Dog breeding in Pennsylvania

Checking a specific breeder?

Search BOB’s directory for a breeder’s license and USDA inspection history.

Pennsylvania at a glance

Statewide totals from BOB’s research. We don’t name individual breeders on this page.

985

licensed dog breeders. 45 hold a federal USDA license and 940 are licensed only by the state of Pennsylvania.

1,863

breeders selling puppies online with no license on record. That’s more than all of Pennsylvania’s licensed breeders combined, and it only counts three websites.

28

breeders have had a USDA license cancelled since 2020. 12 of them still hold a Pennsylvania state license, which means they’re no longer inspected by USDA.

55

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania breeders selling online aren’t licensed

Licensing gets most of the attention, but it only covers part of the puppy market. BOB reviewed 2,138 Pennsylvania breeders advertising on Good Dog, Puppies.com and AKC Marketplace. 1,863, or 87%, have no state or USDA license on record.

The lighter section shows breeders with a license on record or a likely match.

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 Pennsylvania, 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.

Fewer violations on paper doesn’t always mean better conditions. 28 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania puppies are sold

In 2025, BOB documented 55 Pennsylvania breeders selling puppies to pet stores. Of those, 8 (15%) had at least one violation on record in the past five years.

Pet stores selling puppies in Pennsylvania

BOB tracks 33 open pet stores in Pennsylvania that sell puppies. We rate 12 of them High on our sourcing concern scale, and the rest are rated lower or don’t yet have enough data to rate.

What Pennsylvania law requires

Does Pennsylvania license dog breeders?

Yes. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture licenses commercial breeders. Under state law, that generally means a breeder who keeps or transfers at least 26 dogs in a calendar year (commercial kennels: sells to dealers or pet stores, or more than 60 dogs a year).

How often are breeders inspected?

State-licensed breeders are inspected twice a year by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Breeders who also hold a USDA license can be inspected by USDA as well.

Can I look up a breeder’s state license?

Yes. The state publishes its licensing and inspection records online.

Does Pennsylvania have a puppy lemon law?

Yes. It gives buyers recourse if a puppy is sick or has a congenital problem soon after purchase.

Compare commercial breeder and pet store laws in every state

Before you buy a puppy from a Pennsylvania breeder

Not every breeder is a puppy mill. These steps help you tell the difference.

1. Check the license. Search the state’s licensing records, and if the breeder says they’re USDA licensed, search the USDA inspection search for their recent reports.
2. Look them up in our directory. The BOB breeder directory shows licensing and inspection history for breeders we track.
3. 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.
4. If something goes wrong, report a sick puppy or a suspected puppy mill to BOB, and contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Common questions

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.

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.