Help strengthen breeding laws in Scotland

There is a dog welfare crisis in Scotland.

Dogs are suffering because gaps in the law allow poor breeding practices to continue. These can sometimes leave dogs with lasting health problems which can cause them daily pain and in the worst cases, death.  

In 2021, the Scottish Government introduced the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations to protect dogs from bad breeders, but five years on it’s clear that more needs to be done.  

That’s why we are calling on the Scottish Government to act. We need:

• better protections for dogs from conformation issues which lead to suffering and even death
• stronger regulation of online pet advertising and sales
• protections for stud dogs (male dogs who are used for breeding).

Dear Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands,

September 2026 marks five years since the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations).

While Dogs Trust welcomed this pivotal legislation, five years on, there are some vital changes that could be made to better protect dogs.

Current licensing thresholds that allow loopholes, a lack of protection for stud dogs and the suffering caused by conformation and inherited health issues could be improved through secondary legislation.

We believe that a Scottish Statutory Instrument could be laid under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to provide protection for stud dogs, further regulation of online pet sales and safeguards for dogs suffering now, and potentially in the future, from conformation issues.

Why dogs deserve better: the case for change

We are calling for:

Better protections for dogs from conformation issues which lead to suffering and even death.

The poor and irresponsible breeding of dogs has contributed to a dog welfare crisis. Dogs are still coming into our care with health issues as a result of poor breeding practices. Between January 2024 and July 2026 almost 1,400 dogs, equal to 16% of all handover requests in Scotland, were breeds which are known to suffer from extreme conformations.

Several breeds commonly associated with conformational traits and/or inherited health concerns show elevated mortality risks compared with crossbreeds. French Bulldogs have more than double the risk of death at any given age, while Bulldogs, Pugs and German Shepherd Dogs show 78%, 34% and 24% higher mortality risks respectively.

We are concerned that those inspecting breeding establishments are not sufficiently equipped to do so under the Regulations, putting dogs at real risk of harm. We want to see training for those who inspect premises and clearer guidance which addresses conformation issues and at‑risk breeds, including when these issues compromise welfare. This could include training on the use of the Innate Health Assessment tool that allows every dog kept for breeding to be rapidly and reliably scored for the presence of 10 innate health ‘extreme conformation’ criteria.

The licensing threshold for breeders to be reduced.

The current licensing threshold allows for loopholes which leaves dogs vulnerable to poor welfare and both dogs and humans open to exploitation.

There needs to be a robust registration and licensing system in which anyone breeding, selling, or transferring ownership of more than one litter a year must hold a licence, and anyone breeding, selling, or transferring a puppy must be registered.

The welfare of stud dogs to be protected.

Breeding females are protected by the Regulations but stud dogs are not and therefore can be used for countless litters at any age. We want to see a robust system of registration and licensing that includes mandatory requirements to protect the health and welfare of stud dogs.

Stronger regulation of online pet advertising and sales.

Regulation of online pet advertising and sale is still extremely limited. The Regulations outline some requirements for pet adverts but these could go further to safeguard dogs from suffering and people from potential scammers.

Dogs Trust operates the Secretariat for the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), which was created in 2001 to combat growing concerns regarding the irresponsible advertising of pets for sale, rehoming, and exchange. PAAG has developed a set of Government-backed Advertising Standards which several of the UK's largest classified websites have agreed to meet. We are calling for PAAG's Advertising Standards to be incorporated in law.

Let's give dogs the life they deserve

The Regulations were a crucial step for animal welfare and we celebrated their introduction. However, significant weaknesses persist. Without urgent action to close these gaps, dogs will continue to be at risk of suffering and exploitation.

We stand ready to work with you and your Officials to ensure this goal is delivered and that dog welfare is strengthened across Scotland.

Yours, 

Dogs Trust