed them. Certain states have laws about permits, the kind of enclosure they’re kept in, and other regulations.

Austria

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You can have your pit bull in Austria, but they must be muzzled and leashed in public. You can’t be drunk when you’re out with them, so don’t expect them to be your drinking buddy.

Belarus

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Belarus also requires your pit bull to be leashed and muzzled in public and kept securely fenced at home.

Belgium

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In Belgium, you may have to spay/neuter your dog (which you should anyway!) or register them with your municipality. Some regions have bans.

Bermuda

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In Bermuda, you can’t import or breed an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, or American Staffordshire Terrier, but you can be permitted to import or breed a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Brazil

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You can’t breed or import pit bulls in Brazil.

Canada

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Pit bulls are banned in Manitoba and Ontario.

China

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Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai have breed and size restrictions on dogs.

Cyprus

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Pit bulls are banned in Cyprus.

Denmark

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It’s against the law to breed, sell, or import pit bulls in Denmark. Existing dogs must be muzzled and leashed.

Ecuador

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Ownership of pit bulls is completely banned.

Fiji

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Pit bulls are banned in Fiji.

France

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You can’t breed, sell, or import pit bulls. Since the ’90s, all pit bulls are required to be spayed/neutered with the goal of eliminating the breed.

Germany

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You cannot bring your pit bull to Germany.

Guyana

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Pit bulls are banned in Guyana, and existing dogs must be registered.

Hong Kong

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You can’t import pit bulls or keep existing dogs without sterilizing them.

Iceland

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You can’t bring your pit bull to Iceland.

Ireland

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Pit bulls must be kept on a short leash and muzzled in Ireland. You must be over 16 years old to walk one.

Israel

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You can’t bring your pit bull to Israel.

Italy: Not banned!

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Despite several websites that claim otherwise, Italy has no breed restrictions. They have a law that transfers a dog’s actions to the owner, who is required to train and control their dog.

Latvia

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You can’t breed, sell, keep, or import pit bulls in Latvia.

Lithuania

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Only American Pit Bull Terriers are specifically banned.

Malaysia

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Pit bulls and bulldogs are banned in Malaysia, and American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are restricted.

Malta

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You can’t bring an American Pit Bull Terrier to Malta.

New Zealand

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You can’t import an American Pit Bull Terrier to New Zealand, even as semen, ova, or embryos. Existing dogs must be muzzled and leashed in public.

Norway

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You can’t import or breed American Pit Bull Terriers or American Staffordshire Terriers.

Poland

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You can breed or own pit bulls or bulldogs with permissions from local authorities.

Portugal

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You can have a pit bull in Portugal, but you must have them muzzled in public, spay/neuter them, and register them with authorities. You also need to submit your own criminal record.

Puerto Rico

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Laws in Puerto Rico have been relaxed recently to allow pit bulls, but there are region-specific restrictions.

Romania

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In Romania, you’ll need a court order allowing you to own the dog that also requires you to be over 18 and psychologically fit. You can’t import your pit bull, and existing dogs must be spayed/neutered and muzzled and leashed in public.

Russia

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Owning and handling pit bull is legal in Russia but tightly regulated. You must muzzle and leash your dog in public and post warning signs on your fence at home.

Singapore

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You can’t import your pit bull to Singapore, and existing dogs must be insured, microchipped, sterilized, and muzzled and leashed in public.

Spain

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You can bring your pit bull to Spain, but you must register them with the government and muzzle them to pass security.

Switzerland

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Restrictions on pit bulls vary by Swiss canton, so check with your local government.

Taiwan

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You can’t bring your pit bull to Taiwan. Existing dogs must be registered, walked only by adults, and muzzled and kept on a short leash in public.

Trinidad and Tobago

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Pit bulls are banned on these islands.

Turkey

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You cannot bring your pit bull to Turkey, and the new restrictions are complex. Existing owners must have their dogs registered, sterilized, and microchipped and walk them with a leash and muzzle.

Ukraine

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Pit bulls are restricted in Ukraine and are included on a list of 52 dangerous dog breeds. Dogs must be sterilized, microchipped, insured, and kept on a short leash and muzzled in public.

United Arab Emirates

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You cannot bring your pit bull to UAE.

United Kingdom

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You need specific exemption from a court to own a pit bull in the UK, and then it must be registered, insured, microchipped, spayed/neutered, tattooed, and muzzled and kept on a short leash in public.

Venezuela

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You can’t import, breed, or even adopt a pit bull in Venezuela.

It’s important to note that conflicting information abounds. WorldPopulationReview.com compiles information from multiple sources, but you should still do your own research once you’ve chosen a destination.

Countries With the Most Permission Abortion Laws

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Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022 and end nearly half a century of precedent, American women have sought out countries to move to where reproductive rights are protected. It’s rarely the sole factor in an aspiring emigrant’s decision to leave the U.S., but it’s a significant one.

International law regarding abortion varies considerably and can involve time limits and other legal grounds, but these are countries where abortion is legal or largely protected.

45 Countries Where Abortion is Legal

Stay in School: It’s Illegal to Homeschool in These Countries

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Homeschooling has steadily grown in popularity since the ’70s, when John Holt advocated for the practice across the U.S. The usual growth rates of 2%-8% per year surged higher still during the pandemic.

Today, 11.1% of American children are homeschooled. In other countries, however, homeschooling is restricted, managed by public or private schools, or flat out illegal.

Stay in School: It’s Illegal to Homeschool in These Countries

Jen Barnett Expatsi
Co-founder at Expatsi | Website | + posts

Jen is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans move abroad. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?

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Banner Affiliates Expatsi 10Disc 1080x1080 1 jpg
Jen Barnett Expatsi
Co-founder at Expatsi | Website | + posts

Jen is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans move abroad. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?