Report highlights inconsistent enforcement of dog‑breeding welfare rules

A new report has found wide variation in how local authorities in England and Scotland enforce key dog‑breeding welfare rules intended to prevent the breeding of animals at risk of genetic or conformational suffering.

The study — Protecting dogs from genetic and conformational suffering: Are we using the legal rules effectively? — examines how councils apply a mandatory licence condition under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. The condition prohibits breeding from any dog where its genotype, phenotype or health suggests doing so could harm its welfare or that of its offspring. The report also reviews how Scottish authorities assess compliance with the equivalent provision in Scotland’s legislation.

The authors found significant differences in how councils interpret and assess compliance. Around 64% of English local authorities said they rely on veterinary advice during inspections, often by involving a vet alongside a licensing officer. Others reported reviewing veterinary records, examining breeders’ own documentation, checking for health‑testing evidence, consulting external sources such as the Royal Kennel Club, or relying on the experience of licensing officers. While a small number of councils undertake comprehensive assessments, several reported having no clear method for determining compliance.

Recorded breaches remain rare. Between October 2018 and August 2025, councils in England identified 31 instances of non‑compliance, resulting in 17 licence refusals, six variations, two suspensions, two prosecutions and two convictions. No licence revocations were reported. Some authorities said they exclude individual dogs of concern from a licence rather than record a formal breach, a practice the report warns may limit oversight of broader welfare issues.

The findings point to a need for clearer statutory guidance for both councils and breeders, stronger emphasis on holistic assessments drawing on multiple sources of evidence, improved training for licensing officers, and clearer direction on the role of veterinarians in inspections. The report focuses on the operation of current law and does not assess potential reforms, though it notes that substantive changes may ultimately be required.

The work aligns with Defra’s Animal Welfare Strategy for England, which acknowledges growing concerns about dogs bred for fashionable aesthetic traits and commits to consulting on dog breeding and improving compliance with the licensing regime.

The report was prepared by Helena Howe and Louis on behalf of Naturewatch Foundation, the Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs (LAGECDogs) and the UK Centre for Animal Law (A‑LAW).