Data report · Updated October 2026
Dog breeding licence in India: what it costs, the rules breeders must follow, and how few are registered (2026)
A dog breeder in India must register each establishment with the State Animal Welfare Board for Rs 5,000 every two years. A pet shop pays Rs 5,000 for five years. Few do. Tamil Nadu's official list names just 6 registered breeders and 471 pet shop entries, 79% of them past their printed expiry date.
Key findings
- Breeding dogs for sale without a State Animal Welfare Board certificate is barred under the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017.
- Registration costs a non-refundable Rs 5,000 per establishment and lasts two years; a pet shop pays Rs 5,000 for five years.
- A female dog may be bred only after 18 months of age, once a year at most, for no more than five litters, and not after age eight.
- Pups under eight weeks cannot be sold, and every pup sold must be microchipped with a written receipt.
- The Animal Welfare Board of India wrote in December 2023 that no state except Maharashtra had sent the yearly report the rules require.
- Tamil Nadu's official register lists 6 dog breeders, all registered in 2026, including a veterinary college breeding unit and a Rajapalayam cooperative.
- The Tamil Nadu pet shop list has 471 entries; 373 carry an expiry date before 11 October 2026 and only 96 are within date.
- The Tamil Nadu list shows no new pet shop registrations between June 2023 and July 2025; 70 came after the August 2025 deadline drive.
- Breaking a rule made under the 1960 Act carries a maximum fine of Rs 100 or up to three months in jail, or both.
- In our price data the median KCI-registered puppy costs about 1.78 times a pet-quality puppy of the same breed, across 57 breeds. Kennel Club of India puppy registrations fell from a peak of 88,261 in 2021 to 32,219 in 2025, according to FCI statistics.
Do you need a licence to breed dogs in India?
Yes. Since 23 May 2017, the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules have barred anyone from breeding dogs for sale without a certificate from the State Animal Welfare Board. The rules cover breeders, boarding kennels, traders and intermediate handlers.
A pet shop needs its own certificate under the Pet Shop Rules, notified on 6 September 2018. Local bodies cannot grant a municipal licence to a breeder or a pet shop until the state board has registered it. Both sets of rules were made under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
The rules do not use the term puppy mill. They target what a puppy mill does: breeding a female every season, selling pups too young, and keeping dogs in cages without records or vet checks.
| Item | Dog breeder (2017 rules) | Pet shop (2018 rules) |
|---|---|---|
| Who registers you | State Animal Welfare Board | State Animal Welfare Board |
| Fee | Rs 5,000, non-refundable | Rs 5,000, non-refundable |
| Valid for | 2 years | 5 years |
| Renewal fee | Rs 5,000 | Rs 5,000 |
| Fee per year of validity (Rs) | 2,500 | 1,000 |
| Inspection before or after registration | Before: state board representative and a vet | Within 3 months after: a state government vet |
| Routine inspection | At least once a year | By inspectors of the board or SPCA |
| Separate application per site | Yes | Yes |
| Barred applicants | Anyone convicted under the 1960 Act or wildlife law | Same, plus anyone who ran an unregistered shop that was sealed |
| Yearly report | Breeder to state board; board to AWBI | Pet shop to state board; board to AWBI |
How much does a dog breeding licence cost in India?
Rs 5,000 every two years, which works out to Rs 2,500 a year. Tamil Nadu's board, for example, asks for a demand draft of Rs 5,000 with the form and charges the same to renew. A pet shop pays Rs 5,000 for five years, or Rs 1,000 a year.
That is small next to what a litter can fetch. From 2014 to 2025 the Kennel Club of India registered 5,78,971 puppies from 84,456 litters, about 6.9 pups a litter. At our median pet-quality price of Rs 30,000, such a litter would be worth about Rs 2.07 lakh.
The penalty side is smaller still. Section 38(3) of the 1960 Act caps the fine for breaking a rule at Rs 100, with up to three months in jail. The fee to register costs fifty times the maximum fine.
Fees from the 2017 and 2018 rules. Fine from Section 38(3), Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (also up to 3 months in jail).
