Is the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier a Banned Breed in Turkey? Current Law

Is the English Staffordshire banned in Turkey? The short answer is no. As of October 2026, the English Staff (Staffordshire Bull Terrier) is not on Turkey’s list of banned dog breeds, and you can legally own one.

Most of the confusion comes from the breed’s American relative, the American Staffordshire Terrier, which was added to the banned list in 2021, and from the fact that the two breeds look alike. In this article we explain exactly what the law and the Ministry circular say, what the 2024 amendments changed, and what your obligations are as an owner. For the breed’s general characteristics, see our English Staffordshire Bull Terrier guide.

Banned Dog Breeds in Turkey: The Current List

The table below shows the breeds the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry treats as “dangerous animals” and the status of the English Staff. The previous version of this article left out the American Bully; the table below is up to date.

Breed	Status	Legal basis
Pit Bull Terrier (“American Pit Bull Terrier” in the circular)	Banned	Law No. 5199, provisional art. 3; Circular 2021-48
Japanese Tosa	Banned	Law No. 5199, provisional art. 3; Circular 2021-48
Dogo Argentino	Banned	Law No. 5199, provisional art. 3; Circular 2021-48
Fila Brasileiro	Banned	Law No. 5199, provisional art. 3; Circular 2021-48
American Staffordshire Terrier	Banned	Circular 2021-48
American Bully	Banned	Circular 2021-48
Staffordshire Bull Terrier (English Staff)	Not banned	Not listed in the law or the circular

The law expressly covers crossbreeds of the four breeds it names. The 2024 implementing regulation also defines a “dangerous animal” as “dog breeds designated as dangerous by the Ministry and their crossbreeds”.

What Does Animal Protection Law No. 5199 Say?

Article 14(1)(l): The general ban

Sub-paragraph (l) of the law’s prohibitions article took its current form in 2021 through Law No. 7332. It prohibits (unofficial translation): “producing, owning, rehoming, keeping, feeding, exchanging, exhibiting or gifting dangerous animals designated by the Ministry, and importing, selling or advertising them.”

Note that this provision does not name any breeds. It gives the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry the power to decide the list.

Provisional Article 3: Four breeds named in the law

Provisional Article 3 names four breeds and their crossbreeds, to apply until the Ministry’s own regulation takes effect: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro. The same article sets out the sanctions and the neutering and registration conditions for people who owned these dogs before 2021. You can read the current text of the law (in Turkish) on mevzuat.gov.tr.

How Were the American Staffordshire Terrier and American Bully Added?

Both breeds were added by Circular No. 2021-48 on “Dangerous Animals”, dated 7 December 2021 and issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. According to the circular, a commission made up of representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, TÜBİTAK, veterinary faculties, the Turkish Veterinary Medical Association and civil society designated six breeds as dangerous animals: American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Staffordshire Terrier and American Bully.

The circular stated that people who owned one of these breeds at the time would not face administrative sanctions if they had their dog neutered and registered with the Ministry by 14 January 2022. The announcement is published on the Ministry’s official website (in Turkish). As of October 2026, we found no newer Ministry regulation in official sources that changes this list.

What Did Law No. 7527 Change in 2024?

Law No. 7527 of 30 July 2024 (in force since 2 August 2024) mainly introduced rules on stray animals. It did not amend sub-paragraph (l) of the prohibitions article or Provisional Article 3, so it did not change which breeds are banned.

It did, however, add an important rule for dangerous breeds: under Article 13 of the law, dogs taken into shelters whose ownership is prohibited are subject to the euthanasia measure set out in Article 9 of Law No. 5996. The Constitutional Court rejected the request to annul this provision in its decision of 7 May 2025 (E.2024/151).

The Implementing Regulation on the Protection of Animals was then published in the Official Gazette of 13 December 2024 (No. 32751). Article 41 provides that dangerous animals, other than those neutered and registered within the legal deadline, are to be confiscated, taken to a shelter and euthanised.

Sanctions for Banned Breeds

• Administrative fine: Anyone who breaches the ban is fined per animal (Law No. 5199, art. 28(1)(j) and provisional art. 3). We do not quote amounts, because the figures in the law are increased every year by the revaluation rate under Article 17 of the Misdemeanours Law.
• Confiscation: The animal is confiscated and taken to a shelter by the municipality (provisional art. 3). The implementing regulation provides for euthanasia of these animals (art. 41).
• Rules for registered dogs: Dogs neutered and registered within the deadline may not be walked without their registration document, a muzzle and a leash, and may not be taken into crowded places, children’s playgrounds or parks. A breach leads to a fine; a repeat breach also leads to confiscation.
• Surrender and abandonment: Owners may leave these dogs at the nearest shelter; abandoning them on the street carries a separate fine (provisional art. 3). Under the implementing regulation, these animals are euthanised when surrendered to a shelter as well (art. 41).

