England – Legal Dog Breeding Requirements
The puppy
• Puppies must not be sold before they are 8 weeks old
• A puppy must be microchipped and correctly registered before it is sold
• The breeder must be registered as the puppy’s first keeper
• Licensed breeders must keep records of puppies, including their microchip number, date of sale and age at the time of sale
• Puppies must be provided with suitable housing, food, water, bedding, exercise and appropriate veterinary care
• Dogs and puppies must be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
The female
For licensed dog breeders:
• A female must not be mated before she is 12 months old
• A female must not give birth to more than 1 litter within a 12-month period
• A female must not have more than 6 litters in total
• A female must not be mated if she has already had 2 litters delivered by caesarean section
Health and hereditary conditions
A dog must not be used for breeding if, based on its genotype, phenotype or state of health, it can reasonably be expected that breeding from the dog could have a detrimental effect on:
• The health or welfare of the breeding dog
• The health or welfare of its offspring
Breeders therefore have a responsibility to take hereditary diseases, physical abnormalities and health problems into account when selecting breeding combinations
HD & ED
English legislation does not prescribe one specific HD or ED result that applies to every breed
However, a dog must not be used for breeding when its health, genotype or phenotype gives reasonable grounds to expect that breeding could have a detrimental effect on the health or welfare of the dog or its offspring
DBKC may apply additional HD and ED requirements as part of its own breeding policy
Breeding licence
A dog breeding licence from the local authority is required when:
• A person breeds 3 or more litters within any 12-month period and sells any of the puppies
or
• A person breeds dogs and advertises a business of selling dogs
A person may therefore require a breeding licence even when fewer than 3 litters are bred if the breeding and sale of dogs is considered a business
Licensed breeders are subject to inspections and additional requirements regarding housing, hygiene, welfare, veterinary care, record keeping, emergency procedures and the management of breeding dogs
Sale of puppies
Licensed breeders must ensure that puppies are microchipped and registered to the breeder before sale
The breeder must comply with the applicable rules concerning the direct sale of puppies and the required records and documentation