Bringing a puppy into your life is exciting. For many families, it marks the beginning of years of companionship, fun and loyalty.
However, behind some puppies advertised online or sold through classified sites, lurks breeding facilities where dogs are bred only for profit.
Puppies are not blank slates, they are a combination of genes, breed traits and the first few weeks of their lives, the environment and experiences they have been subjected to.
Puppy farming remains a significant welfare concern, so we strongly advocate for people to adopt a dog or puppy where possible.
Unfortunately, many people unknowingly support unscrupulous breeders, simply because they don’t know what to look out for when buying a puppy.
This page will help you understand:
Most importantly, it will help you make a choice that protects both your future dog and the welfare of breeding animals.
Many people feel confident; until they see the warning signs.
Ireland has historically been one of the largest exporters of dogs in Europe. While some breeders operate responsibly, there are also dog breeding establishments where dogs are kept for the commercial production of puppies.
While poor welfare can take place at any sized breeding establishment, some have very large numbers of breeding dogs and very few staff to look after them.
Even when licensed, dog breeding can raise serious welfare concerns if standards are not properly monitored or enforced.
Dogs in intensive breeding environments may experience:
When puppies from these environments are sold to families, the consequences can include veterinary problems, behavioural challenges and emotional distress for both the dogs and their owners.
If you decide to buy a puppy rather than adopt, take time to research the breeder carefully.
A responsible breeder will:
They will also be transparent about their breeding practices and happy to discuss the long-term welfare of their dogs.
Ireland has introduced legislation intended to regulate dog breeding and improve transparency for buyers.
Two important pieces of legislation are:
This law requires any premises with six or more female dogs capable of breeding to register as Dog Breeding Establishments (DBEs).
Local authorities are responsible for inspecting and maintaining registers of these establishments.
However, registration alone does not guarantee high welfare standards, and buyers must still carry out careful checks.
These regulations were introduced to improve transparency in the sale of pets.
They require that:
These measures are designed to help buyers trace where a puppy came from and discourage illegal breeding and trading. However, many buyers are not aware of these rules, which means illegal or misleading adverts can still go unnoticed.
There are hundreds of dogs in Ireland right now waiting for homes through animal charities and rescue organisations, and they often have puppies available for adoption.
Adopting a dog can be incredibly rewarding and also helps reduce the demand that fuels large-scale breeding, as well as creating space for another dog in a rescue.
Rescue centres can also help match dogs to suitable homes based on lifestyle and experience.
Puppy farming continues because there is demand for puppies.
By choosing where and how you get your dog, you can help shape the future of dog welfare in Ireland.
Before bringing home a puppy:
Choosing responsibly protects not only your future dog, but also the welfare of the dogs used for breeding. Unscrupulous breeders only breed because there’s a demand for their puppies!
