Dog Breeding Licence - Applying for a Licence

If you are looking to breed dogs for commercial gain, you will need to obtain a dog breeding licence before you start you business and to maintain that licence for as long as you remain in business.

The information you need in order to decide if you need a licence and the licensing standards you must meet are detailed below.

The Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999

If you wish to apply to register for Dog Breeders licence or to change the details of an existing licence, download the application to keep a breeding establishment for dogs form here.

Our standard conditions for dog breeding establishments can be found here.

Download a copy of the application fees.

The process of applying for a licence is relatively straightforward. Once you have completed the application form, we will arrange to visit you with a vet so that the standards of your premises can be assessed. If there are any areas where improvement is needed, we will provide you with the information you need to comply with the licensing condition.

Once your premises are licensed, we will inspect annually when renewing your licence, and we may also carry out interim visits. As part of the licence process, you will need to update us with any changes to your business.

Please note that some details of your premises may be included on our web-site, so that customers are able to choose a licensed premises to buy their pet from. Your details may also be shared with other statutory bodies as appropriate.

Tacit approval does not apply to this licence, as it is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within 28 days, please contact us for an update on your application.

Please note that the overall approval process may take longer than 28 days, to allow for the necessary inspection processes.

If your application is refused, or if you do not accept any of the licence conditions imposed as part of the approval, you should contact the officer dealing with your licence in the first instance. We will always inform you of the appeal procedures when refusing a licence, or on request.

We will also inform you of our complaints procedure, should you feel that your application has been improperly processed. Further information on making a complaint can be found here.

Licenses may be refused, cancelled or revoked for several reasons (please note that not all the restrictions are relevant to all licenses). The courts may disqualify applicants from holding an animal licence for a set period of time:

• If the applicant is under 18
• If the applicant has been disqualified from holding an animal licence or keeping an animal
• If conditions of the licence are not met

The Kennel Club