Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 & Breeding and Sale of Dogs Acts (Welfare) Act 1999

Who needs to apply

Anyone who is breeding dogs for commercial purposes will be required to hold a Licence which is issued by your Local Authority. A breeding establishment is defined as “Any premises which carries on a business of breeding dogs for sale”

The Act states that when four or more litters have been produced, the breeder must be licensed there is an automatic presumption that the breeder is running a business.

However, the Licensing Authority can license breeders producing fewer litters if it believes that the breeder is running a commercial business. Local Authorities must also take into account any breeding bitches kept by relatives and friends under the breeding arrangements as these are also included in the numbers of litters bred.

An unlicensed breeder can be imprisoned for up to three months, fined up to £2500 and banned from breeding for a specific period.

Apply

The following criteria will be considered when the application is being evaluated.

Please use the links below to apply or renew your licence.

Fees

Please see the link below

Legislation

Breeding of Dogs Act 1973
Breeding of Dogs Act 1991
Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999

Appeal process

Contact AVDC in the first instance.

An applicant may appeal to their Local Magistrates’ Court (or to their local Sheriff in Scotland) if their application is refused or if they do not agree with a condition attached to their licence.

Guidance information

Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and Breeding of Dogs Act 1991 and The Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 cover England, Wales and Scotland.
Under these Acts:

• It is an offence for a bitch to be mated if she is less than one year old.

• Breeding is restricted to no more than six litters in a lifetime and no more than one litter per year.

• The breeder must keep accurate breeding records and puppies must wear a visible means of identity.

• Puppies cannot be sold by a licensed breeder to their final home until they are at least eight weeks old.

• If the breeder produces more than five litters per year for sale then they are legally obliged to acquire a licence (obtained from the Local Authority). Before the licence can be granted, the premises must be inspected by a Vet and a Local Authority Officer.

• It is an offence for a licensed breeder to sell puppies to an unlicensed dealer or retailer, or to sell on puppies acquired from an unlicensed breeder.

Anyone found to be in breach of these Acts may be fined or face a prison sentence.

Date Updated: 29/12/10