Dog Breeding - Buyer Due-Diligence

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We have compiled the most up-to-date list of registered Dog Breeding Establishments (DBE) in the Republic of Ireland, by County Council, in alphabetical order below.  The information was sourced directly from the Environment section in each Council.

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What is a Dog Breeding Establishment (DBE)

This is an establishment at which 6 or more female dogs, over the age of 6 months and capable of breeding, are kept. All female dogs are counted, whether they are used for breeding or not. DBE's include dog rescue centres, boarding kennels, hunt kennels, as well as puppy farms. In accordance with Section 9 of the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010, the operator of a Dog Breeding Establishment must apply to their local authority responsible for the area in which it is situated for registration as a Dog Breeding Establishment and comply with the requirements of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010. They must display their certificate of registration in a prominent place at their establishment  (only local authority dog pounds and premises registered as greyhound breeding establishments are exempt).

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Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010

Click HERE to read the 2010 Act outlining the regulations that all Dog Breeding Establishments MUST adhere to (where 6+ female dogs are kept).

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Revised Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines

As of 1st January 2019, revised guidelines have been put in place by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). A copy of the revised Guidelines, colour coded to show the changes made to the previous guidelines, taking into account the responses received through the public consultation process, where appropriate, and also from consultation with industry experts has also been published. See below.

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Revised DBE Guidelines.pdf (size 210.4 KB)

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It's imperative when sourcing a puppy from a breeder that you have all the information you need to make an informed choice.  When looking through each list, please note the number of breeding bitches each breeder is licensed for (you will see numbers from 6 - 300+). 

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*Some DBE's trade under a brand name so you may not recognise the name on the county list  - just google the trade name to find out who the actual directors/owners are, then refer to the register for that county.

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When you make contact with the breeder, ask the following questions:

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• Ask the breeder can you have a tour of their registered premises and view all the dogs in their care.

• Ask can you view the litter you are interested in at 5 weeks and see both parents or at least the dam interacting with the litter in the whelping environment.

• Are BOTH parents health tested for congenital diseases prevalent in that breed or cross-breed eg Labrador crosses, Poodle crosses, Cavalier crosses, Golden Retriever crosses etc and will the breeder provide you with a copy to verify?

• What age is the mother, how many litters has she had and the frequency she's been bred from?

• Where are the puppies whelped and reared ie. in an agricultural outbuilding or in the breeders home?

• What early social and learning experiences have the puppies had from birth to 8 weeks?

• If reared in agricultural outbuildings how much daily handling by humans have the puppies experienced since birth?

• Have the puppies started house-training before being sold?

• Have the puppies been positively introduced to a crate before being sold?

• Have the puppies experienced car travel before being sold?

• Have the puppies been "trough fed" their daily meals together or given their meal in individual food bowls after weaning?

• What age are the puppies health-checked and given their first vaccination and who is their vet? (you can then call the stated vet to verify this information)

• Are the puppies microchipped and registered at time of sale (this is a legal requirement)

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If you are not comfortable with the answers provided by the breeder, WALK AWAY.

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LIST OF REGISTERED DOG BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS (DBE's) IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND BY COUNTY COUNCIL

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Simply click on the on the logo/text box for your chosen County Council where your potential breeder is located and you'll be taken to their current list of registered DBE's.  Where the information is not publicly available on their website at present, under the Freedom of Information Act we have requested an up-to-date copy of each County Council Register of DBEs and will update links as we receive same.....