Dog Breeding Regulations: Should the UK deregulate or simply provide better enforcement.

Some may argue that the licensing requirements in the UK for breeding dogs are too strict, discourage responsible breeders and lead to underground activity, while others believe that removing licensing regulations could lead to an increase in lower welfare standards, more unethical breeding, and further problems for adoption centres already overwhelmed or full to capacity with unwanted dogs.

So, is deregulation the solution? Or do we need to focus on enforcing the regulations we already have? Let’s break it down.

Do you need a breeding licence?

In the UK, whether you need a breeding licence or not depends on certain criteria, such as how much you earn, the number of litters you produce, and whether you meet certain thresholds.

The regulations vary across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, which can make it confusing for breeders.

The reality is: that 14% of puppies sold in the UK are bred and reared by licensed breeders. That means 86% of puppy sales happen outside any regulatory oversight*.

This raises the question? Are unlicensed breeders following proper welfare standards? Are puppies being bred responsibly? Or are we already seeing the impact in adoption centres and on public safety?

If you are unsure whether you need a licence or not, answer a few simple questions using the link below to find out if you need a breeding licence.

Take the “Do You Need a Breeding Licence?” questionnaire now

Why some people want deregulation

Some breeders and leading voices argue that licensing is too complicated, inconsistently enforced, and unfairly targets responsible breeders who may decide to stop breeding. Their concerns include:

Confusion on needing a licence. Many breeders struggle to understand the regulations, and local authorities don’t always enforce them consistently.
Reputation for licensed breeders. The media often focuses on large-scale licensed breeders who fail to achieve animal welfare standards, making licensing with a local authority seem like a red flag for the general public rather than a mark of responsibility.
Rising costs and requirements. Having a breeding licence can be expensive and time-consuming, our member surveys suggest that some councils are outsourcing inspections to local vets and the associated costs which can discourage small, ethical breeders from continuing.

While these frustrations are understandable, would removing regulations improve things?

The risks of deregulation

Deregulations could have serious implications, such as:

More dogs end up in adoption centres. Without proper oversight, unregulated breeding could lead to a rise in unwanted dogs.
Decrease in animal welfare standards. A breeding licence exists to ensure dogs are bred and reared in a safe, healthy environment. Deregulation could result in lower standard breeding conditions.
A rise in backyard breeding. Without regulations, anyone could breed and sell dogs without considering health, genetics, or welfare.

So is the real issue the existence of regulations or is it that they’re not being enforced properly?

Has deregulation worked in other sectors?

Looking at other sectors, deregulation rarely improves standards:

The transportation sector: The rise of ride-sharing applications led to looser regulations, which increased availability, but brought concerns over driver pay, passenger safety, and overall service quality.
Financial services sector: Deregulation did help businesses expand, but this contributed to instability, increased scandals, and an economic crisis.
The meat sector: Some deregulation reduced costs, but it raises concerns about food safety, hygiene, and animal welfare.

In other sectors, deregulation may provide short-term benefits but often leads to long-term harm and the dog breeding regulations are no different.

What’s the real problem?

Rather than deregulating, we need to fix what’s broken:

Improved training for local authorities so licensing is applied fairly and consistently.
Clarity on the regulations for breeders so they understand their responsibilities.
Better enforcement of unlicensed breeders, rather than focusing only on those who follow the regulations.
Support for responsible breeders, so they feel encouraged, not penalised for doing things correctly.

The biggest challenge is that many breeders aren’t sure if they’re ready to be licensed or don’t know what’s needed.

Our “Are You Ready to Be Licensed?” questionnaire, is a tool that helps responsible breeders understand whether they meet the basic requirements of a breeding licence and also what steps they need to take next—whether that’s seeking support, reaching out to their local authority, or getting additional training.

Take the “Are You Ready to Be Licensed?” questionnaire now

So, should we deregulate animal breeding?

Our answer is No! deregulation will not fix the problem.

Instead of deregulating, we need:

Better enforcement
Clarity for breeders

Action against unlicensed breeding
Support for responsible breeding

Currently, most breeders operate without a licence, and we’re seeing overwhelmed adoption centres and an increase in dog attacks regardless of the bully ban.

How would removing regulations help? The answer isn’t to deregulate. It’s to make them work properly.