Why Is the English Staff Not on the List?

The circular does not explain in detail which criteria were used to choose the breeds. So there is no official reason we can point to for why the English Staff is not listed. The known fact is this: the English Staff is named neither in the law nor in the circular.

The English Staff is a separate breed, recognised by The Kennel Club in 1935 and also recognised by the FCI. It stands 36-41 cm at the shoulder and weighs 13-17 kg (males) or 11-15.4 kg (females). The American Staffordshire Terrier shares the same roots but was developed in the United States as a separate, larger and taller breed, while the “pit bull” is a type with no single standard and is not recognised by the FCI.

Breed bans are usually defended by pointing to the risks posed by powerful breeds that were once used for fighting. Still, breed alone does not determine a dog’s behaviour; genetic temperament, socialisation as a puppy and the owner’s management are what matter.

The practical consequence of the confusion

Your dog’s breed may be questioned in the street, in your apartment building or if a complaint is made. Because the regulation’s definition also covers crossbreeds, being able to document that your dog is an English Staff matters: keep the pedigree, microchip registration and vaccination card or pet passport easy to reach. Be careful with puppies sold as “big English Staffs” that are clearly larger than the breed standard; our article on adopting an English Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy covers what to check.

Your Legal Obligations as an English Staff Owner

Even though the English Staff is not banned, you are subject to the same rules as any dog owner. These are the ones we could verify in official texts:

• Registration and identification: Cat and dog owners must have their animals registered using digital identification methods (Law No. 5199, art. 4(1)(k)). The deadline in the law was 31 December 2025 (provisional art. 4).
• Leash: In public places, owned dogs must be walked under control on a leash, the owner must carry the animal’s passport, and the dog’s waste must be cleaned up (Implementing Regulation, art. 10(1)(f)).
• Health: Vaccinations and treatment must be carried out by a veterinarian (Regulation, art. 10(1)(c)).
• Preventing harm: You are responsible for taking measures to prevent harm or nuisance your dog may cause to people, and you must compensate damage caused by a failure to take them (Law No. 5199, art. 5).
• No abandonment: Abandoning a pet is prohibited (Law No. 5199, art. 14(1)(n)).
• Reporting a death: If your dog dies, you must notify the provincial or district directorate of agriculture and forestry (Regulation, art. 10(1)(d)).

About muzzles: the muzzle requirement in the legislation applies to dangerous animals; there is no general muzzle requirement for the English Staff. The regulation also requires owners to follow the applicable rules in public areas and parks (art. 10(1)(ğ)), so check the rules where you live.

Beyond the legal duties, this strong and energetic breed needs early socialisation, consistent training and daily exercise. Our articles on socialising an English Staff puppy and the English Staffordshire adoption guide can help.

The Situation Abroad: The United Kingdom

The picture is similar in the breed’s home country. The UK government’s official page lists the banned types of dog as the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully; the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not on that list. The same page states that whether a dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like rather than its breed or name, which shows why documents and accurate breed information matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the English Staff banned in Turkey?

No. As of October 2026, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is named neither in Law No. 5199 nor in the Ministry’s Circular No. 2021-48. You can legally own one.

Are the American Staffordshire Terrier and the English Staff the same breed?

No. They share common roots but are two separate breeds. The American Staffordshire Terrier has been on Turkey’s list of dangerous breeds since 2021; the English Staff has not.

Does an English Staff have to wear a muzzle?

There is no general muzzle requirement for the English Staff in the legislation; the muzzle rule applies to dangerous breeds. A leash in public places, however, is required for all owned dogs.

Is a Staff crossbreed covered by the ban?

Crossbreeds of the banned breeds are covered by the ban. A cross between an English Staff and a banned breed may therefore also be treated as covered. Do not buy a puppy without seeing the parents’ pedigrees and records.

Where can I find out if the list changes?

Changes are published in announcements by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and in the Official Gazette; the current text of the law is on mevzuat.gov.tr. To be sure, you can ask your provincial or district directorate of agriculture and forestry.

In short: the English Staff is not banned in Turkey, while the American Staffordshire Terrier and American Bully have been on the banned list since 2021. Because confusing the two breeds can cause real problems, keep your dog’s documents in order and meet your obligations as an owner.

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice; consult a lawyer about your specific situation. The legal information was checked against official texts as of October 2026. For more, see our legal notice.