Show the numbers
| Label | Rs |
|---|---|
| Breeder registration, 2 years | Rs 5,000 |
| Pet shop registration, 5 years | Rs 5,000 |
| Breeder fee per year | Rs 2,500 |
| Pet shop fee per year | Rs 1,000 |
| Maximum fine for breaking the rules | Rs 100 |
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Punjab's government said in April 2025 that violators could face a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or three months in jail, as reported by The Tribune. We could not find that fine in the 1960 Act or the two sets of rules. Treat it as the state's stated position, not the central law.
What are the dog breeding rules in India?
The Second Schedule of the 2017 rules sets hard limits on how often a female dog can be bred. She must be at least 18 months old and certified healthy by a vet at least 10 days before mating. She can have one litter a year, never in two consecutive seasons, and no more than five in her life.
Males must also be 18 months old and vet-certified. Inbreeding and incest breeding are banned, and so are artificial insemination and rape stands. Dogs may not be caged except at night or for medical reasons.
| Rule | Limit | Where in the rules |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age to breed a female | 18 months, vet-certified 10 days before | Second Schedule, para 5(2) |
| Litters per year | 1 | Second Schedule, para 5(5) |
| Consecutive breeding seasons | Not allowed | Second Schedule, para 5(3) |
| Gap between litters | 12 months from last whelping | Second Schedule, para 5(4) |
| Litters in a lifetime | 5 at most | Second Schedule, para 5(6) |
| Oldest age to mate a female | 8 years | Second Schedule |
| Minimum age for a stud dog | 18 months, vet-certified 10 days before | Second Schedule, para 5(7) |
| Inbreeding and incest breeding | Banned | Second Schedule, para 6(3) |
| Artificial insemination, rape stands | Banned | Second Schedule, para 5(5) |
| Records kept | 8 years | Rule 9(5) |
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017, Second Schedule.
Show the numbers
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Min age (months) | 18 months |
| Max litters a year | 1 |
| Max lifetime litters | 5 |
| Last mating age (years) | 8 years |
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What do the Pet Shop Rules 2018 require?
Registration first, then trade. A shop that was already running in September 2018 had 60 days to register. If it failed, the state board or SPCA was to seal it and confiscate the animals after 30 days' notice.
Inside the shop, no pup under eight weeks may be sold and every puppy must be microchipped. The shop must keep a working microchip reader, issue a receipt for every sale and display prices. Animals cannot be shown in show windows or outside the shop.
Unsold animals cannot be dumped. After three months on display, the owner must try to rehome or arrange adoption and record it in a register. A breeder must likewise rehome a pup unsold after six months through an animal welfare organisation.
- Pups under eight weeks: no sale, by breeder or shop.
- Dogs over six months: must be sterilised before sale, unless sold to another licensed breeder.
- Microchip: every pup sold; shops must own a reader.
- Receipt: for every sale, with the microchip number and the buyer's details kept on file.
- Display: no pups in public places for immediate sale, no animals in show windows.
- Pregnant animals and mothers with unweaned young: not to be displayed or sold.
- Sick animals: separate quarantine room; outbreaks reported to the board and the animal husbandry department.
These rules give a buyer a simple test. Ask for the state board certificate, the microchip number and a written receipt. A seller who cannot produce all three is not following the law. Our adoption report covers the other route.
How many dog breeders and pet shops are registered in India?
Nobody knows nationally. On 28 December 2023 the Animal Welfare Board of India wrote to every state that, except Maharashtra, none had sent the yearly implementation report the rules require. It added that the number of registered breeding establishments and pet shops had not been provided.
Tamil Nadu is the one state we found that publishes its register. Its breeder list, dated March 2026, names six breeders, all registered in 2026. Two share the number BR-0005, so the list carries five distinct registration numbers.
