Dog breeding & the law
Dog breeding and selling laws vary across the UK, which can make it really difficult for potential puppy buyers to know which rules apply and who is doing the right thing.
Dog breeders have to obey laws. As a minimum, that includes animal welfare, dog breeding and consumer protection laws.
Laws can vary across the UK, but a dog breeder in England must adhere to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015, amongst others.
In England, Scotland and Wales, it’s illegal for anyone other than the breeder to sell a puppy (or kitten) under 6 months of age. However, this rule still needs to be introduced in Northern Ireland. Plus, loopholes remain in England and Scotland that continue to put puppies and unsuspecting buyers at risk of unethical practices.
Explore this section
Understanding the problem
Animal Welfare Regulations
Since 1 October 2018, the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 have been law in England. These Regulations exist to ensure the welfare of dogs and their offspring.
Dog breeding licence
Anyone who breeds three or more litters of puppies and sells at least one puppy in a 12-month period needs a dog breeding licence from their local authority.
Those breeding one or two litters in a 12-month period and selling puppies also need a licence if they’re “breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs”. Licensing rules in England are therefore stricter than you may have been told. If you’re buying a puppy, always check if someone is licensed. If they’re not, ask why as there is a good chance they should be if they’re breeding puppies commercially.
All breeders
All breeders, regardless of size must not:
- Sell puppies under the age of eight weeks.
- Transport a puppy under eight weeks of age without its biological mother, except in emergencies (or where a vet agrees for health or welfare reasons).
- Show a puppy without its biological mother unless there are proven medical grounds preventing it.
- Complete any sale without the presence of the new owner.
The regulations also establish a star rating for breeders and take steps to regulate adverts, ensuring they include the seller’s licence number and the local authority that issued the licence.
Important:
If you’re thinking about buying a puppy in England, always ask to see proof of the dog breeder’s licence and ask about their star rating. The higher the star rating, the higher the welfare standards and vice versa. Use our Dog Breeding Map of the UK & Ireland to find out how to check with the local authority whether a breeder is licensed. The above relates only to England and the rules are different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Dealing with the reality
While there are laws to protect puppies and to frustrate the efforts of puppy farmers and illegal dog breeders, the reality isn’t always so straightforward. Illegal dog breeding is about profit, and unscrupulous operators may be ignorant of the laws, claim to be ignorant of them, or actively exploit loopholes.
Another problem is that the responsibility for enforcing dog breeding laws falls to local authorities. They’re often overstretched and may interpret and apply licensing conditions in different ways. That’s why we created our Dog Breeding Map of the UK & Ireland to increase transparency. Read our findings about dog breeding licensing in the UK and Ireland in 2025 here.
Despite some of the UK’s regulations moving in the right direction, some criminals will still try to operate without a licence and sell puppies, often on the internet. We need a collective approach where enforcement bodies, industry figures, NGOs, governments, ethical breeders and puppy buyers all work together to shut down exploitative dog breeding businesses.
Case study – too little too late
In one court case, a breeder was reported after a puppy they sold died. The local council repeatedly warned them to apply for a dog breeding licence, which they ignored.
The breeder was eventually found guilty in court, but they’d still had time to pocket more than £1 million from breeding 190 litters of puppies from 38 different dog breeds over three years, using multiple identities.
How you can help
There are lots of ways to help with our work, from making a donation through to holding fundraising events or even getting involved as a volunteer. Below, you can explore the different ways to help us continue raising standards for animals.
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