Checking a specific breeder?
Search BOB’s directory for a breeder’s license and USDA inspection history.
Indiana at a glance
Statewide totals from BOB’s research. We don’t name individual breeders on this page.
- 406
- licensed dog breeders. 366 hold a federal USDA license and 40 are licensed only by the state of Indiana.
- 1,616
- breeders selling puppies online with no license on record. That’s more than all of Indiana’s licensed breeders combined, and it only counts three websites.
- 241
- breeders have had a USDA license cancelled since 2020. 18 of them still hold a Indiana state license, which means they’re no longer inspected by USDA.
- 406
- Indiana breeders sold puppies to pet stores in 2025, as documented by BOB.
BOB is still auditing license records, so these totals may change as the audit is completed.
Most Indiana breeders selling online aren’t licensed
Licensing gets most of the attention, but it only covers part of the puppy market. BOB reviewed 1,742 Indiana breeders advertising on Good Dog, Puppies.com and AKC Marketplace. 1,616, or 93%, have no state or USDA license on record.
The lighter section shows breeders with a license on record or a likely match.
1,616 vs. 406
Unlicensed breeders on just three websites, compared with every licensed dog breeder in Indiana.
62
Online breeders who list five or more breeding females and ship puppies through transport services, conditions that generally require a USDA license, but have no license on record.
What “unlicensed” means for buyers
Most of these breeders are small, and many list only a few breeding dogs, which keeps them under the point where a license is required. They’re selling legally. But it also means no inspector has ever been to their property. For most puppies sold online in Indiana, the only person who can check where a puppy was raised is you.
This is a starting count, not a full one. It covers three websites, not Facebook, Craigslist or breeders’ own sites. License status was checked against BOB’s database of USDA and state licensees, so a small number of licensed breeders may not have been matched. Breeding dog counts are what breeders list on their own profiles.
How often USDA inspections in Indiana find violations
Share of USDA inspections at Indiana dog breeders and brokers that cited at least one violation, by year.
Fewer violations on paper doesn’t always mean better conditions. 241 Indiana breeders have had a USDA license cancelled since 2020, and breeders licensed only by the state aren’t inspected by USDA at all. Counts regular USDA dog and cat inspections; attempted inspections where no animals were listed aren’t included. Source: USDA inspection reports compiled by BOB.
Where Indiana puppies are sold
In 2025, BOB documented 406 Indiana breeders selling puppies to pet stores. Of those, 41 (10%) had at least one violation on record in the past five years.
Pet stores selling puppies in Indiana
BOB tracks 28 open pet stores in Indiana that sell puppies. We rate 8 of them High on our sourcing concern scale, and the rest are rated lower or don’t yet have enough data to rate.
What Indiana law requires
- Does Indiana license dog breeders?
- Yes. The Indiana Board of Animal Health licenses commercial breeders. Under state law, that generally means a breeder who keeps more than 20 unaltered female dogs at least 12 months old.
- How often are breeders inspected?
- Licensed breeders are inspected only when someone files a complaint, not on a regular schedule.
- Can I look up a breeder’s state license?
- Contact the Indiana Board of Animal Health to confirm whether a breeder is licensed.
- Does Indiana have a puppy lemon law?
- No. Buyers have no state law specifically protecting them if a puppy is sick soon after purchase.
Compare commercial breeder and pet store laws in every state
Before you buy a puppy from a Indiana breeder
Not every breeder is a puppy mill. These steps help you tell the difference.
If your puppy gets sick
Indiana doesn’t have a puppy lemon law, so no state law specifically entitles you to a refund, a replacement or vet costs if a puppy is sick or dies soon after you buy it. 22 states have these laws, but Indiana isn’t one of them. Before you pay, ask for a written health guarantee and vet records, and keep copies of every message and receipt.
- Check the license. Ask for the breeder’s state license number and confirm it with the Indiana Board of Animal Health. If they say they’re USDA licensed, search the USDA inspection search for their recent reports.
- Look them up in our directory. The BOB breeder directory shows licensing and inspection history for breeders we track.
- Visit in person. Most breeders selling online aren’t licensed or inspected, so your visit may be the only check anyone does. Ask to see where the puppy and its mother live. A breeder who only meets you in a parking lot or ships sight unseen is a red flag.
- If something goes wrong, report a sick puppy or a suspected puppy mill to BOB, and contact the Indiana Board of Animal Health.
Common questions
How many dog breeders are in Indiana?
BOB tracks 406 licensed dog breeders in Indiana: 366 with a USDA license and 40 licensed only by the state. BOB has also found 1,616 Indiana breeders selling puppies online with no license on record.
Is an unlicensed breeder breaking the law?
Usually not. Most breeders are small enough that they don’t need a license. But it means no inspector has checked on their dogs, so it’s up to you to visit and ask questions.
Does a USDA license mean a breeder is good?
No. A USDA license means a breeder has met minimum federal standards to operate and can be inspected. It isn’t an endorsement. Check the breeder’s inspection reports and visit in person.
Are Indiana puppies sold in other states?
Yes. In 2025, BOB documented 406 Indiana breeders selling puppies to pet stores, many of them outside Indiana.
What can I do if my puppy from a Indiana breeder gets sick?
Indiana has no puppy lemon law, so your options depend mostly on what the seller agreed to in writing. That’s why a written health guarantee matters. You can also report the seller to BOB.
How do I report a puppy mill in Indiana?
You can report it to BOB and file a complaint with the Indiana Board of Animal Health.
For legislators and advocates
You’re welcome to use these figures in testimony, reporting and outreach. Please cite BOB and the date shown so readers can find the current numbers. For more detailed data, contact research@bailingoutbenji.com.
How to cite this page
Bailing Out Benji. “Dog Breeding in Indiana.” bailingoutbenji.com, November 2026. https://bailingoutbenji.com/research-and-data/states/indiana/
Figures come from BOB’s database of licensed and unlicensed breeders, brokers and pet stores, inspection reports compiled by BOB, and BOB’s reviews of online puppy marketplaces. Counts are statewide totals.