Exempt & Banned-Type Dogs Policy

At Ewelme Dog Field, we believe responsible owners and their dogs should be able to enjoy safe, secure and private exercise.

Dogs of a type prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, including legally exempt XL Bully-type dogs, are welcome to use our fields provided that the dog is lawfully exempt and the owner complies with all applicable legal requirements, the conditions of the dog's Certificate of Exemption and the additional conditions set out in this policy.

This policy applies to both of our secure dog fields.

Dogs Covered by This Policy

The prohibited dog types currently covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act include:

• Pit Bull Terrier

• Japanese Tosa

• Dogo Argentino

• Fila Brasileiro

• XL Bully

Whether a dog is considered a prohibited type can depend on its physical characteristics rather than its stated breed or pedigree.

Any dog which is required by law to hold a Certificate of Exemption must have a valid Certificate of Exemption before using Ewelme Dog Field.

Documentation & Eligibility

Before the dog's first visit, the owner must provide Ewelme Dog Field with a copy of, or satisfactory evidence of, the dog's valid Certificate of Exemption.

By making a booking, the owner confirms that:

• the Certificate of Exemption remains valid;

• the dog is correctly microchipped;

• the dog has been neutered where required by law;

• all conditions attached to the dog's exemption are being complied with;

• the dog is being kept in secure conditions which prevent escape; and

• the owner is legally entitled to possess and be responsible for the dog.

Ewelme Dog Field may request reasonable additional evidence of compliance where necessary.

If a dog's Certificate of Exemption is invalid, withdrawn, no longer applicable or the legal requirements attached to it have not been met, the dog must not enter or use Ewelme Dog Field.

Third-party public liability insurance is no longer a legal requirement for banned-breed dogs from 1 July 2026 and is therefore not required by Ewelme Dog Field as a condition of access.

Private Bookings

Exempt dogs may only use Ewelme Dog Field during a private, exclusive booking.

The booking holder must ensure that nobody outside their booking group enters the field while the exempt dog is being exercised.

Dogs from separate bookings must never be allowed to meet through an open gate or during the changeover between sessions.

Please do not enter the field until the previous customer and their dogs have completely left and the field is ready for your exclusive use.

Arrival & Departure

Owners remain responsible for complying with the law while travelling to and from the field and while using any area outside their exclusively booked secure field.

Where an exempt dog is in a public place, it must be securely muzzled and kept on a lead in accordance with the applicable legal requirements.

For XL Bully dogs, the lead must be securely held by a person aged 16 or over.

This includes any public or shared area through which the dog must pass before entering or after leaving the secure field.

If you park outside the secure field, the dog must remain appropriately muzzled and on a lead until it is safely inside the booked field and the entrance gate has been completely closed and secured.

Before leaving, the dog must be placed back on its lead and, where legally required, securely muzzled before the field gate is opened.

Exercising an Exempt Dog Inside the Field

Ewelme Dog Field permits legally exempt dogs to be exercised within their privately booked secure field, including off lead and without a muzzle where this is lawful under the conditions applicable to that dog.

A lead or muzzle must not be removed until:

• the dog is completely inside the booked field;

• all entrance gates are fully closed and secured;

• the owner has confirmed that no unauthorised person or animal is inside the field; and

• the owner is satisfied that removing the lead or muzzle is lawful in the circumstances.

The owner remains solely responsible for complying with the dog's Certificate of Exemption and all applicable legislation.

Ewelme Dog Field cannot determine an individual dog's legal status on behalf of its owner.

Secure Containment

Although our fields are securely enclosed, no fencing system can be represented as completely escape-proof in every possible circumstance.

Owners must assess the field and fencing on arrival and must not release their dog if they have any concern about the security or suitability of the field.

Exempt dogs must remain under appropriate supervision and control throughout the booking.

Dogs must not be encouraged or permitted to:

• climb or jump fencing;

• dig underneath fencing;

• damage gates, locks or fencing;

• interfere with neighbouring animals or people; or

• leave the secure field other than under the control of their owner.

