Report finds inconsistent enforcement of dog breeding welfare licence conditions

Researchers from the University of Exeter and Naturewatch Foundation, working with the Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs and the UK Centre for Animal Law, have examined how local authorities in England and Scotland enforce the licence condition that bars breeding from a dog where it can reasonably be expected to harm the health or welfare of the dog or its offspring. Using Freedom of Information responses from 326 local authorities, the study found wide variation in how councils interpret and apply the rule, with formal findings of non-compliance recorded only rarely against roughly 2,390 licensed breeders across both nations.

Where breaches were identified, they most often involved inherited or genetic conditions, conformation-related health problems, or a failure to carry out appropriate health testing. The report notes that some councils gave detailed, multi-source assessments of compliance, while others could not point to a clear method for evaluating it, and some appear to sidestep formal non-compliance findings by simply excluding an individual dog of concern from a licence. The authors are calling for clearer statutory guidance, consistent veterinary involvement in inspections, and a more holistic assessment of breeding dogs' health, conformation and temperament.

For anyone breeding, buying a puppy from, or researching a licensed breeder, the findings are a useful reminder that a licence alone does not guarantee that breeding-suitability checks have been applied consistently. The report is intended to feed into the UK government's wider dog breeding reform commitments under its Animal Welfare Strategy for England, and into equivalent policy work in Scotland.