Hi.

I am a breeder, and have been for 6 years,  breeding usually only 1 litter a year (this year ive had 2).  Currently I have 3 bitches and a dog,   one Bitch is recently spayed, one whole, and the other bitch is spayed, but a cross breed anyway and never been bred.

Today I had a visit from my local council,

The council inform me I have to get a licence,  and I'm struggling to find information on the net, that is clear and  doesn't conflict with other sites.  some sites say I don't need one, others say I do as I sell pups.
I was under the impression you didn't require a licence until you bred a certain amount in 12 months. I would not be granted a licence, as my dogs are pets and I don't have an official quarantine area.  Can the council force me to be licenced for my one litter a year?  Is there a way to fight this. He was really nasty! 

I have no kennels, my dogs are all registered with the KC and fully health checked, and in regular contact with my vet,

its very confusing, best thing is to look at the local council.  Think some say 5 litters, some say more than 2 intact bitches and some say any breeding

gov.uk
Overview

You must have a dog breeding licence if you breed and sell dogs.

Sheffield
Who needs a dog breeding licence

It is an offence for any person to keep such an establishment in Sheffield unless licensed by us.

"Keeping" means carrying on a business of breeding dogs with a view to them being sold in the course of such business, whether by their keeper or by any other person.

Oxford
Dog breeding licence

A breeding establishment means any premises where during any 12 month period, five or more litters of puppies are born to bitches kept on your premises or elsewhere.

Wiltshire it says "if more than 2 bitches are kept for the purpose of breeding puppies for sale" , it seems to vary around the country so check your local council website

It varies from council to council. Did the officials that came to see you not give you any paperwork about their requirements? If they did not, then give the council a quick call and ask for the relevant paperwork. You can also check at the same time that it was actually council officials that visited you.

Our council website explains why they require. Some councils have become very restrictive others not so

Yes like Admin says it varies from council to council. Within my council, you need a license if you have more than two breeding bitches -and breed to sell. If you are an exhibitor, breeding for yourself for your next showdog and simply have to sell the pups you don't keep as you can't keep an entire litter, then they (i.e. my council) class you as a hobby breeder and then no license needed. So the purpose for breeding can mean a lot. I have made very sure to keep all details of show entries etc so that I can easily prove that I am a regular exhibitor and this is my reason for breeding.

Mine just quotes this?
Dog breeding
You need this licence if you are breeding and selling dogs as a business (regardless of the number in a year). Anyone producing more than 5 litters in a 12 month period, regardless of whether they are doing it as a business, must be licenced.

So what if you have a hobby kennel 1-2 litters a year say, lots of showing expenses.....apply for the license and they refuse...where do you go from there?

My council just states..."You must have a dog breeding licence if you breed and sell dogs." That could be one litter!

So it would seem,  we need to check our local councils interpretation of the law.

If there is no specific advice then use the need a licence if breeding mote than 4 litters ( or mote than 2 if the law changes), or if breeding as a business.

As has been said those councils that say even one litter counts,  and then apply commercial conditions,  will mean hobby home breeders will not be able to breed.

Five or more litters a year at our council. They also charge a 3-figure fee, and inspect the premises before granting license.

Mine says this: Persons who wish to breed and sell dogs regardless of the number of litters produced in a 12 month period.

Persons who breed five litters or more in a 12 month period will also need to be licensed regardless of whether they are in the business of breeding and selling dogs.

Please note that a license is not required for breeding other animals.

I'm now panicing as I'm a hobby breeder. I've just had my first litter and do not intend on having another for 2 or 3 years. I only bred so that I could have something to show. I don't have a licence..really worried I'm going to get done now..

Ive nothing further to report on this, other than I asked the Council bloke,  why i needed a licence when the law states up to 5 litters a year before needing one,  and after checking with the Kennel Club, they say 4 litters,  why do I need one for one litter.. He said My circumstances mean that i need one anyway, regardless of how many.

Ive asked him to put into writing, what in particular are my circumstances, that make them believe i require a licence, and ive not heard anything back.

I will not be purchasing a licence,  i do not believe i need one.  I will be fighting this