Dog Breeder Licensing in Canada
Quick Summary
Canada has no national dog breeder licence. Licensing, where it exists, comes from the provinces and territories, and only three require one: Quebec (a permit for anyone who owns or keeps 15 or more cats or dogs), New Brunswick (a kennel licence for premises where dogs are bred for consideration) and Manitoba (a licence for premises with five or more breeding-capable female dogs). Everywhere else, provincial and territorial animal welfare laws set care standards for breeders, and some cities license kennels or restrict pet store sales. Federal law covers selling dogs as purebred, animal cruelty, and dog imports and transport.
Canada Federal Rules
How the Animal Pedigree Act, the Criminal Code and CFIA import and transport rules apply to dog breeders.
View federal rulesBringing Dogs Between the U.S. and Canada
CDC, USDA and CFIA rules for dogs crossing the border, including import permits, minimum ages and selling puppies to buyers in the other country.
Read the guideProvinces
Alberta
ABNo provincial threshold; the Animal Protection Act's care duties apply to every ...
British Columbia
BCNo licensing threshold. Kennel standards apply to any place where a domestic dog...
Manitoba
MBPremises where more than four female dogs capable of reproduction are kept (five...
New Brunswick
NBOperating a kennel, defined as premises where dogs are bred or boarded for consi...
Newfoundland and Labrador
NLNo licence threshold; any kennel, defined to include a breeding facility where a...
Nova Scotia
NSNo licence threshold; the Animal Protection Act and the Standards of Care for Ca...
Ontario
ONNo provincial threshold: the PAWS Act standards of care and the puppy mill prohi...
Prince Edward Island
PENo breeder licence threshold; any cattery, kennel or other premises where compan...
Quebec
QCOwning or keeping 15 or more cats and dogs combined, not counting kittens or pup...
Saskatchewan
SKNo licensing threshold; the Act's care duties apply to anyone responsible for an...
Territories
Northwest Territories
NTNo territorial threshold. The Dog Act's care rules apply to every dog owner; Yel...
Nunavut
NUNo territorial threshold. The Dog Act's feeding and abuse rules apply to every d...
Yukon
YTNo breeder threshold. A territorial permit is required to operate a pet store (a...
Changes Not Yet in Force
Several provinces have passed changes that are not yet in force. Each page explains what changes and when.
- Alberta: Animal Protection Amendment Act, 2026 (Bill 22, SA 2026, c. 6)
- Manitoba: The Animal Care Amendment Act (Bill 19, S.M. 2026, c. 16)
- Ontario: Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, 2024 (remaining provisions)
- Ontario: O. Reg. 152/26 (ear cropping and devocalization)
- Ontario: Ottawa's new Licensing By-law
- Saskatchewan: The Animal Protection Amendment Act, 2026 (Bill 40, S.S. 2026, c. 4)
Status checked October 27, 2026.
Related Resources
- USDA License Lookup: Canada admits commercial puppies from the U.S. for resale only from a kennel with a USDA licence; check a U.S. kennel's licence here.
- USDA Federal Licensing Requirements: The U.S. federal licence for commercial breeders who sell dogs sight-unseen.
- U.S. State Requirements: Breeder licensing in all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico.
- Report an Error: Found outdated info? Let us know.