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My Licensed Breeder Hub for education and support for licensed and responsible breeders
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A new report recommending resposible dog ownership also opens the conversation to regulating dog walkers and groomers.
06/10/2026

A new report recommending resposible dog ownership also opens the conversation to regulating dog walkers and groomers.

How much does a dog breeding licence really cost?We’ve been looking through several years of DEFRA data, specifically fo...
01/10/2026

How much does a dog breeding licence really cost?

We’ve been looking through several years of DEFRA data, specifically for dog breeding licences in England.

A few headline findings:

The average new one-year licence fee increased from £440.10 in 2022 to £490.23 in 2025.

In 2025, the reported average veterinary fee was £394.97, but individual figures ranged from £73 to £3,433.83.

A vet must be appointed for the initial dog breeding licence inspection. (We already know this)

Some councils include veterinary costs within their reported fee. Others charge them separately.

Councils can recover certain costs linked to compliance checks and enforcement against unlicensed operators, not just the inspection itself.

We are also seeing some councils introduce DBS checks, despite this not being specifically listed in the DEFRA dog breeding guidance.

Our recent breeder survey suggests that a significant part of some inspections can be spent reviewing paperwork and records.

There were 2,226 dog breeding licences reported in 2025.

There are certainly large differences between councils. But a high fee alone doesn't tell us why one authority costs more than another.

We can see what councils charge. What we cannot always see is how they arrived at that figure.

We've looked at the DEFRA figures, inspection time, veterinary costs and what councils are actually allowed to recover through licensing.

New rules covering children and banned dog types will take effect from 1 November 2026.Owners must ensure that a child u...
19/09/2026

New rules covering children and banned dog types will take effect from 1 November 2026.

Owners must ensure that a child under 12 is not left in close contact with an exempted banned dog in a home, garden or other private place without appropriate adult supervision.

The supervising adult must be at least 18, remain nearby and be able to separate the child and dog immediately. Cameras, baby monitors and video doorbells do not replace an adult being physically present.

The rules apply to banned dog types, including XL Bullies, but much of the government’s safety advice is useful for every home where children and dogs live together.

Read our summary of the new rules and how owners can prepare:

https://directory.licensedbreeder.co.uk/new-child-supervision-rules-for-banned-dog-types-from-november-2026/

Thinking of bringing a giant dog into your family?The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) research examined 28,345 giant dogs...
15/09/2026

Thinking of bringing a giant dog into your family?

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) research examined 28,345 giant dogs across 29 breeds and identified some important health and lifespan considerations for prospective owners.

Among 1,068 dogs recorded as having died, the median age at death was 8.94 years, more than three years shorter than previously reported for dogs generally.

The median is the middle point: half of the recorded dogs died before that age and half died later. It does not mean every giant dog will live for only nine years.

Researchers also reviewed the veterinary records of 4,316 giant dogs. Almost three quarters had at least one health disorder recorded during 2019, with skin, musculoskeletal and ear conditions the most common groups.

This does not mean giant dogs cannot make wonderful companions. It means buyers should consider health, expected lifespan, veterinary costs and practical care alongside appearance.

Before buying, ask about health testing, family longevity and the breeder’s approach to size. Avoid breeders selecting simply for the largest possible puppies, and verify their breeding licence where required.

29/08/2026

Thinking of buying a Cockapoo, Cavapoo or Labradoodle? New research suggests buyers should look beyond some of the common claims made about Doodles.

A Royal Veterinary College study involving 9,402 dogs found that, where behavioural differences were identified, Doodles displayed more undesirable behaviours than their parent breeds in 82.1% of comparisons.

All three Doodle types studied showed higher levels of non-social fear, separation-related problems and excitability than their non-Poodle parent breed. Cockapoos showed the greatest number of behavioural differences.

This does not mean Doodles are bad dogs or that every Doodle will develop behavioural problems.

It challenges the assumption that crossing two breeds automatically creates an easy-to-train dog that is naturally suited to every family.

Before buying, meet the puppy with its mother, assess the parents’ temperaments, check health testing for both breeds and verify the breeder’s licence where required.

New workshop next Saturday for breeders looking to apply or renew their licence 🔗 link in the profile
29/07/2026

New workshop next Saturday for breeders looking to apply or renew their licence

🔗 link in the profile

As licensed breeders, paperwork and policies can often become one of the most time consuming parts of the job.At My Lice...
19/06/2026

As licensed breeders, paperwork and policies can often become one of the most time consuming parts of the job.

