Kennel Club Launches 'Find a Breeder' Service to Connect Owners with Breeders Earlier

The Royal Kennel Club has launched Find a Breeder, an online directory designed to connect prospective puppy owners with responsible breeders earlier in the process, before litters are even born. Unlike the existing Find a Puppy listings, which only show litters once they arrive, the new service lets approved breeders list themselves and build waiting lists for planned matings, while owners can research breeds and make contact well in advance.

To be included, breeders must apply for Royal Kennel Club assessment and agree to meet, as a minimum, the Good Practice level of any breed-specific health standard that applies, as well as breeding only recognised breed-standard colours. The organisation says the aim is to put health and welfare considerations at the centre of the puppy-buying conversation from the outset, rather than as an afterthought once a litter is already on the ground.

For prospective owners, the directory is a starting point rather than a guarantee: the Royal Kennel Club is clear that a listing does not amount to an endorsement of any individual breeder, and buyers are still encouraged to visit in person, ask to see puppies with their mother, and request full, written health test results before committing. For breeders, the service offers a legitimate way to gauge genuine demand and plan litters around registered interest rather than guesswork, which the Kennel Club hopes will encourage more considered, welfare-led breeding decisions across the board.