Verified gundog breeders on GunDogsDirect

A Verified Breeder badge on a GunDogsDirect advert means the seller has given us their council breeding licence and a member of our team checked it before the badge went on. The licence number and the council that issued it are shown in the Seller Details box on the advert, so you can check it yourself with that council.

What the badge tells you, and what it doesn't

It tells you the breeder holds a licence from their council and that we've seen it. It doesn't mean we've visited the breeder, seen the dogs, or checked health tests or pedigrees. Whatever badge an advert carries, ask to see the health certificates, meet the puppies with their mother, and work through our buyer's checklist.

Why not every breeder has one

The badge is optional. Not every breeder needs a licence: the rules depend on how many litters they breed, whether they breed as a business, and which part of the UK they're in. A small breeder with no badge may be perfectly above board. If you're unsure whether a seller should be licensed, ask them, or ask their local council.

Why we don't show star ratings

Councils in England give licensed breeders a star rating, but that system doesn't run across the whole UK. So we show the licence itself rather than a rating, and breeders everywhere in the UK are treated the same.

Breeders: how to get the badge

Log in and add your council breeding licence to your account. Once our team has checked it, the badge appears on your adverts, along with your licence number and council.