Other figures come from court filings and raids. In a 2023 Telangana High Court petition, the Humane Society of India cited an RTI reply showing 86 registered pet shops and 9 dog breeders in the state. In Delhi, an activist's November 2021 RTI asking for registered pet shops got the reply that no such information was available.
| State | Registered breeders | Registered pet shops | Date | Source and status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 6 (5 distinct numbers) | 471 entries; 96 within expiry date | March and May 2026 | TNAWB published lists (official) |
| Telangana | 9 | 86 | 2023 | RTI reply cited in a High Court petition (petitioner's figure) |
| Karnataka | Not published | 44 shops served notices; 24 applied, 20 got closure notices | January 2023 | Karnataka Animal Welfare Board statement |
| Delhi | Not published | No information available (RTI reply) | November 2021 | Activist's RTI, reported by National Herald |
| Maharashtra | Reported to AWBI, figure not public | Reported to AWBI, figure not public | By December 2023 | AWBI circular |
| Other states and UTs | Not reported to AWBI | Not reported to AWBI | December 2023 | AWBI circular |
What does Tamil Nadu's pet shop register show?
It shows a burst of paperwork, then years of silence. The board's list, created in May 2026, has 471 pet shop entries. 235 were registered in 2020 and 140 in 2021, soon after the rules took effect. Registrations then slowed to 25 in 2022 and 1 in 2023.
There were none at all from June 2023 to July 2025. Then 26 were registered in August 2025, the month the board set a 30 September deadline. Another 44 followed by April 2026.
Most of the early certificates have run out on paper. Of the 471 entries, 373 (79%) carry an expiry date before 11 October 2026, and only 96 (20%) are within date. The list does not show renewals, so some lapsed shops may have renewed.
dogeats.in count of the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board list of registered pet shops (PDF created 15 May 2026), by registration date. 2026 is January to April.
Show the numbers
| Label | entries |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 235 |
| 2021 | 140 |
| 2022 | 25 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 26 |
| 2026 | 44 |
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dogeats.in count of 471 TNAWB entries against the printed expiry date, as of 11 October 2026. 2 entries have no expiry date. Renewals are not shown on the list.
Show the numbers
| Label | Within expiry date | Past expiry date | No expiry shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| All 471 entries | 20.4 | 79.2 | 0.4 |
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dogeats.in count of the TNAWB pet shop list by the district column, with 20 entries assigned from the printed address. Includes lapsed entries. Virudhunagar also has 11.
Show the numbers
| Label | entries |
|---|---|
| Coimbatore | 185 |
| Chennai | 52 |
| Madurai | 31 |
| Dindigul | 23 |
| Erode | 23 |
| Tiruchirappalli | 20 |
| Tiruppur | 19 |
| Thoothukudi | 14 |
| Kanyakumari | 13 |
| Salem | 11 |
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| District | Entries |
|---|---|
| Coimbatore | 185 |
| Chennai | 52 |
| Madurai | 31 |
| Dindigul | 23 |
| Erode | 23 |
| Tiruchirappalli | 20 |
| Tiruppur | 19 |
| Thoothukudi | 14 |
| Kanyakumari | 13 |
| Salem | 11 |
| Virudhunagar | 11 |
| Cuddalore | 8 |
| Karur | 7 |
| Thanjavur | 6 |
| Theni | 6 |
| Tenkasi | 6 |
| Namakkal | 5 |
| Tirunelveli | 5 |
| Krishnagiri | 5 |
| Villupuram | 3 |
| Tiruvarur | 3 |
| Nagapattinam | 2 |
| Ariyalur | 2 |
| Sivagangai | 2 |
| Pudukkottai | 2 |
| Tirupathur | 2 |
| Nilgiris | 1 |
| Ramanathapuram | 1 |
| Vellore | 1 |
| Mayiladuthurai | 1 |
| Dharmapuri | 1 |
Coimbatore district alone accounts for 185 entries, more than three times Chennai's 52. Many are aquarium and bird shops: only 125 entries explicitly list dogs, puppies or all legal pets among the animals they may sell.
The entries cover 31 of Tamil Nadu's 38 districts.
What action has been taken against illegal breeders and pet shops?
Action comes in bursts, usually after a court case or an incident. In January 2023, a joint Karnataka team raided Bengaluru pet shops and rescued 1,344 animals of 16 species. The board said it had served notices on 44 shops: 24 applied for licences and 20 got closure notices.
