Pet Breeding

Brown puppies in dog bed cuddled together sleeping

Trading Standards do not deal with:

  • complaints about pets
  • how they are treated 
  • complaints about breeders

If you are looking for a registered breeder please visit our Animal Licensing section.

Complaints about dog breeding should be referred to the Council’s Licensing Team. 

For other animals please contact the RSPCA: Report A Concern | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk

Advice about buying a puppy safely and responsibly

When you're buying a puppy, it's vital you know you're buying a healthy, happy animal from a good breeder.

Puppy Farms across Europe are breeding puppies at alarming rates, in appalling conditions, and transporting them to homes in the UK to sell. These normal-looking homes are a shopfront for unscrupulous puppy dealing rings who want to sell you a puppy who's likely to be sick and traumatised.

Help yourself reduce the risk by using the following tools or services:

The Dogs Trust has produced a checklist with useful advice if you are thinking of buying a puppy and it is available at: Getting A Dog Responsibly | Dogs Trust

The RSPCA have good advice  about: Finding The Right Puppy Breeder | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk

Spot online scam adverts from puppy dealers

Dealers use the internet to their advantage when it comes to advertising and selling farmed puppies.

  • 87% of puppy trade calls we get are about animals bought over the internet.

If you're looking to buy a puppy, make sure you read adverts carefully and look out for these tell-tale signs that something may be amiss:

  • Same contact number on more than one advert. Try Googling the number to see if it's been used on any other puppy adverts.
  • Descriptions may have been copied and pasted and used on more than one advert. Try Googling the text and see if it's been used before, word-for-word.
  • Words like 'miniature' and 'teacup' can be a sign of dealers trying to capitalise on popular terms. Learn more about the true features of Dog Breeds - Traits, Size and Behaviour | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk
  • Photos of the puppies may have been used in other adverts. Right-click on the photo, select 'search Google for image' and see if it's been used on other adverts.
  • Vaccinated early: If the advert says a puppy has been vaccinated, check how old he or she is. A puppy cannot be vaccinated before they're four to six weeks old. If someone's advertising a three-week-old vaccinated puppy, they're lying. Puppy Vaccinations - What You Need To Know | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk
  • Pet passport: If the puppy is advertised as having a passport, it has most probably been imported. Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: What you need to do - GOV.UK
  • Are they really Kennel Club registered? We've seen dealers claim they're Kennel Club registered to help them look legitimate, but be wary of this. Ask for original documents and check with the Kennel Club before buying a puppy.
  • Promises of 'free insurance' and 'puppy packs'. These don't mean the advert is from a legitimate breeder.

The Isle of Wight Council, Licensing team have information on Animal Licensing and if you have complaints or concerns about dog breeders on the Isle of Wight please report it to our Licensing team.

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