Dog breeders licence

Home > Services > Business > Licensing > Animal licences

Establishments used for the breeding of dogs are controlled by the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and 1991. Also the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999.

No person may keep a breeding establishment without first obtaining a licence from their Local Authority.

The 1999 Act amends the definition of a breeding establishment in the 1973 Act. A breeding establishment is defined as any premises where the business of breeding dogs for sale is carried on. 

Hobby breeders would not be expected to fall within that definition, even if they sold some puppies, provided that the new section 4A(3) of the 1973 Act does not apply to them. Section 4A(3) provides that a person will be presumed to be carrying on the business of breeding dogs for sale at any premises if, during any 12 month period, a total of 5 or more litters are born to bitches (at any location) during that period.

In summary, anyone carrying out a dog breeding business will require a licence regardless of the number of litters involved. However, any hobby breeder whose bitches produce 5 or more litters a year will be regarded as carrying on a business by Renfrewshire Council.

Eligibility

Applications for a licence must be made to Renfrewshire Council, and a licence may be issued if the applicant is not disqualified under any of the following acts.

• The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.
• The Pet Animals Act 1951.
• The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954.
• The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1934.

How to apply for a licence

Applicants should complete the application form which is available below. On request an application form will be forwarded to the applicant for completion by post. On receipt of the application form the council will arrange for an officer to carry out an inspection of the premises to ensure its suitability for dog breeding. Dependant on the findings of the inspection a licence may or may not be issued.

• The application will be processed in 21 working days.
• Refer to the conditions of licence for required evidence/information.
• Please refer to the Animal Licences Fees and Charges page for current cost of a licence.
• You must contact us immediately with any changes of circumstances.

Where a licence is granted, that licence and any subsequent licence will expire on 31 December of the year to which the licence relates and must be renewed before the date if the premises are to continue as a dog breeding establishment.

Application forms

To apply for a new dog breeders licence, download and complete the application form.

Dog Breeders Licence application form (pdf - 524KB)
Animal Licence Advice and Guidance (pdf - 547KB)

You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these documents. Download Acrobat Reader here.

The licence lasts for one year. Before the renewal date, Renfrewshire Council will write to you informing you that the licence is due to be renewed asking you to complete a licence renewal form. Following this, an inspection will be carried out by an Officer and when the Officer is satisfied that the conditions have been met, a new licence will be issued.

Conditions of licence

Before being granted a licence the applicant must be able to demonstrate to the Council's officer:

• that the dogs will at all times be kept in accommodation that is suitable in respect of
  construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness
• that the dogs will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding material, adequately exercised, and (so far as is necessary) visited at suitable intervals
• that all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent and control the spread amongst the dogs of infectious or contagious diseases, including the provision of isolation facilities
• that appropriate steps will be taken for the protection of the dogs in case of fire or other emergency, including the provision of suitable and sufficient fire fighting equipment
• that all appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that the dogs will be provided with suitable food drink and bedding material and adequately exercised when being transported to or from the breeding establishment

A licence may be refused or withheld on other grounds if those grounds are such that conditions are not suitable for the breeding of dogs.

Each licence is subject to standard conditions that are imposed on all dog-breeding establishments licensed by Renfrewshire Council. In addition to the standard conditions a licence may also contain special conditions that are only applicable to your premises.

The following offences apply to the breeding of dogs.

• Anybody found guilty of keeping dog breeding establishment without a licence may be subject to a fine not exceeding £2,500.
• Anybody found guilty of failing to comply with the conditions of their licence may be subject to a fine not exceeding £2,500.
• Anybody found guilty of obstructing or delaying an Inspector or authorised Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary Practitioner in the exercising of their powers may be fined up to a maximum of £1,000.
• If found guilty under this Act, the defendant's licence may be cancelled and they may be disqualified from keeping a dog breeding establishment for such length of time as the Court thinks fit.

If you are refused a licence

Any person aggrieved by a refusal to be granted a licence or by any conditions to which a licence is subject may appeal to the Sheriff who may give such directions regarding the licence or its conditions as it thinks proper.

Inspections

There will be an initial inspection on application and annually thereafter.

Contact information

• email: ts.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone: 0141 840 3184 (select option 2)
• call in or write to us at:
  
  Renfrewshire Council
  Environmental Services
  Trading Standards
  Renfrewshire House
  Cotton Street
  Paisley
  PA1 1BR