Courts have pushed states. In November 2022 the Delhi High Court asked the Delhi government how it was enforcing the Pet Shop Rules. In March 2023 the government undertook to notify a state board within eight weeks. In November 2024, Delhi's board gave pet shops and breeders one month to register or face closure.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| August 2015 | Law Commission Report 261 recommends rules for pet shops and dog breeding | Law Commission of India |
| April 2016 | DGFT bars import of dogs for commercial breeding | DGFT notification 3/2015-2020 |
| 23 May 2017 | Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules notified | Gazette, G.S.R. 496(E) |
| 6 September 2018 | Pet Shop Rules notified | Gazette, G.S.R. 844(E) |
| 1 May 2020 | AWBI writes to states on implementing both rules | AWBI circulars list |
| January 2023 | Karnataka raids Bengaluru pet shops; 1,344 animals rescued | Deccan Herald |
| June 2023 | Madras HC sets aside the 2016 import ban; orders Tamil Nadu breeding policy within 8 weeks | DT Next, LiveLaw |
| October 2023 | Telangana HC seeks status report on unlicensed pet shops | LiveLaw |
| 28 December 2023 | AWBI: only Maharashtra has reported on implementation | AWBI circular |
| 12 March 2024 | Centre asks states to stop licensing 23 'ferocious' breeds | AWBI public notice, 19 March 2024 |
| November 2024 | Delhi board gives shops and breeders one month to register | DT Next |
| April 2025 | Punjab makes registration mandatory, sets district inspection teams | The Tribune |
| August 2025 | Tamil Nadu sets 30 September 2025 deadline to register | Adyar Times; TNAWB |
| March to May 2026 | Tamil Nadu publishes registered breeder and pet shop lists | TNAWB |
The breed letter of March 2024 asked states not to license the sale or breeding of 23 breeds. Several High Courts have since quashed or stayed it; our banned breeds tracker follows each case.
Is a registered puppy worth the extra money?
A KCI-registered puppy costs more, and the gap is large. Across the 57 breeds in our guides with both prices, the median KCI-registered puppy costs Rs 55,000 at the midpoint of its range. A pet-quality puppy of the same breeds costs Rs 30,000, a ratio of 1.78.
KCI papers record a pup's pedigree. They are not a state board licence, and they do not prove the breeder followed the litter limits. Ask for both, plus the microchip and vet records the 2017 rules require.
The Labrador has the widest gap in our data: its KCI midpoint is 2.37 times its pet-quality midpoint. Native breeds carry premiums too, 2.18 times for the Chippiparai and 1.75 times for the Rajapalayam. Full prices sit in our price index.
FCI statistics for the Kennel Club of India (puppies registered with the studbook and appendix), read 11 October 2026. 2025 is the latest year.
Show the numbers
| Label | puppies |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 40,251 |
| 2015 | 40,563 |
| 2016 | 38,883 |
| 2017 | 40,088 |
| 2018 | 44,584 |
| 2019 | 43,651 |
| 2020 | 53,890 |
| 2021 | 88,261 |
| 2022 | 73,499 |
| 2023 | 46,466 |
| 2024 | 36,616 |
| 2025 | 32,219 |
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| Year | Litters | Puppies | Puppies per litter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 7,048 | 40,251 | 5.7 |
| 2015 | 7,153 | 40,563 | 5.7 |
| 2016 | 6,379 | 38,883 | 6.1 |
| 2017 | 6,403 | 40,088 | 6.3 |
| 2018 | 6,523 | 44,584 | 6.8 |
| 2019 | 6,320 | 43,651 | 6.9 |
| 2020 | 6,520 | 53,890 | 8.3 |
