Breeding is a hot topic among dog lovers everywhere, backyard breeding especially. Dog lovers want to be sure the dogs that they’re purchasing are bred with ethical practices. Some people advertise themselves as being licensed for dog breeding, but is that a real thing? Is there an overarching body that governs dog breeders? The short answer is no. Anyone can breed dogs, and the practice is legal in the United States.
Dog Breeding as a Business
Dog breeding for profit is a practice that is legal in all 50 states. However, the laws have been historically lax, leading to overbreeding, animal cruelty, and puppy mills. These problems have led to lawmakers looking to tighten the reins on dog breeding. One proposed method of handling the issue was to set up a licensing or permit system.
Do I Need a Permit to Breed Dogs?
Currently, most dog breeders do not need a permit. Permits are required in some states when a dog breeder goes over a certain number of litters per year or has a certain number of breeding bitches at once. Anyone whose dog produces puppies, even just one, is considered a dog breeder by law.
The practice of breeding dogs is different from being a commercial dog breeder or one who does so for business. When you become a commercial breeder, you have to apply for a commercial license. The regulations you must obey and the requirements you must meet before granting the permit vary from state to state.
Aspiring breeders will need to learn the laws and regulations of their particular area before breeding. Rules like if you can have dogs on your property, how many dogs you can have at once, and how to register your breeding stock and puppies will be essential to your business’s legality.
You’ll also need a business permit if you’re planning to breed dogs professionally. This ensures that your business follows all your state’s laws and regulations for how to run a business.
People breeding commercially cannot forego either permit, as they are both legally required to run a dog breeding business.
AKC Recognition
The American Kennel Club, or AKC, also acts as an independent governing body for dog breeders. The AKC Breeder of Merit program allows breeders to register and qualify for AKC recognition and rewards breeders who go above and beyond for the safety of their dogs.
Those looking to become an AKC Breeder of Merit must have the following to qualify:
- Have a history of at least 5 years of involvement with AKC events
- Have earned AKC Conformation, Performance, or Companion event titles on a minimum of four dogs from AKC litters that they bred or co-bred
- Be a member of an AKC club
- Certify that applicable health screens are performed on your breeding stock as recommended by the Parent Club
- Demonstrate that 100% of the puppies produced are individually AKC registered
Attaining this certification helps you sell your dogs and assures those purchasing dogs from you that your dogs are well taken care of.
Remember to Do Your Taxes
Dog breeders must remember that every dollar generated from dog breeding, even if breeding is only practiced as a hobby, is taxable income that will have to be declared eventually. Even if you only have one litter and sell the puppies for a low price, it’s essential to ensure that the income is declared correctly. If not reported, you may be audited and penalized by the IRS for tax evasion.
Unsafe or Unethical Breeding Practices
Some unsafe and unethical breeding practices are already criminal under animal neglect laws. If you suspect that a breeder is neglecting or abusing their animals, report it to the authorities or animal control to remove the dogs from their care.
Unethical breeding practices include but are not limited to having too many dogs on a small property, unsafe kenneling, having so many dogs that they can’t properly be cared for, and inbreeding dogs.
Dogs are living beings, and although they’re legally considered property, it is illegal to treat them poorly. Aspiring breeders should think about what they can do to make their kennel and property safe for their dogs. Intact males and females are at higher risk of aggression and could threaten each other if handled unsafely.
Conclusion
Dog breeding can be a touchy subject for dog lovers, but the truth is that with no dog breeders, there would be no dogs. We need to balance between criticizing unsafe breeding practices and villainizing responsible breeders who are doing their due diligence to ensure that their dogs are in good health.
When beginning their journeys, aspiring breeders should look to the AKC Breeder of Merit program as the absolute minimum standard of dog breeding, rather than a gold standard.
See also:
- The Consequences of Overbreeding Dogs: Vet-Reviewed Risks & Animal Welfare
- Do You Need a License to Breed Cats?
Featured Image Credit: Iuliia Bondarenko, Shutterstock
