Licensed dog breeder numbers fall as charity estimates nine in 10 puppies bred outside regulation

Naturewatch Foundation’s latest FOI investigation also found dozens of council areas with no licensed breeders at all

The number of licensed dog breeders across the UK and Ireland has dropped by 8% in a year, according to new figures from Naturewatch Foundation, which estimates that the large majority of UK puppies are now bred outside the licensing system.

The charity sent Freedom of Information requests to 390 local authorities across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Responses showed around 2,664 licensed breeders, down from the previous year’s count.

Using the number of breeding bitches recorded by licensed establishments, alongside estimates of how many puppies enter UK homes each year, the charity calculated that only 10.5% to 14% of UK puppies come from licensed breeders.

The rest come from a mix of sources. Not all of these are illegal: smaller-scale breeders can fall below the threshold that requires a licence. However, the charity says the figure also includes illegal breeding operations and puppy smuggling, and that the lack of visibility leaves both dogs and buyers at risk.

Thousands of breeding bitches unaccounted for

The investigation recorded around 17,395 female dogs kept for licensed breeding in the UK in 2026, compared with more than 22,000 in 2025. Naturewatch says this fall of over 5,500 dogs in such a short period raises questions about what has happened to them.

Licensed breeders in England and Wales must make rehoming arrangements for retired breeding dogs, but this requirement does not apply elsewhere in the UK. The charity wants it extended to the other nations.

Gaps across the map

The data also highlighted big differences in licensed breeding between areas. Sixty local authorities, 36 of them in England, reported having no licensed dog breeders. At the other end of the scale, 27 licensed breeders across the UK and Ireland are allowed to keep more than 50 breeding dogs. Most licensed breeders appear to keep 10 or fewer.

Call for consultation

In its Animal Welfare Strategy for England, published in December 2025, the Government committed to ending puppy farming and consulting on stronger dog breeding regulation. Naturewatch Foundation is urging ministers to bring that consultation forward without further delay.

For practices, the findings are a reminder of the value of talking to clients about responsible puppy sourcing before they buy. That includes checking whether a breeder should be licensed and asking to see puppies with their mother.