| 2021 | 8,500 | 88,261 | 10.4 |
| 2022 | 7,520 | 73,499 | 9.8 |
| 2023 | 6,850 | 46,466 | 6.8 |
| 2024 | 7,828 | 36,616 | 4.7 |
| 2025 | 7,412 | 32,219 | 4.3 |
| Breed | Pet quality (Rs) | KCI registered (Rs) | Pet midpoint (Rs) | KCI midpoint (Rs) | KCI premium (times) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | 8,000 to 30,000 | 30,000 to 60,000 | 19,000 | 45,000 | 2.37 |
| Kanni | 5,000 to 15,000 | 15,000 to 30,000 | 10,000 | 22,500 | 2.25 |
| German Spitz | 5,000 to 20,000 | 15,000 to 40,000 | 12,500 | 27,500 | 2.20 |
| Chippiparai | 5,000 to 12,000 | 12,000 to 25,000 | 8,500 | 18,500 | 2.18 |
| Rottweiler | 18,000 to 35,000 | 35,000 to 80,000 | 26,500 | 57,500 | 2.17 |
| Rampur Greyhound | 8,000 to 20,000 | 20,000 to 40,000 | 14,000 | 30,000 | 2.14 |
| French Bulldog | 50,000 to 90,000 | 90,000 to 2,00,000 | 70,000 | 1,45,000 | 2.07 |
| German Shepherd | 20,000 to 35,000 | 35,000 to 75,000 | 27,500 | 55,000 | 2.00 |
| Tibetan Mastiff | 50,000 to 1,00,000 | 1,00,000 to 2,00,000 | 75,000 | 1,50,000 | 2.00 |
| Pit Bull | 20,000 to 40,000 | 40,000 to 80,000 | 30,000 | 60,000 | 2.00 |
| Pomeranian | 10,000 to 25,000 | 25,000 to 45,000 | 17,500 | 35,000 | 2.00 |
| Great Dane | 20,000 to 40,000 | 40,000 to 80,000 | 30,000 | 60,000 | 2.00 |
| Lhasa Apso | 10,000 to 20,000 | 20,000 to 40,000 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 2.00 |
| Kombai | 5,000 to 15,000 | 15,000 to 25,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 2.00 |
| Pug | 8,000 to 20,000 | 20,000 to 35,000 | 14,000 | 27,500 | 1.96 |
| Mudhol Hound | 3,000 to 10,000 | 10,000 to 15,000 | 6,500 | 12,500 | 1.92 |
| Doberman | 20,000 to 35,000 | 35,000 to 70,000 | 27,500 | 52,500 | 1.91 |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | 35,000 to 60,000 | 60,000 to 1,20,000 | 47,500 | 90,000 | 1.89 |
| Australian Shepherd | 35,000 to 60,000 | 60,000 to 1,20,000 | 47,500 | 90,000 | 1.89 |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 60,000 to 1,00,000 | 1,00,000 to 2,00,000 | 80,000 | 1,50,000 | 1.88 |
| Cocker Spaniel | 15,000 to 25,000 | 25,000 to 50,000 | 20,000 | 37,500 | 1.88 |
| Belgian Malinois | 30,000 to 50,000 | 50,000 to 1,00,000 | 40,000 | 75,000 | 1.88 |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 60,000 to 1,00,000 | 1,00,000 to 2,00,000 | 80,000 | 1,50,000 | 1.88 |
| Chow Chow | 30,000 to 50,000 | 50,000 to 1,00,000 | 40,000 | 75,000 | 1.88 |
| Indian Spitz | 5,000 to 15,000 | 12,000 to 25,000 | 10,000 | 18,500 | 1.85 |
| Bullmastiff | 30,000 to 55,000 | 55,000 to 1,00,000 | 42,500 | 77,500 | 1.82 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 50,000 to 75,000 | 75,000 to 1,50,000 | 62,500 | 1,12,500 | 1.80 |
| Saint Bernard | 25,000 to 45,000 | 45,000 to 80,000 | 35,000 | 62,500 | 1.79 |
| Dachshund | 15,000 to 30,000 | 30,000 to 50,000 | 22,500 | 40,000 | 1.78 |
| Boxer | 15,000 to 30,000 | 30,000 to 50,000 | 22,500 | 40,000 | 1.78 |
| Cane Corso | 50,000 to 80,000 | 80,000 to 1,50,000 | 65,000 | 1,15,000 | 1.77 |
| Rajapalayam | 5,000 to 15,000 | 15,000 to 20,000 | 10,000 | 17,500 | 1.75 |
| Shih Tzu | 20,000 to 35,000 | 35,000 to 60,000 | 27,500 | 47,500 | 1.73 |
| Border Collie | 20,000 to 35,000 | 35,000 to 60,000 | 27,500 | 47,500 | 1.73 |
| Golden Retriever | 25,000 to 45,000 | 45,000 to 75,000 | 35,000 | 60,000 | 1.71 |
| Japanese Spitz | 15,000 to 35,000 | 35,000 to 50,000 | 25,000 | 42,500 | 1.70 |
| Miniature Pinscher | 15,000 to 28,000 | 28,000 to 45,000 | 21,500 | 36,500 | 1.70 |
