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Animal activities licensing

Find out about animal welfare licensing for dog breeding, animal boarding, selling animals as pets and hiring out horses.

Dog breeding

You need a dog breeding licence if you breed:

  • puppies and advertise them for sale as part of a business, regardless of the number of puppies
  • breed 3 or more litters of puppies in a year (unless you can show that none of the puppies were sold)

When deciding if you are running or advertising a business, consider:

  • number, frequency or high volumes of litters and sales
  • repeated use of the same advertising channels
  • advertising across multiple websites or platforms
  • range of breeds offered
  • whether sales generate significant income or profit

See the DEFRA statutory guidance on dog breeding.

Who does not need a licence

A licence is not usually needed if you:

  • breed fewer than 3 litters a year and sell them without making a profit
  • keep all the puppies yourself and can provide evidence of this
  • are a registered charity rehoming puppies born to rescue dogs (unless this is run as a commercial activity)
  • breed only assistance dogs, as defined in the Equality Act 2010
  • keep a dog under the Animal Health Act 1981
  • operate under a licence issued through the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

How to apply

To apply or renew your licence, you will need to complete and submit the application form.

Send your application to:

Email: Environmental.Health@cumberland.gov.uk

An approved vet will inspect your premises. You will need to pay for the veterinary inspection as well as the application fee.

Licence conditions

If you are granted a licence, you must meet conditions covering:

  • welfare of breeding bitches and puppies
  • accommodation, exercise and socialisation
  • record keeping and identification of dogs
  • veterinary treatment and care
  • staff training and supervision

Each licensed business is awarded a star rating from 1 to 5, based on welfare standards and compliance. This rating must be displayed with your licence. Details of how star ratings are calculated are set out in the the DEFRA Procedural Guidance for Local Authorities.

See Schedule 6 of the 2018 Regulations for the full conditions.

Guidance

Find more guidance about dog breeding licence on GOV.UK