Responsible dog breeding: what it means and what the law requires

Responsible breeding is about producing healthy, well-socialised puppies and putting the welfare of the mother, father and litter first. Irresponsible breeding and puppy farming can lead to puppies with inherited health problems and poor early experiences. Whether you're thinking of breeding from your dog or buying a puppy, it helps to know what good practice looks like.

Should you breed from your dog?

The Royal Kennel Club says breeding should never be a decision taken lightly. Before you start, think about:

• why you want to breed
• whether your dog is suitable for breeding
• whether you can afford it, including emergency vet care
• whether you have enough time and space to raise a litter
• whether you can find good homes for the puppies
• whether you need a breeding licence
• whether you can put your dog's and the puppies' health and happiness before everything else

If you aren't sure you can answer yes to all of these, it's better not to breed.

Choosing suitable dogs to breed from

The Royal Kennel Club advises that both parents should:

• be healthy, with a good temperament
• have had the health tests and screening recommended for their breed
• not be closely related to each other

A vet check-up before mating is also recommended, to make sure vaccinations, worming and flea treatments are up to date and there's no reason not to breed.

Health testing

The genes a dog passes on affect the health of its puppies for the rest of their lives, and can affect generations to come. The Royal Kennel Club's Health Standard lists the recommended tests for each breed:

• Good practice tests cover the most important conditions in the breed, and breeders should complete them as a minimum.
• Best practice means completing all the recommended tests.

Some tests need the dog to be a certain age. Hip and elbow screening, for example, requires the dog to be at least a year old.

Age and litter limits

The Royal Kennel Club only registers puppies from dogs aged at least one. For some breeds, and particularly for females, it recommends waiting until two. It considers a female of eight or older too old to breed from, as pregnancy in older dogs carries a higher risk of health problems.

For licensed breeders in England, the licence conditions say a female must not:

• be mated if she's under 12 months old
• have more than one litter in 12 months
• have more than six litters in total
• be mated if she has had two litters delivered by caesarean section

Do you need a breeding licence?

In England, GOV.UK says you need a dog breeding licence from your local council if you:

• breed 3 or more litters in any 12-month period and sell any of the puppies
• run a business that breeds and advertises dogs for sale

Whether you count as a business depends on factors such as whether you're breeding with a view to making a profit. This can apply to individuals, not just registered businesses.

Licensed breeders are inspected and must meet welfare conditions. Breeding without a licence when you need one is a criminal offence and can lead to a fine or a prison sentence.

Rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check with your local council.

Selling puppies responsibly

• In England, licensed breeders must not sell a puppy under 8 weeks old or separate it from its mother before then, unless it's necessary for welfare reasons.
• Licensed breeders must show puppies with their mother in the place they were born.
• In England, Scotland and Wales, puppies must be microchipped by 8 weeks old, before they go to a new home.

Lucy's Law: what it means for buyers

Since 6 April 2020, Lucy's Law has banned commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens under six months in England. Pet shops and dealers can no longer sell puppies they didn't breed themselves. If you want a puppy in England, you must buy directly from the breeder or adopt from a rescue centre.

Wales and Scotland also ban third-party sales of young puppies and kittens; check the rules where you live.

If you're buying a puppy, always see it with its mother, ask about health tests, and walk away if something doesn't feel right.