Dog breeding licence (England)
How to get a licence to breed dogs, and the conditions you must meet.
Applies to England
Contact your local council to check if you need a licence to breed dogs or for information about costs.
Contact your local council to apply for a licence to breed dogs in England. You need this licence if you:
- run a business that breeds and advertises dogs for sale
- breed 3 or more litters in any 12 month period and sell any of the puppies
Your licence will be valid for 1, 2 or 3 years. The council will decide the cost and length of your licence.
You must renew your licence before it expires to continue breeding dogs.
Conditions
The council will arrange an inspection of your premises before you get a licence. They may carry out additional inspections at any time after it’s granted.
You must prove that you can meet the licence conditions. These include showing that the dogs are:
- kept in suitable accommodation
- provided with adequate food, drink and bedding
- exercised regularly
- transported in safe and comfortable conditions
- protected in case of an emergency, like a fire
- protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease
You’ll also need to:
- keep any records ready for inspection, for example a register of your dogs and all puppies
- display the licence number in any advertising
- display the licence clearly on the premises
Restrictions
You will not get a licence if you’ve committed animal welfare offences or if you have been banned from:
- hiring out horses
- selling pets
- boarding cats or dogs
- keeping or training animals for exhibition
You may not get a licence if you’ve committed other offences. Check with your local council.
Fines and penalties
If you or your business breeds dogs without a licence you could go to prison for up to 6 months or get an unlimited fine. You could also get an unlimited fine if you break the conditions of your licence.