At My Licensed Breeder, we've spent a considerable amount of time researching, reviewing, and streamlining policies to help breeders build documents that are practical, relevant, and easier to evidence during inspections. Our aim has always been to create a framework that works for breeders while remaining aligned with licensing guidance.

As guidance continues to evolve and enforcement officers receive more training and support, demonstrating higher standards increasingly relies on being able to evidence not just what your policies say, but how they are applied in practice.

That's one of the reasons we've invited Dignipets to join our next workshop.

The reality is that responsible breeding doesn't end when a puppy leaves for its new home. Many of us build long lasting relationships with our puppy owners and become a trusted source of advice throughout the dog's life. Sometimes that means helping owners through illness, injury, difficult decisions, and ultimately bereavement.

These are not topics we naturally look forward to discussing, but they are important. By understanding the support available and considering how these situations are reflected within our policies and procedures, we can continue raising standards and better support the communities that trust us.

Attendance certificates will be issued through the The Digital PawPrint and stored within your education records to support ongoing professional development.

This week, Russ had the opportunity to present the My Licensed Breeder concept at the Pet Industry Federation - PIF Busi...
05/06/2026

This week, Russ had the opportunity to present the My Licensed Breeder concept at the Pet Industry Federation - PIF Business of Pets Conference.

For us, the most important part wasn't talking about software. It was being able to tell the wider pet industry that there is a growing community of breeders who support each other and are committed to doing things properly.

The conversation around breeding always focuses on the negatives. What many people don't see is the number of breeders investing their own time and money into education, welfare, health testing, record keeping, traceability and continuous improvement.

Through My Licensed Breeder and The Digital PawPrint we've spent the last few years helping breeders understand licensing, develop policies and procedures, improve record keeping and build confidence in their businesses.

What started as a small support network has grown into a community of breeders from across the UK who share ideas, support one another and genuinely want to improve standards.

The message I wanted the audience to hear was simple:

Responsible breeders are not the problem. They are part of the solution.

Thank you to every member who has supported the network, attended workshops, tested new features, provided feedback and helped shape what we've built together.

The recognition for The Digital PawPrint belongs as much to our members as it does to us. Without your willingness to embrace new ideas and continuously improve, none of this would have been possible.

We're only getting started.

A big thank you to Pet Industry Federation - PIF for shortlisting The Digital PawPrint for Innovation of the Year.My Lic...
21/05/2026

A big thank you to Pet Industry Federation - PIF for shortlisting The Digital PawPrint for Innovation of the Year.

My Licensed Breeder started because breeders trying to do things properly had very little operational support. Most were running litters, welfare records, contracts, policies and compliance from spreadsheets, notebooks, WhatsApp photos and disconnected systems.

At the same time, expectations on breeders kept increasing.

So we started going to events, workshops and licensing discussions to show breeders that becoming licensed and operating transparently was not something to fear. The problem was never that most breeders didn’t care. The problem was that there was no structured framework to help them manage everything properly.

So we built one.

Digital PawPrint became a structured Quality Management System for breeding.

Not a puppy selling platform.
Not another classified site.
Not a flashy startup chasing investment.

Just practical organisation tools to help breeders operate properly, evidence welfare standards and keep everything connected in one place.

Digital PawPrint now helps breeders manage:
• litters and dog records
• policies and SOPs
• welfare records
• sales and traceability
• buyer education
• inspections and compliance
• workshops and 1:1 support

What started as tools for our own members has grown into something much bigger. We now likely have breeders using the system across almost every local authority area in the UK, creating structured operational data around puppies born, welfare activity and traceability within the licensed sector.

While parts of the sector continue discussing future legislation, funding models and oversight structures, we quietly built something breeders could actually use now.

No public funding.
No big investment.
No long consultation cycles.

Just listening to breeders, identifying problems and building practical systems around them.

Massive thank you to the members who helped shape the platform and continue testing new ideas with us every week.

Is Northern Ireland about to lead the way on breeder registration?New proposals could require puppy sellers and supplier...
06/05/2026

Is Northern Ireland about to lead the way on breeder registration?

New proposals could require puppy sellers and suppliers to register with their local council, include more information in adverts, transfer puppies where they are kept with their mother, and keep better records.

These proposals are aimed at improving traceability and protecting buyers, but they also raise a familiar question: who will enforce it?

Across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the problems are similar. The rules are different, but the welfare challenges are the same.

Our latest article looks at what breeders need to know.

Address

Studio 1, 12 Jordan Street
Liverpool
L10AH

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+443303324932

Website

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