Commercial breeders breed for profit – they are in business making money from breeding and selling dogs. Where the problems arise is when profit is put before health or welfare, and based on the issues that we are seeing with IGs signed over to our care, the health and welfare problems in dogs bred by commercial breeders are escalating at an alarming rate.

Some commercial breeders are licensed to breed dogs by their local authority, but some commercial breeders are not licensed, either because they do not know the law, or because they are deliberately breaking the law and choosing not to become licensed to avoid complying with the minimum legal requirements.

We’ve set out just some of the conditions that Licensed Breeders must comply with below.

Our advice to prospective puppy buyers is that if there is something that raises concern when dealing with a licensed breeder, trust your instinct and walk away.

When does a breeder need a license?

The law states that any breeder meeting either of the criteria below must be licensed by their local council to run a breeding establishment, be that in their home, or at another property:

1. Anyone breeding three or more litters of puppies per year (unless they can show that none of the puppies have been sold).
2. Anyone breeding puppies and advertising a business of selling them … irrespective of the number of litters produced per year. This is not restricted to registered businesses – individuals can also be classed as a business depending on the extent of their activities.

If you think a Breeder meets either of these requirements but is not licensed, walk away and report them to the Local Authority for the area that they are operating in.

The Breeder’s license must be clearly displayed – online and at their premises

• Licensed Breeders must display their name and license number clearly and prominently on any website used in respect of breeding or selling dogs – that includes social media.
• A Licensed Breeder must display a copy of the licence clearly and prominently on any premises used for breeding dogs. In a home environment, the License Holder must show any potential purchasers a copy of their license.

Licensed Breeders cannot sell a puppy/dog if:

• The puppy/dog was not bred by the Licence Holder.
• The puppy is under 8 weeks old.
• The dog was not born and reared at the premises specified on the current license.
• They know or believe that the person who is buying the puppy/dog intends to sell it or intends it to be sold by any other person.

Adverts for dogs must:

• Include the number of the licence holder’s licence.
• Specify the local authority that issued the licence.
• Include a recognisable photograph of the dog being advertised.
• Display the age of the dog being advertised.

Viewing dogs/ puppies

• Puppies must be seen interacting with the mother and any siblings. Note that Dogs must be held in socially-harmonious groups with a minimum of two.
• A puppy may only be shown to a prospective purchaser if it is together with its biological mother – dogs must remain with their mother for the first eight weeks of life unless the mother dies or there is a health risk to the puppy or its littermates or the mother from remaining with her and a vet has certified that it is in the best interests of the dog to be removed earlier.
• In the event of the mother’s death before the puppy is sold, or if her health or that of the puppy would be compromised by interacting with each other, this must be documented in the records and explained to the buyer.
• Buyers must be able to access the environment in which the mother and her puppies are kept. Italian Greyhounds are not a breed that should be kept and bred outside of a home environment. If the Breeder keeps IGs in outbuildings outside of the home, walk away.
• Remember that a Licensed Breeder cannot sell a dog that the License Holder did not breed, or of the dog was bred at premises not covered by the current license.
• Please also note that dogs that show significant signs of fear must not be used for breeding. If you see a dog that is noticeably fearful, ask the breeder what relationship that dog has with the puppy/dog you are potentially buying.

Buyer’s right to information

• Ask to see a copy of the veterinary vaccination records for the puppy/dog, and if viewing a puppy, its mother. All adult dogs must have current vaccinations against canine parvovirus, canine distemper, canine adenovirus/infectious canine hepatitis and leptospirosis.
• The breeder must give all details of the sire to the buyer including date of birth, microchip number, registration body if applicable and details of any inherited diseases to which the father’s breed is prone and any screening tests or surgery to amend confirmation the father received.
• The breeder must give all details of the bitch to the buyer including date of birth, microchip number, registration body if applicable and details of any inherited diseases to which the bitch’s breed is prone and any screening tests or surgery to amend conformation that the bitch received.
• The breeder must ensure all breeding stock or puppies are recorded in the UK with a registration organisation which must make available record of parent or lineage including coefficient of inbreeding and record of health screening test results.

Microchipping

• The Licence Holder must ensure that each puppy is microchipped and registered to the licence holder before it is sold.
• The Breeder must be registered as the first keeper.

Welfare standards

While we welcome the regulations governing the breeding and selling dogs, like most dog lovers, we are shocked by the low welfare standards stipulated by the regulations as minimum requirements for Licensed Breeders e.g. a Licensed Breeder technically only needs to allow for a 4m² space to keep an Italian Greyhound for breeding – that is a square measuring two long strides by two long strides.

The full regulations are available at:

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/486/contents/made

“Lucy’s Law” – The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/1093/contents/made

Something doesn’t feel right? Walk away.

If at any point a breeder, whether licensed or not, gives any cause for concern, our advice is to walk away. We do not advise that you buy a puppy to “rescue” it from an unethical breeder but if you do, report your concerns – you may think you have “saved” the puppy, but the breeding dogs will continue to be subjected to the conditions that have caused you such grave concern.

• Find a Local Authority to report breaches of licensing laws and welfare concerns
• Report welfare concerns to the RSPCA phone 0300 1234 999

Report any concerns about breaches of licensing laws and welfare to the Local Authority (whether the Breeder is licensed or not).
Welfare concerns should also be reported to the RSPCA.