WINTER 2022 DOG BREEDING You must be licensed by your local authority if you breed and sell dogs on a commercial basis ENSURING THE BEST IN BREEDING The British are renowned animal lovers, with dogs a firm favourite as family pets. Millions more households in the UK acquired a dog during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to fuel an increase in the number of businesses breeding and selling dogs. To carry on this type of business, however, you may need to be licensed under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018. This legislation states that a licence from the local authority is required if a person is: n Breeding three or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period, unless they can prove that none of the puppies has been sold as a puppy or adult n Breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs. Systematic and repeated transactions using the same means of advertising are likely to indicate commercial activity Factors that can indicate if someone is advertising a business include the number, frequency or volume of sales. Systematic and repeated transactions using the same means of advertising are likely to indicate commercial activity. High volumes of animals being sold or advertised for sale could also indicate a business is in operation but so too could low volumes, as such an enterprise could involve high sales prices or large profit margins. Other factors that could indicate commercial activity include: n High range and variability in the breeds traded n High numbers of adverts for puppies for sale at one time or over a short period of time including on classified websites (such as Pets4homes or Gumtree) even where no actual sale takes place through the internet n Advertising through a variety of sites, forums or media n The sale of animals with non-UK documentation or microchip. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRCs) badges of trade should also be considered when determining if someone is running a business (see panel). HMRCs 9 badges of trade: Credit: John Harvey, Environmental Health officer Image: iStock / chuckcollier n n n n n n n n n Profit-seeking motive Number of transactions Nature of the asset Existence of similar trading transactions or interests Changes to the asset The way the sale was carried out Source of finance Interval of time between purchase and sale Method of acquisition Anonymous Hotline For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service For up-to-date news stories and information, follow us on 0300 303 2636 Is your sector being undermined by unscrupulous traders operating outside the law? Report them via Trading Standards Anonymous Hotline or online and help level the playing field for honest businesses.