The Kennel Club does not keep general information relating to breeding from bitches as this can vary tremendously from breed to breed. However, the following information may be of some help to you when planning to breed from your bitch.

Breed Specifics:

There are a number of general books on dog breeding currently available. Additionally, you will find that there are many breed specific books that contain chapters, which relate to breeding.

Before breeding from your bitch, the Kennel Club advises that you check with your veterinary surgeon, your breed club and/or your dog's breeder to find out whether there are any possible inherited conditions that may affect your breed, for which there is an available test (e.g. hip dysplasia and eye conditions). There are several health schemes currently in operation to assist in the prevention or control of some diseases (including DNA tests), and where these exist, the Kennel Club strongly recommends that both sire and dam are tested.

Details of approximate stud fees, puppy prices and more detailed information on your chosen breed may be obtained from the breeder of your dog or from the breed clubs. Becoming a member of a breed club will enable you to learn more about your breed and allow you to contact other dog owners and dog breeders. Telephone numbers for these clubs can be obtained via the Kennel Club's call centre - 0870 606 6750. Alternatively you can visit the Breed Standards section of the website, select the breed you are interested in and the Breed Clubs for your breed will be listed at the bottom of the page, with the Club Secretary’s name and contact details.  There will also be a link to the Club’s website if it has one.

The Kennel Club:

Before thinking about breeding from your bitch, you should acquaint yourself with the Kennel Club Regulations on registering litters and the registration system in general. A Guide to Litter Registration can be obtained from the Kennel Club, but you will need to remember that the Kennel Club will not accept an application to register a litter when:

a) The bitch has already whelped six litters, or

b) The bitch was under a year old at the date of mating, or

c) The bitch has already reached the age of eight years at the date of whelping.

N.B. Relief from the last restriction may be considered provided the dam has previously whelped at least one other registered litter, and a written application is made prior to mating and supported by veterinary evidence confirming the suitability of the bitch involved in the proposed whelping.

You will also need to ensure that your bitch's Kennel Club registration does not carry a breeding restriction (endorsement). If there are any, you will need to discuss this further with the person from whom you obtained the bitch, as any breeding endorsement will need to be removed before registration of a litter can take place.  In most cases it will be the breeder who has placed the endorsement, and who will therefore be the person empowered to remove it.

The Kennel Club also has a Code of Ethics which all breeders that register their litters with the Kennel Club agree to adhere to.

Stud Dogs:

The Kennel Club does not keep a register of stud dogs and therefore if you wish to use your dog at stud you should contact either your dog's breeder or a breed club to ensure that you find a suitable mate for your bitch. As a responsible breeder, you will need to ensure that any stud dog, which you decide to use, not only has a compatible pedigree, but has also been examined for any inherited disease to which the breed is subject. Remember that male dogs may also carry breeding restrictions, and therefore you will need to bear in mind that any breeding endorsement will have to be removed from his registration records before the litter can be registered. You are strongly advised to confirm in writing, prior to the mating, that any such endorsement has been removed.  For further information please download and read the Kennel Club ‘Thinking of using your dog at stud’ Information Guide.

Accredited Breeder Scheme:

The Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme promotes good breeding practice and, as a breeder, you may wish to consider joining. There are set requirements that Accredited Breeders must agree to follow, which encourage the breeding of healthy, well-adjusted puppies. In return, Accredited Breeders may use the scheme literature and logo to promote their breeding.

The Law:

Under the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999, those breeders breeding five or more litters per year may need to be licensed. However, a local authority may still classify a dog breeder as being commercial - and therefore requiring a licence - even if the person breeds fewer than five litters per year, if in the local authority's opinion that person is deemed as breeding for commercial gain.

If breeders are in any doubt as to their eligibility under the Act, the Kennel Club advises that they contact their local Environmental Health Office for further clarification. If you need to be licensed, the Kennel Club advises that you obtain a copy of the Act so that you are fully aware of its contents and your responsibilities.

Finding Good Homes for Your Puppies:

It is vitally important that you find the right home for your puppies. Hopefully this will determine where they will spend the rest of their life, and you will want to ensure that the puppy will be happy in that environment.

As guidelines, you may wish to think about some of the following when making your decision:

• Find out if the people who want to buy the puppy have done their "homework" on their chosen breed.
• Try to meet the whole family, including any children if possible.
• Ask potential owners if they have any other dogs / pets.
• Find out whether the dog is wanted purely as a pet, or whether they may be interested in breeding at a later stage (you may have placed endorsements on the puppy's registration certificate and the new owners will need to agree to these in writing before or at the date of sale). The new owner may also want to compete at Kennel Club licensed events.
• Do not mislead people regarding the dog’s characteristics and the care it requires (particularly of the coat).  Incomplete information for the new owner may result in the puppy being returned to you, or being sold on.
• Find out if the potential owner has the time and inclination to groom an adult dog (particularly long coated breeds).
• Find out how much time they spend at home. It is not necessarily a bad thing if they are out all day, provided they can take the dog to work with them.
• Find out more about where they live, for example do they have a fenced garden? Some breeders like to conduct a home check before selling a puppy (you could always ask for photographs if it is not possible for you to visit the house in person). Do not automatically rule out flat dwellers - as long as they are willing and able to walk the dog regularly they may be able to offer a suitable home. It can even be the case that the dog is better off as then it cannot just be put out in the garden for exercise!

Finally, if you are not sure that the home is right for the puppy, then do not sell it.

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Responsible Dog Breeding 

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