1. General Terms
1.1. The Find a Breeder Terms & Conditions set out the requirements and expectations the breeder must meet to join and remain listed on the Royal Kennel Club’s Find a Breeder service.
1.2. In these Terms & Conditions, the “breeder” refers to any individual applying to, accepted onto, or listed on the Royal Kennel Club Find a Breeder service.
1.3. The breeder must ensure that all information provided is accurate, complete, and not misleading, and must be able to provide evidence to support any claims if requested by the Royal Kennel Club.
1.4. The breeder must notify the Royal Kennel Club as soon as reasonably practicable of any changes that may affect their eligibility or the accuracy of their listing.
1.5. Inclusion on the Find a Breeder service does not constitute endorsement, approval, certification, or a guarantee by the Royal Kennel Club, and the breeder must not use terminology or imply otherwise.
2. Application Requirements
2.1. All applications will be reviewed by the Royal Kennel Club for completeness and accuracy. Applications that are incomplete, inaccurate, or in breach of these Terms & Conditions will be declined.
2.2. To be accepted onto the Find a Breeder service, the breeder must meet the following requirements:
2.2.1. Complete the online application form and agree to these Terms and Conditions. By submitting the application and agreeing to the declaration, the breeder confirms that they have read, understood, and agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions. The breeder must also note the disclaimer included on the application form.
2.2.2. Where a Good Practice health standard exists for the breed(s) for which the breeder is applying to be listed, any litters bred within the 12 months preceding the application must meet that standard as a minimum. Where no litter has been bred within that period, the breeder’s most recent litter and/or all breeding stock for the relevant breed(s) must meet the required standard.
2.2.3. Litters bred within the 12 months preceding the application for the breed(s) for which the breeder is applying to be listed must not contain Non-Breed Standard (NBS) colours. Where no litter has been bred within that period, the most recent litter and/or all breeding stock for the relevant breed(s) must not include or be from dogs of Non-Breed Standard (NBS) colours.
2.2.4. Be familiar with and agree to breed in accordance with the Royal Kennel Club Welfare Standard for Adult Dogs and Puppies.
2.2.5. Must not knowingly breed for characteristics or conformation that may negatively impact health or welfare.
2.2.6. Must not have any relevant convictions under the Animal Welfare Act or equivalent legislation (including in other jurisdictions), or any other convictions that may affect suitability for inclusion on the listing.
2.2.7. The breeder consents to the collection, processing, and publication of their personal data (including contact details) as required for the operation of the Find a Breeder service, in accordance with the Royal Kennel Club’s Privacy Policy. The Royal Kennel Club shall process personal data in compliance with applicable data protection laws and the Royal Kennel Club’s Privacy Policy, a copy of which is available on its website.
2.2.8. The breeder must cooperate with any reasonable verification checks or compliance requests.
2.3. The breeder must also acknowledge and comply with the following:
2.3.1. The name displayed on the Find a Breeder listing will be the name associated with their Royal Kennel Club account. Listings are intended to represent individual breeders only and not joint ownerships or partnerships.
2.3.2. A Kennel Name may only be displayed on a Find a Breeder listing where that Kennel Name is held in the sole ownership of the breeder named. Kennel Names that are jointly owned, associated with, or shared with any other individual are not eligible to be displayed.
2.3.3. Any current litter displayed through the Find a Breeder service must have been registered with the Royal Kennel Club by the named breeder via their Royal Kennel Club account. Litters registered by another individual or joint owner will not be displayed, regardless of any ownership interest.
2.4. Where the breeder is required under applicable local authority legislation to hold a breeder’s licence, the breeder must disclose their licensing status as part of their application and ongoing listing requirements. This includes providing their licence number and the name of the issuing local authority.
2.4.1. Where a licence is held, the breeder must provide satisfactory evidence of a valid and current licence issued by the relevant local authority. The Royal Kennel Club may request supporting documentation at any time.
2.4.2. Licensing details provided will be recorded and displayed as part of the breeder’s listing where applicable.
2.4.3. Where a required licence expires, is revoked, or otherwise ceases to be valid, the breeder’s listing may be temporarily removed or suspended until a valid licence is provided and verified.
2.4.4. Any breeder who breeds three (3) or more litters within any rolling twelve (12) month period must hold and provide evidence of a valid breeder’s licence as a condition of eligibility for inclusion on the Find a Breeder service.
3. Listing Requirements
3.1. To remain listed on the Find a Breeder service, the breeder must continue to meet the following requirements:
3.1.1. Where a Good Practice health standard exists for the breed(s) for which the breeder is listed, any litters bred must continue to meet that standard as a minimum.
