Why Licensing Matters in Puppy Therapy: What You Need to Know

Why You Should Only Work with a Licensed Puppy Therapy Provider

Here’s the horrible truth: unlicensed puppy therapy businesses will cut corners. And when corners get cut, it’s the puppies and sometimes you, who will pay the price.

Without a licence, you’re left with little or no legal protection if something goes wrong, whether that’s a cancellation, an accident, or even an illness linked to poor hygiene. These providers are also more likely to dip into shady practices, from sourcing puppies irresponsibly to cramming too many attendees into one session to maximise their profits. And perhaps the biggest concern? With no licensing framework in place, there are no checks on the puppies’ health or welfare.

Booking a licensed puppy therapy provider isn’t a boring box-tick, it’s how you make sure the experience is safe, ethical, and genuinely beneficial for the pups. With big business names putting their trust in suppliers, there's a lot on the line.

What Does Our Licence Actually Cover? And Why Does It Matter?

At Paws in Work, our licence isn’t just paperwork, it’s our pups’ golden ticket to safe, happy, tail-wagging therapy sessions. It guarantees full compliance with the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and it means we’re inspected by our local council on a regular basis. Those inspections cover everything from how the puppies are transported to the hygiene standards at our events. Our processes are scrutinised and data checked with a fine-tooth comb. Which we are happy about, as it allows us to show off a little about our day-to-day procedures ;)

Our licence also sets strict welfare rules around handling, rest breaks, and session length, ensuring puppies always get taken care of. We only ever partner with trusted, pre-vetted breeders who have passed our stringent home visit checks, and our staff are fully trained in puppy behaviour and handling, so sessions are enriching for pups as well as people, proving the point that we’re not a pop-up side hustle, we’re a professional, ethical business with puppy wellbeing at the front and centre of our mission.

 Is Insurance Enough, or Does a Business Still Need a Licence?

Insurance sounds reassuring, but here’s the issue, without the right licence, insurance is basically as useful as a chewed-up tennis ball. Most insurers won’t pay out if licensing isn’t in place.

A licence is what proves a business meets the law, not just that they’ve got a safety net if things go wrong. You need both.

Some suppliers may fool you into believing that a breeder's licence is enough to operate. Sadly not. The requirements for a licence are as clear as the smell of a newly opened bag of treats.

Take a quick peek for yourself here

What Type of Licence Does a Puppy Therapy Company Require?

In the UK, puppy therapy businesses need an Animal Exhibits Licence, issued by the local council. At Paws in Work, we worked with our council closely to create a bespoke licence, part breeder, part animal exhibits, all tailored to our unique setup.

Sadly, not everyone takes the same care. We’ve seen copycat providers skip licensing entirely, cutting corners at the expense of puppies’ welfare. Bad dog! 

What Are the Consequences of Partnering With Suppliers Operating Without a Licence?

Working with an unlicensed puppy therapy provider isn’t just risky for them, it’s risky for you too. If something goes wrong, your business could be left exposed. Without a proper licence in place, insurance is void, meaning any accidents, injuries, or claims could land directly at your door. With no legal framework, you and your employees have zero protection if welfare standards are breached.

There’s also the reputational side to consider. Imagine the headlines if your company were linked to an unlicensed provider. Stories of poor welfare practices, unsafe environments, or even ties to puppy farms don’t exactly scream “responsible employer.” 

In a world where employee wellbeing and corporate responsibility matter more than ever, cutting corners on due diligence can undo a lot of good in an instant. Ultimately, a licence protects the puppies, it protects the provider, and most importantly, it protects your business from unnecessary legal, financial, and reputational risk.

How to Check if a Puppy Business Is Licensed

The good guys are easy to spot. They’ll show their licence proudly on their website and at events.

If you’re unsure, contact the local council, they’ll confirm. Be wary of anyone dodging the question or throwing around vague phrases like “fully insured” or “our breeders are all licensed.” Those are nice, but they’re not the same as a licence required for puppy therapy events.

Red Flags That a Puppy Therapy or Puppy Yoga Business Might Be Unlicensed

So how can you tell if something’s not right? A lack of licence information on their website or event materials is usually the first clue. If you ask about licensing and get vague, evasive answers, that’s another. Puppies that look far too young in photos should set alarm bells ringing immediately. After all, the licence requires puppies to be 8 weeks old as a minimum.

And finally, if the activities seem geared purely towards human entertainment, rather than puppy socialisation, chances are the business is prioritising profit over welfare. This could mean no protective flooring and open spaces with little to no security for tiny paws, for example.  

If in doubt, simply walk away. They may be cheap, but with so little processes to legally adhere to, why wouldn't they be?

Sniffing Out a Business via Companies House 

Want to play detective? If the puppy therapy provider is a registered company, you can track down their details faster than a spaniel after a tennis ball. All you need is Companies House the UK’s official business register.

Here’s how to do a little digging:

🕵️ Pop the company name into Companies House.

🕵️ Check the registered address: this tells you where the business is officially based (and which local council should be keeping an eye on them).

🕵️ Match it to the council: once you know the area, head to that council’s website and search for “animal welfare licensing” or “animal exhibits licence.”

🕵️ Follow the trail: now you’ve got the right licensing team to contact. Easy-peasy.
 

Pro tip: Some businesses use a fancy trading name for marketing, so their official company name might look a little different. Don’t be thrown off, just sniff out the address breadcrumbs, and you’ll get to the right place.

What Should You Do if You Suspect a Business Is Unlicensed?

If you suspect something isn’t quite right, ask the business for proof of their licence. A genuine provider will share it without hesitation. If they dodge the question, make excuses, or claim that their breeders being insured or licensed is enough, that’s your signal to walk away. It’s not.

Once you’re confident a business is operating without a licence, report it to the local council, leave a review to warn others, and choose to support providers who do things properly. 

Supporting licensed providers is the easiest way to protect puppies and raise industry standards. (And yes, we’ve even made a handy email template to help you report them dodgy businesses quickly!) You can download it here

How Does Paws in Work Ensure They Stay Compliant with Licensing Law?

We don’t just get licensed and call it a day. We stay on top of every update, every inspection, every tiny welfare requirement.

Our staff are fully trained (with qualifications such as Level 2 Principles of Socialisation, as well as Pet first-aid), and our policies are updated regularly. We keep meticulous records on file, because when it comes to puppy welfare, being sloppy just isn’t in our DNA.

Why Do We Care So Much?

Because puppies aren’t props. They’re living, wriggling, playful little beings who deserve the very best start in life.

We’re here to socialise puppies in safe, structured ways that benefit them. Not to shove them into stressful yoga classes or use them as Instagram bait.

At Paws in Work, puppy wellbeing always comes first. And we’ll happily shout about licensing until every business in the UK plays by the same fair, fluffy, and welfare-first rules.

To speak to us more about our licence, head to our enquiry page and schedule a call with one of our passionate team.