Dog Breeding License Scotland UK
Here at Colour Me In, our puppies enjoy the best of both worlds. They are raised in a loving, caring home environment with professional standards upheld.
Are We Licensed?
Yes! – we are licensed by our local authority Perth & Kinross Council license number BD/PK/42 ticking all the boxes for legal dog breeding in Scotland and the UK & we won’t ever ask you to pay in cash to avoid paying our HMRC tax contributuons – so, when it comes to a pedigree pup, we’ve got the paperwork and the paw-print of approval ensuring they are all model law abiding citizens from the get go!
Lucy’s Law
Thanks to the passing of Lucy’s Law In April 2020 the UK government introduced new legislation in an attempt to quash puppy farming. The Scottish Government subsequently introduced their own legislation in September 2022. Now in both Scotland and the UK, any person breeding 3 or more litters of puppies in any 12 month period is required to be licensed with their local council authority regardless of whether the breeder sells or otherwise supplies a puppy as a pet to another person.
In addition anyone breeding dogs with the intent to offer puppies for sale i. e. a small number of high value puppies, must now obtain a breeding license and declare their additional earnings to HMRC.
HMRC considers income from dog breeding to be taxable and breeders must report it through self-assessment or company accounts. This applies whether breeding is a primary business or a hobby
Unfortuneately the majority of puppy sales websites in the UK still facilitate the illegal sale of puppies by non licensed breeders so always ask your breeder if they are licensed, the “oh I’m not a breeder” or “I don’t breed more than two litters a year” is not a valid response!
Buying a puppy from a licensed breeder offers numerous benefits:
Health and Welfare Standards
- licensed breeders are required to meet specific welfare standards, ensuring that the puppies are raised in a safe, clean, and healthy environment.
- all puppies must be microchipped & registered in the breeders name by 8 weeks of age prior to rehoming
- no bitch should be mated more than once in a 12 month period
- puppies cannot be rehomed under the age of 8 weeks
- no bitch will be mated under the age of twelve months
- maximum number of litters in her lifetime 6
- no bitch will be bred after her 8th birthday
Transparency and Accountability
- Licensed breeders are monitored and inspected by local authorities, which provides assurance that they adhere to ethical breeding practices.
Health Checks and Vaccinations
- Puppies from licensed breeders typically receive necessary health checks, vaccinations, and deworming, reducing the risk of health issues later on in life.
Proper Socialisation
- Licensed breeders ensure that puppies are well-socialised from a young age, which helps them develop into well-adjusted, confident pets.
- Dogs and puppies should not be bred & raised by persons working full time leaving them unsupervised for long periods of time.
Pedigree and Genetic Health
- Licensed breeders should provide documentation of the puppy’s pedigree even if they are crossbred. The risk of inbreeding from unknown parentage can be detrimental to the future health of a puppy.
- Responsible breeders will always geneticly health test their dogs prior to breeding giving them insight into the lineage and any potential health conditions.
Support and Guidance
- Licensed breeders will offer ongoing support and advice to new puppy owners, helping you with training, nutrition, and general care.
Ethical Breeding Practices
- By choosing a licensed breeder, you are supporting ethical breeding practices and contributing to the welfare of dogs overall.
Guarantees & Warranty
- buying a puppy from a licensed breeder offers you protection under the Consumers Rights Act 2015
If you are looking for a puppy to join your family always choose a reputable licensed dog breeder to help support animal welfare. A licensed dog breeder will always be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Puppies should always be viewed with their mother in a homely environment.