When we think about dog breeding in the UK, there are two perspectives we often see: those who enforce the rules and those who live them every day. Recent reports from Four Paws UK and the My Licensed Breeder network reveal common themes… a shared urgency for change.
The regulation of dog breeding in the UK is under scrutiny from two critical perspectives: campaigners calling for tougher enforcement and licensed breeders demanding a fairer, more consistent system. Both viewpoints come together in stark agreement on one key point—the current system isn’t working.
The postcode enforcement lottery
Four Paws UK suggests a troubling picture. Despite having robust regulations designed to protect dogs, enforcement remains patchy and inconsistent. Local authorities vary hugely in how strictly they apply these regulations, creating a postcode lottery for enforcement. Astonishingly, between 2018 and 2023, out of nearly 10,000 issued licences, only 35 were revoked or suspended.
This either suggests that once breeders get their initial licence, further scrutiny often drops off significantly or there are bigger problems with unlicensed breeders.
Enforcement Is Failing Animals
The Four Paws UK report, released in April 2025, paints a bleak picture of a fragmented enforcement system. Key findings include:
- Inconsistent Enforcement: Between 2018 and 2023, only 35 dog breeding licences were revoked or suspended from nearly 10,000 issued. Many councils approve renewals without meaningful follow-up
- Lack of Inspections: Local authorities often perform the bare minimum statutory inspections, with few unannounced or follow-up visits. Scotland and Northern Ireland conducted fewer inspections than licences issued
- Data and Expertise Gaps: Many councils lack officers with specialist animal welfare training, and only 69 authorities consistently recorded essential data like litter numbers
- Postcode Lottery in Fees: Licence fees range wildly, from £58 in Cannock Chase to over £1,200 in Wigan. This variation undermines trust and questions whether fees truly fund meaningful inspections and oversight
My Licensed Breeder members echo the same concerns
Meanwhile, the Q1 2025 report by My Licensed Breeder, compiled from the latest member survey responses, reveals that responsible breeders feel similarly failed by the system:
- Frustration with Inconsistency: 83% of breeders called the variation in licensing fees unfair, and 72% said a consistent UK-wide licensing framework is essential
- Concerns Over Enforcement Quality: Breeders criticised poorly trained inspectors and raised alarm over officers who “sign off licences without proper checks,” highlighting a disconnect between enforcement and actual welfare knowledge
- Low Confidence in Outcomes: Only 28% of breeders said they felt optimistic about the future of breeding in the UK. Many cited over-regulation of responsible breeders, while illegal and unethical practices go unpunished
- Call for Better Data and Simplified Licensing: Breeders demanded clear, consistent guidance and simpler systems, especially for small-scale, ethical operations that are often buried under paperwork
A Practical Solution for a Broken System
Digital PawPrint, developed by My Licensed Breeder, is a purpose-built compliance platform designed to address many of the root problems highlighted by both campaigners and breeders. This is only available to members for one simple reason… You need to understand the regulations to use it.
When the app was originally released on beta to licensed breeders, one thing became really evident. Most breeders have never been asked for the records stipulated in the regulations and enforcment officers where happy to accept paper documents with no written policies.
However, there are changes on the horizon and councils are dedicating more resources to educate staff in both animal welfare 7 the regulations.
Here’s how it helps:
Standardised Record Keeping
Breeders can log litters, matings, health tests, and C-sections in one place, ensuring accurate, timestamped records that can be shared with local authorities in real time – before or after the inspection to free more time.
Licensing Support & Readiness
The platform is aligned with the 2018 licensing conditions, enabling breeders to track and demonstrate compliance with minimum and higher standards, including staff training, welfare checks, and environmental conditions.
Centralised Compliance Reporting
Digital PawPrint generates reports that can be submitted to local authorities, bridging the data gap identified in the Four Paws investigation and giving inspectors clear, objective evidence during assessments.
Fairer Inspections
By digitising and documenting everything, breeders can prove their standards without relying on subjective or inconsistent inspector interpretation and store data in a safe and real-time environment.
Education & Alerts
The app notifies users of policy changes (such as DEFRA updates), ensuring breeders are never left in the dark about new requirements.
National Transparency
Breeders using the platform are verifiable and traceable, supporting the creation of a centralised database of licensed breeders, a recommendation supported by 78% of breeders surveyed.