| English Mastiff | 25,000 to 60,000 | 50,000 to 90,000 | 42,500 | 70,000 | 1.65 |
| Bull Terrier | 25,000 to 45,000 | 45,000 to 70,000 | 35,000 | 57,500 | 1.64 |
| Beagle | 15,000 to 25,000 | 25,000 to 40,000 | 20,000 | 32,500 | 1.62 |
| American Eskimo Dog | 45,000 to 75,000 | 75,000 to 1,20,000 | 60,000 | 97,500 | 1.62 |
| Chihuahua | 15,000 to 25,000 | 25,000 to 40,000 | 20,000 | 32,500 | 1.62 |
| Poodle | 30,000 to 50,000 | 50,000 to 80,000 | 40,000 | 65,000 | 1.62 |
| Pekingese | 15,000 to 25,000 | 25,000 to 40,000 | 20,000 | 32,500 | 1.62 |
| Dogo Argentino | 80,000 to 1,20,000 | 1,20,000 to 2,00,000 | 1,00,000 | 1,60,000 | 1.60 |
| Kangal | 60,000 to 90,000 | 90,000 to 1,50,000 | 75,000 | 1,20,000 | 1.60 |
| Jack Russell Terrier | 20,000 to 30,000 | 30,000 to 50,000 | 25,000 | 40,000 | 1.60 |
| Alaskan Malamute | 60,000 to 90,000 | 90,000 to 1,50,000 | 75,000 | 1,20,000 | 1.60 |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 20,000 to 40,000 | 35,000 to 60,000 | 30,000 | 47,500 | 1.58 |
| Bully Kutta | 15,000 to 50,000 | 50,000 to 50,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 1.54 |
| English Bulldog | 50,000 to 80,000 | 80,000 to 1,20,000 | 65,000 | 1,00,000 | 1.54 |
| Maltese | 25,000 to 40,000 | 40,000 to 60,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 1.54 |
| Bichon Frise | 30,000 to 45,000 | 45,000 to 70,000 | 37,500 | 57,500 | 1.53 |
| Shiba Inu | 50,000 to 1,00,000 | 75,000 to 1,50,000 | 75,000 | 1,12,500 | 1.50 |
| Siberian Husky | 40,000 to 60,000 | 60,000 to 90,000 | 50,000 | 75,000 | 1.50 |
| Dalmatian | 20,000 to 30,000 | 30,000 to 45,000 | 25,000 | 37,500 | 1.50 |
| Samoyed | 80,000 to 1,20,000 | 1,20,000 to 1,80,000 | 1,00,000 | 1,50,000 | 1.50 |
KCI registrations peaked at 88,261 puppies in 2021, during the pandemic pet boom. They fell to 32,219 in 2025, 63.5% below the peak and 26.2% below 2019. Litters registered stayed between 6,320 and 8,500 a year.
How big is India's dog breeding trade?
No official count exists, and the estimates in circulation disagree by a factor of a hundred. The Law Commission's 2015 report recorded what groups told it, without testing the figures. They ranged from a pet-care market of about Rs 800 crore to an industry turnover of Rs 80,000 crore.
The firmest number is the Kennel Club of India's own register. It recorded 32,219 puppies in 2025, the latest year in the statistics published by the FCI, the international kennel federation. That is down from a peak of 88,261 in 2021. Unregistered litters are not counted anywhere.
| Claim | Figure | Who said it | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian pet-care market, 2015 | About Rs 800 crore | PETA India, to the Law Commission (2015) | Advocacy estimate, untested |
| Pet trade turnover | Rs 80,000 crore | Several representations to the Law Commission (2015) | Untested, likely includes all pets and products |
| Pet shops in India | Over 3 lakh | Blue Cross of Hyderabad, to the Law Commission (2015) | Untested |
| Pet shops and breeders | Over 1 lakh | Maneka Gandhi, quoted by National Herald (May 2022) | Untested |
| Pet shops in Delhi | At least 500 | Gauri Maulekhi, quoted by National Herald (May 2022) | Untested |
| Puppies registered with KCI, 2025 | 32,219 | FCI statistics | Registry count, pedigree dogs only |
For the wider market for food and products, see our pet ownership and pet food market report. For what a puppy costs before and after you bring it home, see our cheapest and most expensive dogs report.
