Last updated: [DATE]
Our position
caninebreeder.co.uk is an independent directory. We are not connected with, and are not endorsed by, The Royal Kennel Club, the British Veterinary Association (BVA), any breed club, any local authority or any welfare charity. Our badges summarise documents that breeders have supplied to us and that we checked on the date shown. They are not a guarantee about a breeder, a dog or a future puppy. This page explains exactly what each badge means so you can weigh it sensibly.
The five tiers
Every piece of information on a breeder profile sits at one of five verification tiers. The tier is shown next to the item.
Tier 0: Self-declared. The breeder typed the information and we have not checked it. Shown as “Declared by breeder”. Most descriptive text sits here.
Tier 1: Document uploaded. The breeder has uploaded a file to support the claim, but nobody has reviewed it yet. Shown as “Document supplied, awaiting review”.
Tier 2: Staff-reviewed. A member of our team has opened the document and checked that the name matches the account, that dates and reference numbers are present and plausible, that the issuing body is named, and that there are no obvious signs of editing. Shown as “Checked by us on [date]”. We have not contacted the issuer.
Tier 3: Register-verified. We have matched the document against a public register or lookup that we can access ourselves: for example a local authority’s published licence register, The Royal Kennel Club’s public health test results or breed register lookups, the Companies House register, or a microchip database check where available. Shown as “Register-checked on [date]”.
Tier 4: Source-verified. We have confirmed the document directly with the body that issued it: a council licensing team, a veterinary practice or a testing laboratory. Shown as “Confirmed with issuer on [date]”. This is the highest tier and depends on the issuer being willing to respond.
What we can verify
- Identity and address of the account holder (Tiers 2 to 3).
- Dog breeding licence: number, issuing authority, expiry date and star rating where the council publishes one (Tiers 2 to 4). In England, Scotland and Wales, licensed sellers must include the licence number and authority in every advert.
- Health test results for breeding dogs, such as BVA/KC hip, elbow and eye scheme results and DNA tests from recognised laboratories (Tiers 2 to 4).
- Kennel club registration of the sire and dam (Tiers 2 to 3). Registration records parentage; it is not a quality mark.
- Tail docking certificates for exempt working types (Tiers 2 to 4).
- Microchip registration of the breeding dogs (Tiers 2 to 3).
- Use of the Puppy Contract or an equivalent written contract (Tier 2).
- Company or charity registration for organisations (Tier 3).
What we cannot verify
- The temperament, health or future health of any puppy.
- The conditions the dogs are kept in. We do not inspect premises.
- That the puppy you are shown is the puppy in the photos.
- That health tests on the parents apply to a particular puppy, unless DNA parentage testing has been done.
- That a breeder will honour a contract or refund.
- Anything a breeder tells a buyer outside the Site.
Nothing on this page replaces seeing the puppy with its mother where it was born, checking documents yourself, and using the checklist in Buying a puppy safely.
Dates, expiry and re-checks
Every badge shows the date of the check. Licences expire, health test schemes change and dogs are sold, so a badge tells you what was true on that date and no more. We re-check licences at their expiry date and other documents at least every 12 months. If a document expires and is not renewed, the badge drops back to Tier 0. If we receive a credible report that a document is false, we suspend the badge while we investigate and may issue a strike under our Advertiser and breeder terms.
Why we do not use the phrase “Assured Breeder”
The Royal Kennel Club closed its Assured Breeders scheme on 31 December 2024. We do not display that badge or any badge that implies membership of a kennel club or breed club scheme. If a breeder refers to a club scheme in their listing text, it sits at Tier 0 unless they upload current evidence.
Red flags
- A breeder who refuses to show you the original documents behind a badge.
- A licence number that the council cannot find, or that belongs to a different name or address.
- Health test results for dogs that do not match the names or microchip numbers of the parents you are shown.
- Photos that appear on other websites or in other listings (try a reverse image search).
If you spot any of these, do not proceed, and report it to us.
Challenging a badge
Anyone can challenge a badge using the Report button on the profile or the steps on Reporting content, complaints and appeals. Tell us which badge you doubt and why. We respond within 5 working days.
For breeders: how to get verified
Upload documents from your account dashboard. Clear photos or PDFs of the original document work best. Do not edit or crop out reference numbers. We tell you which tier each document reached and, where a register or issuer check is possible, whether you can move up a tier. Verification is included in your listing package; we never charge extra for a higher tier, and we never accept payment to skip a check.