Any damage, weakness or concern relating to the fencing, gates or equipment must be reported to Ewelme Dog Field immediately.

If you believe the field is not secure for your dog, do not release the dog.

Control & Behaviour

The Dangerous Dogs Act applies to the behaviour of dogs in both public and private places.

All dogs using Ewelme Dog Field, whether exempt or non-exempt, must remain under the effective supervision and control of the person responsible for them.

A dog must not be allowed to behave in a way which causes injury or creates a reasonable fear that somebody may be injured.

If an owner believes that they cannot safely control their dog, they must immediately secure the dog and end the session.

The secure nature of the field does not remove or reduce the owner's legal responsibilities.

Children & Exempt Dogs

As a condition of using Ewelme Dog Field, a child under 12 must never be left unsupervised in close contact with an exempt banned-type dog.

An appropriate adult must remain present and actively responsible for the dog and child.

From 1 November 2026, this also becomes a condition of Certificates of Exemption for banned dogs in private places.

Owner Responsibility

The person making the booking is responsible for the dog or dogs attending under that booking.

By booking and using Ewelme Dog Field, you confirm that:

• all information you have supplied is accurate and up to date;

• any exempt dog attending is lawfully owned or possessed;

• all legal exemption requirements applicable to the dog are being complied with;

• you will supervise and maintain appropriate control of the dog throughout the visit;

• you will comply with all Ewelme Dog Field rules and instructions;

• you accept responsibility for your dog's behaviour and actions; and

• you will be responsible for loss or damage caused by you or your dog where you are legally liable for that loss or damage.

Owners are responsible for assessing whether Ewelme Dog Field is suitable for their individual dog before releasing it.

Incidents, Injury & Damage

Any incident involving:

• injury to a person;

• injury to another animal;

• escape or attempted escape;

• damage to fencing, gates or equipment;

• threatening or dangerously out-of-control behaviour; or

• any other significant safety concern

must be reported to Ewelme Dog Field as soon as reasonably possible.

Where necessary for safety, legal compliance or the protection of another person or animal, Ewelme Dog Field may provide relevant information to the police, local authority or another competent authority in accordance with applicable law and our Privacy Policy.

Liability

Owners attend and use the fields with their dogs at their own risk and remain responsible for supervising and controlling their dogs.

Ewelme Dog Field will not be responsible for loss, damage, injury or expense arising from the behaviour or actions of a customer's dog, the customer's failure to control their dog, or the customer's failure to comply with legislation, their Certificate of Exemption, these rules or our general Terms & Conditions, except to the extent that Ewelme Dog Field is legally responsible.

Nothing in this policy or our Terms & Conditions is intended to exclude or restrict any liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted, including liability for death or personal injury resulting from our negligence.

Nothing in this policy removes any statutory rights a customer may have.

Zero-Tolerance Policy

Ewelme Dog Field operates a zero-tolerance approach to deliberate or serious breaches of this policy.

We reserve the right to refuse entry, require a session to end, suspend access or refuse future bookings where we reasonably believe that:

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• false, misleading or altered information has been supplied;

• legal exemption requirements are not being followed;

• a dog is being handled or exercised unlawfully;

• a dog presents an immediate and uncontrolled risk to a person or animal;

• the fencing, gates or equipment are being deliberately misused or damaged;

• an owner refuses to follow reasonable safety instructions; or

• the owner otherwise seriously breaches this policy or our Terms & Conditions.

Any entitlement to a refund following refusal or termination of access will be determined in accordance with our Booking Terms & Conditions and applicable consumer law.

Where we reasonably believe an offence has occurred, or where disclosure is otherwise required or permitted by law, the matter may be referred to the appropriate authority.

Changes in the Law

Dog-control legislation and the conditions applying to exempt dogs may change.

It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that they understand and comply with the law applicable to their dog at the time of every booking.

Ewelme Dog Field may amend this policy where necessary to reflect changes in legislation, official guidance, safety requirements or the operation of the fields.

Where this policy conflicts with a mandatory legal requirement, the legal requirement will take precedence.

Last reviewed: August 2026