Best emotional support dog breeds: what actually matters
There is no emotional support breed in UK law. What decides whether a dog works as an emotional support animal is legality, your tenancy, travel and your life.
The short answer. There is no best emotional support dog breed in UK law: any dog that is legal to own can be one. The breed matters less than the individual dog’s temperament, and whether its size and needs fit your home and tenancy. Banned types, such as the XL Bully, cannot be owned without a Certificate of Exemption, whatever their role.
There is no emotional support breed
UK law does not define emotional support animals, so there is no list of approved breeds and no breed that qualifies automatically. Any dog that is legal to own can be an emotional support dog. Lists of “best breeds” describe typical temperaments, but individual dogs vary more than breeds do, and we would rather not pretend otherwise.
What does make a difference, in the UK, is practical. Four things decide whether a dog works for you as an emotional support animal.
1. Is it legal to own?
It is against the law in the UK to own a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro or XL Bully unless the dog has a valid Certificate of Exemption. GOV.UK says whether a dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like, not its breed or name. No letter or emotional support status changes that.
2. Will your landlord agree?
If you rent privately in England, your landlord must not unreasonably refuse a written pet request. But GOV.UK gives examples of refusals that may be reasonable, including a property too small for a large pet or several pets, and a pet that is illegal to own. A large dog in a small flat is a harder request than a small one. What counts as a reasonable refusal.
3. Can it travel the way you do?
Emotional support dogs fly only on airlines’ pet terms, and several UK airlines carry no animals except assistance dogs. On National Rail you can take up to two dogs free; on the Tube, dogs must be carried on escalators, which is easier with a small dog. Flying and travel.
4. Can you give it what it needs?
The mental health charity Mind says being around animals can have positive effects, and also advises thinking carefully about your personal, living and financial situation before getting a pet. A dog whose needs you cannot meet will not support you for long.
Already have a dog?
Then it is already your emotional support dog if it supports your mental health. There is nothing to register and no test. Emotional support dogs in the UK · a doctor’s letter for your landlord.
Common questions
What is the best dog breed for emotional support?
There is no best breed in UK law, and no breed rule at all: an emotional support dog can be any dog that is legal to own. What matters more is the individual dog’s temperament, and whether its size and needs fit your home, your tenancy and your life.
Can a banned breed be an emotional support dog?
No status exempts a banned type. It is against the law to own a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro or XL Bully without a valid Certificate of Exemption, and a landlord can reasonably refuse a pet that is illegal to own.
Does the size of my dog matter to my landlord?
It can. GOV.UK gives “the property is too small for a large pet or several pets” as an example of a refusal that may be reasonable.
Sources. The legal and clinical facts on this page were checked against these primary sources on 25 September 2026. Law and landlord, university and airline policies change, so check the source before you rely on it.