Frequently asked questions
Is a licence required to breed dogs in India?
Yes. Under the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, no one may breed or house dogs for sale without a certificate of registration from the State Animal Welfare Board. A local body cannot grant a municipal licence until that registration exists.
What is the dog breeding licence fee in India?
The fee is Rs 5,000, non-refundable, per establishment. The certificate is valid for two years and renewal costs another Rs 5,000. A breeder with more than one kennel must apply separately for each.
How much does a pet shop licence cost in India?
A pet shop pays a non-refundable Rs 5,000 to the State Animal Welfare Board under the Pet Shop Rules, 2018. Registration lasts five years and renewal costs Rs 5,000. A state vet must inspect the shop within three months.
How many litters can a dog have legally in India?
A female dog may have one litter a year, never in two consecutive seasons, and no more than five in her lifetime. She must be at least 18 months old and vet-certified before mating, and cannot be mated after age eight.
At what age can puppies be sold in India?
Not before eight weeks. Breeders and pet shops must microchip every pup sold, issue a receipt and hand over feeding, deworming and vaccination details. Dogs over six months must be sterilised before sale unless sold to another licensed breeder.
What is the penalty for illegal dog breeding in India?
Breaking rules made under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is punishable with a fine of up to Rs 100, up to three months in jail, or both. The board can also refuse or revoke registration, and unregistered pet shops can be sealed.
How do I check if a dog breeder is registered?
Ask to see the State Animal Welfare Board certificate, which must be displayed at the establishment. Tamil Nadu publishes its register online. Elsewhere, ask your state board or file an RTI request.
How many registered dog breeders are there in India?
There is no national figure. AWBI said in December 2023 that only Maharashtra had reported on implementation. Tamil Nadu's 2026 register lists six breeders; a 2023 Telangana court petition cited 9 from an RTI reply.
Methodology and limitations
We read both sets of rules in the versions hosted by the Animal Welfare Board of India, and the 1960 Act as amended in 1982. Fees, validity periods and breeding limits are quoted from those texts.
We downloaded Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board's two published lists on 11 October 2026: the breeder list (created 18 March 2026) and the pet shop list (created 15 May 2026). We extracted every pet shop entry and counted them by registration date, expiry date and district column, reading the printed address where the column was garbled. Expiry is judged against 11 October 2026.
The KCI figures are those the Kennel Club of India reported to the FCI. Puppy prices are dogeats.in editorial ranges compiled from breeder and marketplace listings for our breed guides, October 2026; we compare the midpoints of each range.
Sources
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017, G.S.R. 496(E), via AWBI, Breeder registration, fee, validity, breeding limits, sale conditions
- Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board: lists of registered breeders and pet shops (2026), 6 breeders and 471 pet shop entries
- AWBI circular on implementation of the 2017 and 2018 rules (28 December 2023), Only Maharashtra had reported; registration counts not provided
- Also consulted: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018, G.S.R. 844(E), Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (as amended 1982), TNAWB list of registered breeders (PDF, March 2026), TNAWB list of registered pet shops (PDF, May 2026), TNAWB: apply for breeder registration, FCI statistics: Kennel Club of India, 2014 to 2025, Deccan Herald (11 January 2023), LiveLaw (4 October 2023), AWBI Annual Report 2022-23, DT Next (9 November 2024), The Tribune (11 April 2025), Adyar Times (26 August 2025), DT Next (9 June 2023), Law Commission of India, Report No. 261 (August 2015), National Herald (3 May 2022), AWBI list of advisories and circulars (read 11 October 2026), LiveLaw: Madras High Court sets aside DGFT dog import ban (June 2023), Lawbeat: Centre appeals the import ruling (2023), The News Minute: Bengaluru pet shop raids (12 January 2023).
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