Glossary of Terms

Common terms used in dog breeder licensing laws, explained in plain language.

Animal Welfare Act (AWA): The main federal law that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers, including dog breeders. It is enforced by the USDA through APHIS. Learn more about federal licensing requirements →
Acquisition and Disposition Records: Records required by USDA under 9 CFR 2.75 (opens in new tab) documenting every animal acquired, sold, transferred, or euthanized. Licensed breeders must complete APHIS forms 7005 and 7006 and retain them for at least one year after the animal leaves the facility. See record-keeping requirements →
APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service): The branch of the USDA that enforces the Animal Welfare Act. APHIS inspectors visit licensed breeding facilities to make sure they meet federal standards for animal care. See our USDA inspection prep guide →
Breeding Female / Intact Female: A female dog that has not been spayed (has not had surgery to prevent pregnancy). Many state laws use the number of intact females you own to decide whether you need a breeder license. See also: Threshold.
Class A License (USDA): A federal USDA license for breeders who breed and raise animals on their own premises for sale. This applies to people who sell dogs they bred themselves. See USDA federal requirements → Search Class A licensees →
Class B License (USDA): A federal USDA license for dealers who buy and resell animals. This applies to people who buy dogs from other breeders and then sell them to others. See USDA federal requirements → Search Class B licensees →
Commercial Breeder: A person or business that breeds dogs primarily for the purpose of selling them for profit. Most state licensing laws apply to commercial breeders, though the exact definition varies by state. Check your state's requirements →
Exemption: A rule that says certain people do not need a license. Common exemptions include hobby breeders who sell only a small number of puppies per year, people who sell directly to the buyer face-to-face, and people who breed dogs for personal use (such as hunting dogs).
Hobby Breeder: A person who breeds dogs on a small scale, usually as a hobby rather than a primary business. Many states exempt hobby breeders from licensing requirements if they stay below a certain number of litters or sales per year. See also: Exemption, Threshold.
Kennel License: A permit issued by a state or local government that allows you to keep a certain number of dogs on your property. This is different from a breeder license, but some states combine them into one permit. Check your state's requirements →
Litter: A group of puppies born to the same mother at the same time. Some states measure breeding activity by the number of litters produced per year rather than the number of dogs you own.
Microchip: A tiny electronic chip implanted under a dog's skin that stores an identification number. Some states require breeders to microchip puppies before selling them.
Pet Dealer / Pet Shop: A person or business that sells dogs to the public, often from a retail location. In many states, pet dealers have separate licensing requirements from breeders, and some states have banned pet shops from selling dogs sourced from commercial breeders. See also: Retail Pet Store Rule.
Puppy Lemon Law: A consumer protection law found in some states that gives buyers the right to a refund or replacement if a purchased puppy turns out to have a serious health problem. Who must follow these laws depends on the state. Some cover only pet stores, while others also cover breeders who sell more than a set number of dogs or litters. Check your state's consumer protections →
Retail Pet Store Rule (USDA): A 2013 USDA rule (78 FR 57227) that narrowed the definition of "retail pet store" to require that the buyer, seller, and animal are all physically present so the buyer can personally observe the animal before purchase. Sellers who meet this definition are exempt from USDA licensing. Those who sell sight-unseen (online, by phone, or by mail) cannot claim this exemption, though small breeders with four or fewer breeding females have a separate exemption under 9 CFR 2.1(a)(3)(iii) (opens in new tab).
Sight-Unseen Sale: A sale where the buyer does not physically see the animal in person before the sale is completed. Under the USDA's Retail Pet Store Rule, the seller, the buyer, and the animal must all be physically present in the same location for it to count as a face-to-face sale. Video calls (FaceTime, Zoom, Skype) do not count as seeing the animal in person. However, a buyer may pay a deposit, or even the full price, before visiting, as long as the buyer sees the dog in person before taking it home. Sales where the dog is shipped to the buyer without an in-person meeting are sight-unseen. For breeders with more than four breeding females, sight-unseen sales trigger the requirement for a federal USDA license. Breeders with four or fewer breeding females are exempt even for sight-unseen sales.
Spay / Neuter: Surgical procedures that prevent a dog from reproducing. Spaying refers to females and neutering refers to males. Some states and local governments require that dogs be spayed or neutered unless the owner has a breeding license or permit.
Threshold: The number of dogs, litters, or sales that triggers the requirement to get a breeder license. For example, a state might require a license if you own 5 or more intact females, or if you sell more than 20 dogs per year. Check your state's threshold →
USDA License / Federal License: A license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act. This is required for breeders who maintain more than four breeding females and sell dogs sight-unseen (such as online). Breeders with four or fewer breeding females are exempt under 9 CFR 2.1(a)(3)(iii) (opens in new tab). It is separate from any state or local license you may also need. See full USDA requirements → Verify a USDA license →
Veterinary Inspection / Health Certificate: A document from a licensed veterinarian stating that a dog or puppy is healthy. Many states require breeders to get a health certificate before selling or transporting puppies, especially across state lines.
Whelping: The process of a dog giving birth. Breeders sometimes use this term in reference to their facilities and records (e.g., "whelping box" or "whelping date").
Attending Veterinarian: The licensed veterinarian who oversees the veterinary care program at a USDA-licensed facility. Under 9 CFR 2.40 (opens in new tab), every licensee must have a written Program of Veterinary Care signed by their attending veterinarian, including preventive care protocols, emergency procedures, and euthanasia methods.
