Dog breeding licence
A breeding establishment is defined as any premises, including a private dwelling, where a business of breeding dogs for sale is carried out.
You must have a dog breeding licence if you either:
- Run a business that breeds and sells dogs
- Breed three or more litters in a year and sell any of the puppies
Do I need to keep a public register?
There is no legal requirement to keep a register. Please contact us if you want to know whether a premises is licensed.
Requirement
A vet or other inspector will visit and want to see that your dogs:
- Live in suitable accommodation
- Receive adequate food, water and bedding
- Get enough exercise
- Are transported in safe and comfortable conditions
- Are protected in case of fire or other emergency
- Are protected from the spread of disease
Record keeping
It is a condition of all licences that accurate records, in a form prescribed by regulations, are kept at a premises, and are made available for inspection by an authorised officer.
A record must be kept for each breeding bitch.
How to apply
Please read Guidance notes for conditions for breeding dogs (April 2020) to ensure you can comply with the licence conditions.
The licence costs £210 and is non-refundable. Your licence will be valid for one year. You must renew your licence before the expiry date to continue as a dog breeder.
Before you apply
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself at least ten minutes to fill in the form.
Please note our Guidance on uploading an image.
You will need:
A payment card, Apple Pay or Google Pay*
What happens next?
We aim to determine applications within 28 days from receipt of a completed application, including payment. In some circumstances applications may take longer than 28 days whilst we liaise with the veterinary surgeon or approved practitioner.
You will receive confirmation that we have received both your application and fee, and arrange to carry out an inspection of your premises. A licence, if granted, will be subject to the standard licence conditions.
Will tacit consent apply?
No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before we can grant a licence. Please contact us if you have not heard from us within a reasonable period.
Change of circumstances
Please contact us to discuss any change of circumstances in respect of an existing licence.
