Up to 90% of UK puppies may come from unregulated sources, new investigation finds

Monday 21 September, 2026 Naturewatch Foundation urges UK Government to deliver on promise to “end puppy farming” as most puppies continue to be bred outside of dedicated breeding regulations. As many as nine in ten puppies in the UK may be bred outside the licensed breeding system, according to new research by Naturewatch Foundation, raising questions about how much of the UK's puppy trade is regulated. The investigation, based on Freedom of Information requests to local authorities across the UK and Republic of Ireland, found that just 10.5-14% of UK puppies are estimated to come from licensed breeders. This suggests 86-89.5% of puppies could come from other sources. This includes breeders who fall below the legal licensing threshold, illegal breeders and puppy smuggling operations. Naturewatch Foundation is urging the UK Government to deliver on its commitment to “end puppy farming” and bring forward its promised public consultation on dog breeding regulation in England. The investigation also raises concerns about the traceability of breeding dogs, with more than 5,500 fewer female breeding dogs recorded in the system than in Naturewatch Foundation's 2025 research. Thousands of