Dog licensing

Find out here about dog licensing, where to get a dog licence, how much dog licences cost, and how long they are valid for. You can also find details on 'block licences', and what could happen if you do not have a dog licence when required.

Offence

It is an offence to own an unlicensed dog, unless the dog is:

a puppy under six months old and kept by the person who was also the keeper of the bitch that gave birth to the puppy
an assistance dog used by a disabled person
a dog kept, and on offer for sale, in a licensed petshop
a police dog
a dog kept under a block licence, on the premises to which the block licence relates

Domestic pet dogs must be licensed individually.

Since 3 October 2011, a licence for a pet dog costs £12.50 (but see below for reduced licence fees available to some owners).

Licence

A dog licence lasts for 12 months. Application forms for a dog licence, or for the renewal of a dog licence, are available from council offices and in many cases on the website of your local council.

In the rest of this page, references to applying for a dog licence also include renewing a dog licence.

Block licences

In certain circumstances, the owners of three or more dogs may apply for a ‘block licence’ at an annual fee of £32.

A block licence is available to owners of three or more dogs kept on the same premises, as long as they are three unsterilised bitches and one of them is used for breeding, or the premises are registered guard dog kennels, or the three dogs are registered with one of the following bodies:

the Kennel Club
the Irish Coursing Club
the Masters of Foxhounds Association
the Masters of Harriers and Beagles Association
the Northern Ireland Masters of Hounds Association
the International Sheep Dog Society

Refunds and discount

If you are issued with a licence but do not take possession of the dog, or dispose of it within 30 days of the issue date of the licence, or the dog dies within 30 days of the issue date of the licence, you can apply for a refund of the licence fee.

More concessions available since 3 October 2011

Since 3 October 2011 more concessions are available, as outlined below.

If you are 65, you do not need to pay a fee to license one dog. If you are 65 and have more than one dog, you are eligible for a reduced licence fee of £5 for those other dogs.

You are also eligible for a reduced rate licence if you are on certain benefits at the date on which you apply for the licence. The benefits are:

Income Support
Housing Benefit

You may be asked to prove that you are genuinely receiving that benefit.

Finally, the £5 licence fee is also available where the dog concerned has been neutered. Again, you may be asked to prove this with, for example, a vet’s certificate.

If you do not have a valid licence

Keeping a dog without a valid licence may result in a warning, a formal caution, a fixed penalty or prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

It is also an offence to take possession of a dog (whether you paid for it or not) before you have obtained a licence for it. Again, you can be prosecuted for this offence and may be liable to a maximum fine of £1,000. The person who gave or sold the dog to you is also guilty of an offence.

When you cannot hold a dog licence

If you are under 16 years old, or if you have been disqualified from keeping animals under animal welfare legislation, you are disqualified from obtaining or holding a dog licence.