In this article
The advert has everything you hoped for: a basket of sleepy puppies, a friendly message, and a line saying a deposit will hold one of the last two. It is hard to scroll past. Before you pay, though, a few checks can help you protect yourself and the puppy from a seller who is not what they seem.
England has had a law for this since 6 April 2020. Lucy's Law means anyone wanting a puppy there must buy it direct from the breeder or adopt from a rescue centre instead1. Even so, when a Royal Veterinary College team surveyed UK owners of puppies bought in 2021, around one in ten had paid a deposit before seeing their puppy, and about one in seven collected it on the breeder's doorstep or in the garden instead of inside the home2.
Here is what the law asks of sellers across the UK, how to read an advert, what to look for on a visit, and the questions a good breeder will be glad you asked.
What Lucy's Law means in England
Lucy's Law is named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescued from a puppy farm1. It made it unlawful for anyone other than the breeder to sell a puppy or kitten under six months old, effectively removing the chain of dealers who passed on puppies bred somewhere else1. When the law came in, the government said a business selling puppies without a licence could face an unlimited fine or up to six months in prison1.
Not every breeder needs a licence. In England you need one to breed three or more litters in any 12 months, or to breed dogs and advertise a business of selling them3. A licensed breeder may sell only dogs they bred themselves, from the premises where each was born and reared, and never a puppy under eight weeks old. A puppy may only be shown to a buyer together with its mother3.
A family selling one litter from their pet may not need a licence3, but the same good practice applies: you should still meet the puppy with its mother, in its own home4. Adopting is the other route the law leaves open. A good rescue checks your suitability first, usually uses an adoption contract and offers support afterwards, and membership of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes is one thing worth checking4.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Animal welfare law is made separately in each nation, which is why Lucy's Law itself covers England only1. Wales and Scotland brought in similar rules in 2021 through their own licensing regulations5, 6, and Northern Ireland is working on its version7. Scotland's rules for licensed dog breeders follow England's closely: a licence to breed three or more litters in 12 months, and adverts that show the licence number, the council, a recognisable photo and the puppy's age6.
| Nation | The rule | When |
|---|---|---|
| England | Only the breeder may sell a puppy under six months1 | 6 April 2020 |
| Wales | Licensed pet sellers may not sell puppies they did not breed on the premises5 | 10 September 2021 |
| Scotland | Licensed pet sellers may not sell puppies they did not breed6 | 1 September 2021 |
| Northern Ireland | A ban is planned, with sellers registering with their council7 | Law expected to be made in autumn 2026 |
What a survey of puppy buyers found
Knowing what to look for matters as much as knowing the rules. A team led by the Royal Veterinary College surveyed the owners of 2,080 puppies bought under 16 weeks old in 2021 and compared their answers with owners from 2019 and 20202. People took part after seeing the survey shared online and in the press, so they are not a perfect picture of every buyer, but the patterns are telling.
Puppies bought in 2021
The researchers singled out the passport figure as needing urgent measures2. Almost nine in ten of the 169 passport puppies were under 13 weeks old when sold, yet the minimum age for importing a puppy is 15 weeks, which the authors say likely points to a rise in illegal imports2. Most owners did see the mother on the day they bought their puppy, though 15% did not report seeing her2.
Checking the advert before you call
Animal-selling websites were the most common place owners in the survey found their puppy2, and an advert can tell you a good deal before you ever pick up the phone. Run through these checks first.
Before you get in touch
- For a licensed breeder in England or Scotland, the advert shows the licence number, the issuing council, a recognisable photo of the puppy and its age3, 6
- The licence number checks out with that council4
- A search of the seller's name does not turn up lots of litters of different breeds1
- The phone number, pasted into a search engine, is not on lots of other adverts1
- The seller is not advertising a puppy younger than eight weeks1
- No "rescue" label on a puppy with a much higher price than you would expect1
- No cropped ears: government guidance says to check for mutilations, and ear cropping is illegal in England and Wales unless exempted for medical or welfare reasons4
When an advert mentions a pet passport
A pet passport sounds reassuring, but in an advert it can mean the puppy was born abroad. Government advice is to take care with any animal advertised with one, because it may have been imported. An imported puppy must be at least 15 weeks old if it comes from the EU or another listed country, and seven months old from anywhere else4.
Puppies imported illegally are more likely to have health problems, which can lead to costly quarantine and vet bills4. The rules are set to tighten. An Act passed in December 2025 says the first regulations made under it for England, Scotland and Wales must ban bringing in dogs under six months old, dogs more than 42 days pregnant, and dogs that have been mutilated, meaning a procedure on tissue or bone that was not medical treatment8. That part of the Act was not yet in force when we checked in October 20268.
What you should see on a visit
A visit is your best chance to see how a puppy has been raised. The government advises meeting it with its mother and any littermates in its own home, and knowing where it was born4. A delivery to your door or a handover halfway means you never see the place that counts.
On the visit
Do
- Meet the puppy with its mother and littermates in the home where it was born4
- Watch the mother with her puppies: a fake mum usually will not interact with them1
- Ask to see records of vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and microchipping before you agree to buy1
- Expect questions about you and your home, because a good breeder is assessing your suitability too4
Questions to ask the breeder
Take these questions with you on a visit. The Puppy Contract, which the government recommends, helps you gather much of this before you agree to a sale1, 4. Only 38.7% of the 2021 buyers in the survey had heard of it before they bought2.
- Can I see the puppy with its mum, where it was born? The answer should be yes4.
- Are you licensed, and by which council? In England and Scotland, anyone breeding three or more litters in 12 months needs a licence3, 6.
- Have the parents had any health or behaviour problems, or any health tests? Government guidance lists the parents' health among the things to find out4. In the survey, 37.4% of 2021 buyers had not asked for the results of vet screening tests such as hips, elbows and eyes2.
- How has the puppy been socialised? The Puppy Contract covers this too4.
- Which vaccinations, worming and flea treatments has it had? A puppy should also be microchipped and registered from eight weeks old4.
Paying, waiting and bringing your puppy home
A healthy puppy bred in good welfare conditions can take time to find, so government advice is to expect a waiting list4. In the survey, 22.1% of 2021 buyers had joined one2. A breeder with a puppy ready tomorrow is not always a bad sign, but it is a reason to slow down.
See the puppy and its paperwork before you buy4, and do not let anyone hurry you into paying1. On collection day, go back to the home you visited. If the seller suddenly offers to meet somewhere more convenient, such as a car park or motorway services, the government counts that as a warning sign1.
If something feels wrong
You can walk away at any point, even after a long drive. If you are worried about the health or welfare of puppies advertised for sale, or think you may have bought an illegally imported puppy, contact your local Trading Standards team4. The council named on an advert can also tell you whether its licence number is genuine4.
If you have any doubts about a puppy's health, speak to a vet before you commit4. Once your puppy is home, your vet is the person to ask about anything that worries you.
A good breeder will be checking you as carefully as you check them, and will not mind a buyer who asks questions. Take your time, and enjoy the wait.
Sources and further reading8 sources
The small numbers in the article link to the source behind each fact. Sources open on their own websites.
- Lucy’s Law spells the beginning of the end for puppy farming
- Is UK Puppy Purchasing Suffering a Long COVID Effect? Ongoing Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon Puppy Purchase…
- The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
- Buying a cat or dog
- The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021
- The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021
- Muir announces next steps towards introducing new rules on selling and supplying puppies and kittens in Northern Ireland
- Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025, section 1