Broker / Dealer: A person or business that buys and resells dogs they did not breed. Brokers and dealers who resell dogs need a USDA Class B license. The $500 yearly income exemption in the rules does not apply to dogs or cats. Read the full Class A vs Class B guide →
Critical Violation: A USDA APHIS inspection finding that had a serious or severe harmful effect on an animal's health. Refusing an inspection, faking records, and a few other serious acts also count as critical. A direct violation is a critical violation that is still hurting an animal at the time of the inspection. The inspector sets each correction date based on how serious the problem is, and critical findings are marked on the facility's public inspection report.
Direct Violation: The most serious category of USDA APHIS inspection finding. It is a critical violation that is hurting an animal's health and well-being at the time of the inspection. The deadline to fix it is short and never more than 14 days, and APHIS must come back within 14 days to check, even if the problem was fixed during the visit. Direct violations appear on public inspection reports.
Non-Critical Violation: A USDA inspection finding that represents a technical compliance failure but does not pose an immediate threat to animal welfare (for example, incomplete records, missing labels, or minor housekeeping issues).
Teachable Moment: A former APHIS practice for minor problems that did not affect animal welfare and that the facility could fix quickly. These were noted on reports instead of being cited as violations. APHIS stopped using teachable moments in August 2022, so all problems are now cited, but you may still see them on older inspection reports.
Pre-License Inspection: The initial facility inspection USDA conducts before issuing a new license. Applicants get up to three tries to pass and must ask for the second and third inspections within 60 days of the first. An applicant who fails the third can appeal within 7 days. If not, they must wait 6 months to reapply. See the inspection prep guide →
Program of Veterinary Care (PVC): A written document required under 9 CFR 2.40 (opens in new tab) that describes how a licensee will provide veterinary care. For dogs, 9 CFR 3.13 requires the program to be in writing and signed by the attending veterinarian. It must cover vaccinations, parasite control, preventive care, emergency care, and euthanasia, plus a vet visit and a head-to-tail exam of every dog at least once every 12 months.
Random Source Class B: A now-rare subset of Class B dealers who sold dogs and cats to research facilities. Starting with grants issued on or after October 1, 2014, NIH stopped letting its grant money be used to buy dogs from Class B dealers, which effectively ended the category. Most Class B licensees today are wholesale/retail brokers, not research suppliers.
Certificate Number (USDA): The unique identifier assigned to every USDA-licensed facility, formatted as XX-Y-NNNN: a two-digit state code, a license class letter (A, B, C, or R), and a sequence number. Example: 43-A-6252 is a Missouri Class A breeder. Look up any certificate →
Retail Pet Store Ban: A state or local law prohibiting pet stores from selling puppies sourced from commercial breeders. Stores must instead source dogs from shelters and rescues. Ten states (California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington) have passed statewide bans, though some let existing stores keep selling for a time, and the Colorado and Delaware bans start in 2028 and 2027. Many cities and counties have local bans. See the full overview →
Interstate Commerce: Selling, transporting, or delivering dogs across state lines. Congress used its power over interstate commerce to pass the Animal Welfare Act, and the law also covers sales that affect interstate commerce. Selling only to buyers in your own state does not by itself exempt you from a USDA license. Nearly all online sales are interstate commerce.
APHIS eFile: The USDA's online portal where breeders apply for, renew, and manage their Class A, B, C, or R license. Available at efile.aphis.usda.gov (opens in new tab).
Class C License (USDA): A USDA license for exhibitors (zoos, educational exhibitors, and some carnivals and circuses). Not applicable to dog breeders, but appears in the APHIS public search tool. The middle letter of a USDA certificate number is "C" for exhibitors.
Class R License (USDA): A USDA registration for research facilities (universities, pharmaceutical companies, and other institutions using animals in research). Not applicable to dog breeders. The middle letter of a USDA certificate number is "R" for research registrants.
Space Requirements: USDA minimum floor space calculations under 9 CFR 3.6 (opens in new tab). Each dog's primary enclosure must provide at least 6 inches of headroom above the standing dog and floor space equal to the math formula: (length of dog in inches + 6) squared, divided by 144, in square feet. See the formula with examples →
Health Certificate / CVI: A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued by a licensed, USDA-accredited veterinarian certifying that an animal is free from signs of infectious disease. Most states require a CVI before selling or transporting puppies across state lines.
Breeding Female (USDA definition): USDA rules do not define this term. When APHIS adopted the 4-female rule in 2013 (78 FR 57227), it said an inspector decides which females count by looking at each animal's age, health, and fitness for breeding, and will assume a female that can breed may be bred. The USDA's 4-or-fewer exemption counts only breeding-age intact females; puppies and spayed females don't count toward the threshold.
Pre-Purchase Visit: An in-person visit by a buyer to the breeder's facility before completing a sale. Under the USDA retail pet store rule, the buyer, the seller, and the animal must all be physically present for a sale to qualify for the retail pet store exemption.
Gross Receipts: Total annual revenue from animal sales. Some state licensing programs, such as Georgia's, use gross sales to set license fees. USDA no longer does. Since 2020, every USDA license costs a flat $120 for 3 years. Gross receipts are distinct from profit and are not offset by expenses.