3.1.2. Any litters bred for the breed(s) for which the breeder is listed must not contain Non-Breed Standard (NBS) colours, and breeding stock for those breed(s) must not be of Non-Breed Standard (NBS) colours.
3.1.3. Ensure all breeding stock and puppies for the breed they are listed for are registered with the Royal Kennel Club.
3.1.4. Review and confirm the accuracy of their listing when requested.
3.1.5. Conduct themselves in a manner that does not bring the Royal Kennel Club into disrepute.
3.1.6. Cooperate fully with any complaints, investigations, or compliance checks, including providing relevant information or documentation where reasonably required.
3.1.7. All sales arrangements must clearly reflect ownership and responsibility for the breeding stock. Where partnerships exist, this must be clearly disclosed to the buyer.
3.1.8. Breeders must not use the Find a Breeder service to post or distribute any unlawful, offensive, defamatory, misleading, or fraudulent content, nor to infringe the rights of any third party or to promote any commercial service not related to bona fide dog breeding. The Royal Kennel Club reserves the right to suspend or remove any breeder or content in breach of this clause (see our Website Terms & Conditions for further information).
3.2. Where the Find a Breeder service permits breeders to include information regarding planned litters and expected dates, such information is provided for indicative purposes only and must be kept accurate and up to date.
3.3. Where breeders upload images to the Find a Breeder service, the breeder warrants and confirms that:
3.3.1. They are the owner of the images, or they have obtained all necessary permissions, licences, and consents from the copyright owner(s) to use, upload, and publish the images on the Find a Breeder service.
3.3.2. The images do not infringe or violate any third-party rights, including but not limited to copyright, moral rights, privacy rights, personality rights, trade marks, or any other intellectual property or proprietary rights.
3.3.3. The Royal Kennel Club reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to remove, refuse, or require amendment of any images at any time, including where it reasonably believes the images may infringe third-party rights, breach these Terms & Conditions, or are otherwise unsuitable for inclusion on the Find a Breeder service.
3.4. All content provided by breeders for inclusion in the Find a Breeder service, including but not limited to “About this breeder” text, descriptions of breeding dogs, puppies, and planned litters, must be accurate, truthful, and not misleading.
3.4.1. Breeders must not include prices, payment instructions, deposit requests, reservation requests, or any other financial transaction terms within their listing content.
3.4.2. Breeders must not make claims that are false, misleading, or cannot be substantiated, including claims relating to health, temperament, lineage, or expected outcomes.
3.4.3. The Royal Kennel Club reserves the right to edit, remove, or refuse any content that breaches this clause or is otherwise deemed inappropriate for inclusion in the service.
4. Suspension and Removal
4.1. The Royal Kennel Club reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to suspend or remove any breeder from the Find a Breeder service at any time and without prior notice, for any reason it considers appropriate.
4.2. Without limitations, listings may be amended, suspended, or removed where:
4.2.1. Terms & Conditions have been breached
4.2.2. Concerns are raised regarding welfare, conduct, or compliance
4.2.3. Information provided is found to be inaccurate or misleading
4.2.4. Further investigation is required
4.3. The Royal Kennel Club shall notify the breeder of any suspension or removal and, where practicable, state the reasons. Breeders may submit a written response or request reinstatement, which the Royal Kennel Club may consider at its sole discretion. Suspension or removal from the service does not affect any other rights or remedies of the Royal Kennel Club.
5. Royal Kennel Club’s Limited Role and Disclaimer
5.1. The Royal Kennel Club’s Find a Breeder service is a directory listing platform only. The Royal Kennel Club does not vet, verify, or endorse any breeder or any information provided. All communications and arrangements between breeders and prospective buyers occur entirely independently of the Royal Kennel Club and its services. The Royal Kennel Club does not monitor, participate in, or record any such communications or transactions and is not a party to, nor responsible for, any arrangements, agreements, or disputes between breeders and buyers. The Royal Kennel Club does not provide any warranties or guarantees in relation to any breeder, listing, puppy, or transaction.
5.2. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Royal Kennel Club shall have no liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss, damage, claim, or expense arising out of or in connection with a breeder’s listing or any interaction or transaction between breeders and third parties, including but not limited to any contract for the sale or purchase of a puppy.
6. General
6.1. The Royal Kennel Club reserves the right to amend these Terms & Conditions at any time. Continued use of the Find a Breeder service constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall remain in full force. These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.