Dog Breeding Establishment

The Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991 and Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 regulate the licensing of commercial dog breeders.

A licence is required for any premises where more than two bitches are kept for the purposes of breeding for sale. Commercial dog breeding establishments are premises having five or more litters of puppies in any twelve month period. The occasional or hobby breeder does not require a licence. Restrictions are also placed on breeding bitches to ensure that they are not bred with dogs below one year in age and are not required to have more than six litters. Full breeding records must be kept.

How much does it cost

Please see our licensing fees page.

Making an application

An application to a local authority for a licence must be made together with the fee (pro rata if applied during the year) Once an application has been received, you will receive confirmation from the licensing team that the application is in progress you will then need to arrange for a vet to inspect your establishment. You will have to pay the vets directly for this visit in addition to your licence fee.

We will then arrange for an inspection of the premises by an authorised officer of the Council. Before granting a Licence, we will consider the report of this inspection concerning the applicant, the premises and other relevant matters.

A licence comes into force on the day it is granted until the 31st December renewal application forms will automatically be sent out in November each year.