Who do the dog and cat breeding rules apply to in NSW?

Fee/reward breeders now; exemption holders from 1 Dec 2025; ALL dog breeders from 1 Dec 2029.

What law sets out NSW's dog and cat breeding rules?

Animal Welfare Code of Practice — Breeding Dogs and Cats — Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTAA).

Does NSW require records for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Keep a record for every animal and every litter, and hold onto them for at least 3 years.

Does NSW require vet care & vaccination for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Keep a working relationship with a vet, treat sick animals promptly, and have a vet investigate any unexplained death. Keep dogs and cats on their core vaccinations and on a heartworm and parasite-control program.

Does NSW require breeding management for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Don't mate a female on her first heat, and only mate animals fit to breed. Limit bitches to 2 litters and queens to 3 litters in any 24 months (a vet can approve an exception), and keep animals isolated around mating and birth.

Does NSW require whelping & rearing for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Provide a whelping box with clean bedding, and call a vet if labour stalls for 2 hours. Don't separate pups from their mother before 7 weeks, start them on solid food from 3 weeks, and weigh them weekly to track healthy growth.

Does NSW require sale & transfer for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Don't rehome a pup before 8 weeks or sell to anyone under 18. Each pup must be vaccinated, microchipped and wormed before sale, go home with written care information, and be covered by a 3-day return / 50% refund right set out in writing.

Does NSW require staffing & competency for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Have a competent person attend to the animals every day, and make sure any trainees are properly supervised.

Does NSW require emergency & security for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Run a pest-control program, keep an evacuation procedure and fire-fighting equipment ready, and keep housing secure so animals can't escape.

Does NSW require housing & space for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Meet the minimum pen sizes, provide dry bedding, and give cats a hide box and litter trays.

Does NSW require environment for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Keep enclosures comfortable with adequate shade, a suitable temperature, enough light and good ventilation.

Does NSW require cleaning for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Clean enclosures every day, disinfect them weekly, and disinfect again before a whelping.

Does NSW require food & water for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Provide constant access to clean water and a complete, balanced diet, and feed pups three times a day from 3 weeks of age.

Does NSW require daily care, exercise & enrichment for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Inspect every animal daily, give dogs at least 20 minutes of exercise, groom them, provide enrichment, and make sure each animal is individually identified.

Does NSW require transport for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). When transporting animals, keep them separated and well ventilated, and never carry them in the boot of a sedan.

Does NSW require euthanasia for dog or cat breeders?

Standard (must). Euthanasia must be carried out only by a vet or trained technician, using pentobarbitone, and out of sight of other animals.

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NSW breeding rules

Animal Welfare Code of Practice — Breeding Dogs and Cats

Instrument: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTAA)
Structure: Boxed Standards ("must") are mandatory; Guidelines are best practice.
Who it binds: Fee/reward breeders now; exemption holders from 1 Dec 2025; ALL dog breeders from 1 Dec 2029.
Species: Dogs and cats.

Records & paperwork

Records, vet care, breeding management, whelping and sale/transfer — the paperwork side.

RecordsStandard (must)
Keep a record for every animal and every litter, and hold onto them for at least 3 years.
Vet care & vaccinationStandard (must)
Keep a working relationship with a vet, treat sick animals promptly, and have a vet investigate any unexplained death. Keep dogs and cats on their core vaccinations and on a heartworm and parasite-control program.
Breeding managementStandard (must)
Don't mate a female on her first heat, and only mate animals fit to breed. Limit bitches to 2 litters and queens to 3 litters in any 24 months (a vet can approve an exception), and keep animals isolated around mating and birth.
Whelping & rearingStandard (must)
Provide a whelping box with clean bedding, and call a vet if labour stalls for 2 hours. Don't separate pups from their mother before 7 weeks, start them on solid food from 3 weeks, and weigh them weekly to track healthy growth.
Sale & transferStandard (must)
Don't rehome a pup before 8 weeks or sell to anyone under 18. Each pup must be vaccinated, microchipped and wormed before sale, go home with written care information, and be covered by a 3-day return / 50% refund right set out in writing.

Care & premises

Housing, environment, cleaning, food and water, daily care and transport — the setup side.

Staffing & competencyStandard (must)
Have a competent person attend to the animals every day, and make sure any trainees are properly supervised.
Emergency & securityStandard (must)
Run a pest-control program, keep an evacuation procedure and fire-fighting equipment ready, and keep housing secure so animals can't escape.
Housing & spaceStandard (must)
Meet the minimum pen sizes, provide dry bedding, and give cats a hide box and litter trays.
EnvironmentStandard (must)
Keep enclosures comfortable with adequate shade, a suitable temperature, enough light and good ventilation.
CleaningStandard (must)
Clean enclosures every day, disinfect them weekly, and disinfect again before a whelping.
Food & waterStandard (must)
Provide constant access to clean water and a complete, balanced diet, and feed pups three times a day from 3 weeks of age.
Daily care, exercise & enrichmentStandard (must)
Inspect every animal daily, give dogs at least 20 minutes of exercise, groom them, provide enrichment, and make sure each animal is individually identified.
TransportStandard (must)
When transporting animals, keep them separated and well ventilated, and never carry them in the boot of a sedan.
EuthanasiaStandard (must)
Euthanasia must be carried out only by a vet or trained technician, using pentobarbitone, and out of sight of other animals.

Official sources

Whelpkeep tracks NSW's requirements for you automatically — deadlines, records and a self-ticking checklist per litter. Start free →