People usually go looking for the Australian Association of Pet Dog Breeders (AAPDB) when they’re trying to judge whether a breeder is legitimate, what “membership” really means, or how to separate careful, small-scale breeding from the kind of high-volume production that can quietly compromise a dog’s welfare.
AAPDB is one of several bodies in Australia that publish breeder standards and codes of conduct. The more useful question, day to day, is how those standards compare with enforceable state laws and with the long-standing rules used by Dogs Australia member bodies. That’s where the practical checks live.
What the AAPDB is (and what it isn’t)
The Australian Association of Pet Dog Breeders is a breeder membership organisation that publishes a member code of conduct covering welfare, breeding, and sales practices.1
It is not a government regulator, and membership itself is not a licence to breed. In Australia, the rules that carry legal penalties sit under state and territory legislation (and the detail varies by jurisdiction). New South Wales, for example, has introduced wide-ranging puppy farming reforms that apply to breeders across the state, including limits and identification requirements that are written into law rather than a voluntary code.5, 6
A quick note about the original draft
The supplied text mixed two unrelated topics (AAPDB and the Akhal-Teke horse) and made claims that didn’t line up with the way Australia’s main pedigree registry is structured (for instance, it referred to the “Australian National Kennel Council” in a way that suggested AAPDB helped write its national code). Dogs Australia (formerly ANKC) operates separately through state member bodies and its own regulations and codes; AAPDB has its own member rules.2, 1
What AAPDB’s code covers, in plain language
AAPDB’s published code of conduct includes expectations around routine care (diet, parasite control, vaccination), housing, sales practices, and breeder responsibilities if a dog they bred needs to be rehomed later in life.1
Some provisions are quite specific. For example, AAPDB’s code states members must not sell a puppy younger than 8 weeks, and it sets out requirements around written sale agreements and certain post-sale responsibilities.1
It also includes claims about mandatory genetic testing for breeding dogs (described as required from 1 July 2019). Genetic testing can be genuinely helpful, but it’s only meaningful when it matches the breed, the condition, and the way results are interpreted alongside veterinary examination and good breeding decisions.1
How this relates to Dogs Australia (ANKC) breeders
Dogs Australia is the national coordinating body for Australia’s state canine councils, and it describes itself as the peak body responsible for registered purebred dogs, with affiliated registered breeders bound by a code of ethics and regulations through their state member bodies.2
That matters because an “ANKC/Dogs Australia registered breeder” is working inside a formal registration system (with main and limited registers, transfer requirements, and investigatory processes handled by state member bodies). The exact obligations vary by state body, but the framework is consistent: breed within the rules, register litters, and follow the member code of ethics.3, 4
The law still matters more than any club badge
Across Australia, legal requirements can include breeder identification, advertising rules, and minimum standards of care. In NSW, reforms under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Puppy Farming) Act 2024 introduced a cap on female adult dogs on premises (with specific exemptions and transition arrangements), and bring in further requirements from 1 December 2025, including mandatory breeder identification numbers and lifetime breeding limits for female dogs.5, 6
If you’re assessing a breeder, it’s worth treating “member of X association” as a starting point, then checking whether they can show you the practical, verifiable things: where the dogs live, how the litter is raised, and whether their paperwork matches what the law in their state requires.
How to sanity-check a breeder quickly (without getting lost in acronyms)
- See the puppy where it was raised. Buying sight unseen increases risk, and it removes your chance to observe cleanliness, space, and the condition of the dam and other dogs on site.7
- Ask what health testing was done, and why. “DNA tested” is not one thing. It should be relevant to the breed and backed by documentation (and ideally discussed with a vet).1
- Expect a written agreement and clear after-sale responsibility. A good breeder can tell you, calmly and specifically, what happens if the dog can’t stay with you later on.1
- Check whether their claims align with your state’s rules. In NSW, for instance, breeder identification and advertising requirements are part of the compliance picture, not an optional extra.5, 6
What “responsible breeding” tends to look like on the ground
Across different breeder organisations and state canine bodies, the best common thread is not branding. It’s the quiet, repeatable stuff: mature, healthy breeding animals; limits that give females time to recover; clean housing; daily handling and socialisation; and honest, consistent communication with buyers that doesn’t rely on urgency or secrecy.2, 8
References
- AAPDB – Members Code of Conduct (Code of Ethics)
- Dogs Australia – About Dogs Australia (Media page describing structure and breeder obligations)
- Dogs SA – Becoming a Breeder (member obligations, registration and rules)
- Dogs NSW – Code of Ethics (links to regulations/ethics section)
- NSW DPIRD – Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Puppy Farming) Act 2024 (overview and commencement dates)
- NSW Office of Local Government (Pet Registry) – Changes to dog breeding laws
- RSPCA Australia – How do I avoid supporting puppy farms?
- Dogs ACT – Responsible breeding (position on puppy farming and breeder guidance)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom