Queensland State Legislation

Each person, who resides in Queensland upon signing an application for membership or renewal of membership of the MDBA shall, agree to  comply with Queensland State and Local Government Legislation, Regulations and Codes of Practice applying to the welfare, keeping, breeding, management and sales of dogs.

1. All MDBA members are required to investigate their legal responsibilities under Local Laws within their own Council Municipality when owning and breeding dogs. This must be kept in an easily accessible file for future reference if siting is required by the MDBA.
2. All MDBA Breeder members must have information from their local councils on: planning permits required for use of premises for dog breeding in their council area.
3. All MDBA members must acquire all the requisite Planning Permits and Licenses to enable them to pursue their hobby of owning and breeding dogs in compliance with the MDBA Code of Ethics. Dog Owners in Queensland must comply with the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, local laws, and the Animal Management (Cat and Dog) Act 2008 or subordinate legislation.

The Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 places a duty of care on the person in charge of a dog to properly care for the dog and provide for its needs.

Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.

Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2016.

Queensland Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Breeding Dogs and their Progeny

Laws for Dog Owners

In Queensland, if you breed a dog on or after 26 May 2017 you must be registered with the Queensland State government as a breeder.

This means that, unless you’re a primary producer breeding working dogs to be kept on rural land for use as working dogs, you must register—even if your dog has an unplanned litter or you only breed puppies for family and friends. You must not give away, sell or advertise a dog or puppy without a supply number that identifies you as the breeder or provides an exemption.

When you register, you’ll receive a unique identification number—your supply number—that can be used to trace every dog you breed back to you.

A supply number can be any one of the following:

• Breeder identification number—available online when you register as a breeder with the Queensland state government
• Breeder’s membership number—provided by a breeder organisation that accredits dog breeders and is approved by the Minister as an ‘approved entity’
• Breeder permit number—provided by a local government issuing permits/registrations to dog breeders and approved by the Minister as an ‘approved entity’
• A unique number that identifies a person as a recognised interstate breeder—provided within their state
• Breeder exemption number—available to eligible people who qualify for breeder exemption. 

Under this legislation you must:

• display your supply number on every advertisement
• include your supply number in the dog’s microchip information
• provide your supply number to the dog’s new owner. 

Compliance and Enforcement

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Biosecurity Queensland

Minimum Standards are those in the Queensland CODE OF PRACTICE for Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.

Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2016.

Queensland Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Breeding Dogs and their Progeny

PLEASE NOTE THAT QUEENSLAND MDBA MEMBERS ARE ALL REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH MINIMUM STANDARDS, WITHIN THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT’S CODE OF PRACTICE BUT ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED TO EXCEED THEM, IN STRIVING TOWARDS BEST PRACTICE.

All MDBA Breeder Members agree to be bound to MDBA Rules. These can be found here.

All MDBA Breeder Members agree to be bound to MDBA Code Of Ethics. These can be found here.

If you believe that any MDBA Breeder Member may have breached any of the above Codes, Rules or applicable legislation for their location please send us an email.