Small Talk - Spring 2019

As of the 1s​t​of October 2018, new dog breeding regulations were put in place by Defra. These regulations only apply to England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not affected by these changes. There are a number of significant changes to breeders in England, which are explained below. A licence must be obtained by anyone breeding 3 or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period and selling at least 1 puppy. The previous litter threshold of 5 or more in a 12-month period has been reduced to 3 or more litters per 12-month period. This means that anyone over this threshold will have to apply for a licence, unless the breeder can prove the puppies were not sold. This also includes the sale of adult (over 6 months of age) dogs. Anyone in the business of breeding and/or selling puppies (including breeders who sell one or two litters in a 12-month period) may require a license if the breeder is deemed to be breeding and advertising a business of selling dogs. This is not restricted to registered businesses - individuals can also be classed as a business depending on the extent of their activities. The Government has provided guidance on what local authority inspectors should consider when ​assessing whether a breeder meets the business test.