Last Updated on February 6, 2025 by Dogster Team
Pit Bulls are a protective and fearless dog breed known for their playful temperaments and friendly nature. However, they have a high prey drive and can sometimes get a bad reputation because they were previously bred and trained to be aggressive so they could participate in dog fighting. The breed was born from the original English bull-baiting dog that was bred to attack large animals like bears or deer. Because of this, some countries have regulations banning the importing or breeding of Pit Bulls. Is Canada one of them?
The Canadian federal government does not regulate Pit Bulls, but they are banned by laws in some provinces and municipalities. Keep reading to learn more about Canada’s regulations regarding Pit Bulls.
Where Is It Illegal to Own a Pit Bull in Canada?
As we alluded to in the introduction to our blog, while the federal government doesn’t have Canada-wide bans on Pit Bulls, some provinces and cities do.
Pit Bulls are not allowed in more than 40 locations in Manitoba. Winnipeg, the province’s capital, has breed-specific legislation against dogs that resemble American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Other cities in Manitoba where it is illegal to own a Pit Bull include Virden, The Pas, Reston, and others.
Ontario has had a provincial-wide Pit Bull ban in place since 2005. By the province’s definition, Pit Bulls include Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, or any dog with a similar appearance or physical characteristics.
Pit Bulls are banned in several towns in Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador.
British Columbia
- Richmond: Pit Bulls are designated as dangerous dogs
- Burnaby: Pit Bulls are defined as vicious dogs
- West Vancouver: Pit Bulls are defined as aggressive dogs with restrictions
- Pitt Meadows: Pit Bulls are defined as vicious dogs
- Nanaimo: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Parksville: Pit Bulls are defined as dangerous or aggressive dogs
- Gold River: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Ladysmith: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Castlegar: Pit Bulls are defined as vicious dogs
- Nelson: Pit Bulls are defined as vicious dogs
- Dawson Creek: Pit Bulls are defined as vicious dogs
- Stewart: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Trail: Pit Bulls are prohibited to be at large, or on a highway or in a public place without being muzzled and leashed
- Prince Rupert: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Fort Nelson: Pit Bulls are restricted
Alberta
- Bearberry: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Sundre: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Bergen: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Elkton: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Cremona: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Water Valley: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Carstairs: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Stirlingville: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Bassano: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Rosemary: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Coronation: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Heisler: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Picture Butte: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Magrath: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Milk River: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Onoway: Pit Bulls are restricted
- County of St Paul: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Dewberry: Pit Bulls are restricted
- County of Vermillion River: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Kitscoty: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Coutts: Pit Bulls are banned
- Nobleford: Pit Bulls are banned
- Moosomin: Pit Bulls are banned
Saskatchewan
- St Walburg: Pit Bulls are banned
- Meota: Pit Bulls are designated as dangerous dogs
- Hafford: Pit Bulls are banned
- Saint Louis: Pit Bulls are banned
- Melville: Pit Bulls are banned
- Rose Valley: Pit Bulls are banned
- Perdue: Pit Bulls are banned
- Elrose: Pit Bulls are banned
- Burnstall: Pit Bulls are banned
- Nokomis: Pit Bulls are banned
- Cupar: Pit Bulls are banned
- Qu Appelle: Pit Bulls are banned
- Lang: Pit Bulls are banned
- Radville: Pit Bulls are banned
Manitoba
- Winnipeg: Pit Bulls are banned
- Elie: Pit Bulls are banned
- Cartier: Pit Bulls are banned
- Dacotah: Pit Bulls are banned
- Starbuck: Pit Bulls are banned
- Lido Plage: Pit Bulls are banned
- Springstein: Pit Bulls are banned
- Oak Bluff: Pit Bulls are banned
- Sanford Brunkild: Pit Bulls are banned
- LaSalle: Pit Bulls are banned
- Domain: Pit Bulls are banned
- Niverville: Pit Bulls are banned
- Kleefeld Blumenort: Pit Bulls are banned
- Mitchell: Pit Bulls are banned
- Steinbach: Pit Bulls are banned
- Saint Jean Baptiste: Pit Bulls are banned
- Marchand: Pit Bulls are banned
- Virden: Pit Bulls are banned
- Cromer: Pit Bulls are banned
- Scarth: Pit Bulls are banned
- Sinclair: Pit Bulls are banned
- Reston: Pit Bulls are banned
- Pipestone: Pit Bulls are banned
- Hartney: Pit Bulls are banned
- Deloraine: Pit Bulls are banned
- Swan River: Pit Bulls are banned
- MacDonald: Pit Bulls are banned
- The Pas: Pit Bulls are banned
Ontario
- Provincial Pit Bull ban
Quebec
- Provincial Pit Bull ban under review
New Brunswick
- Alma: Pit Bulls are banned
- Neguac: Pit Bulls are banned
- Salisbury: Pit Bulls are banned
- Shippigan: Pit Bulls are restricted
Nova Scotia
- Antigonish County: Pit Bulls are restricted
- Clark’s Harbor: Pit Bulls are banned
- Guysborough: Pit Bulls are defined as fierce or dangerous
- Richmond County: Pit Bulls are restricted
https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/are-pit-bulls-banned-in-canada