All licences to breed dogs are issued in line with The Animal Welfare (licensing of activities involving animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving animals) Regulations 2018 (pdf 5mb)
Guidance notes for Breeding of dogs
Before making an application you should ensure you have read 'What do I need to know before I apply for a licence to breed dogs?'
How does being a Kennel Club Assured Breeder affect my application?
The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) as operating to the higher animal welfare standards.
Therefore, if you have held Kennel Club Assured Breeder status for at least three years you will automatically be considered low risk and, even if you have not previously held a licence with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, your compliance history through the Assured Breeder Scheme will allow you to achieve low-risk rating.
The star rating issued will be dependent upon compliance with the animal welfare standards met.
Fees
Animal Activities licence fees April 2022 (pdf 194kb)
Veterinary fees will also be due, which will be separately charged, as every application must be inspected by a vet.
Please be aware that the cost of the veterinary inspection fee cannot be predetermined by the council and varies depending upon the number of dogs, type of premises, and the time taken for travel, inspection and report production.
Processing your application
If you wish to apply for a dog breeding licence you will need to complete and submit the online application form below,
Please note: the online form will ask for payment at the end, failure to make the payment online will mean the licensing team will not receive your application for a dog breeder's licence.
Apply online for a dog breeder's licence
Alternatively, you can complete the hard copy form below, which can then submitted via email to:
Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk
Application for the breeding or sale of dogs (word 191kb)
Your application form must be accompanied by all supporting documents listed in the application form declaration, any application received without supporting documents will not be accepted.
Once your application is valid and complete you will be contacted by a licensing officer who will agree a mutually convenient appointment time/date for a full inspection to take place. On the successful completion of the inspection, receipt of the Vet’s Inspection report and payment of the inspection fee your application will be considered and determined.
Who inspects and what does the inspection involve?
The inspection must be made by a Licensing Inspector appointed from the Licensing Team and an independent Vet appointed by the council.
Jointly, the Licensing Inspector and vet inspect the following:
- The dogs
- The premises
- All material structures used for breeding (e.g. kennels, paddocks, whelping boxes, food storage areas/facilities, first aid kits, isolation, etc
- Documents, including all written policies and procedures required by the mandatory conditions.
Inspection fee
Following the inspection, the applicant will receive an invoice directly from the veterinary practice for the cost of the inspection. On payment of the invoice (by the applicant), the veterinary inspection report will be released to the council and, if the inspection report authorises the grant of the licence, the licence application will be determined.
If the licensing officer or vet is not satisfied that you meet the required standard they will tell you why and give you the opportunity to make improvements.
Timescale
A tacit consent does not apply to this application, meaning your application will not be automatically granted after a specified period of time. Each application must be assessed on its own merits as every premises requires inspecting to ensure the standards required are fully met and all applicants assessed for their ‘suitability’ to hold a licence.