The Government partially accepts the Committee’s recommendation. Whilst the Government acknowledges the Committee’s concern and their recommendation to reduce the litter threshold, doing so may result in unintended consequences. In particular, we would want to carefully consider whether the type of small-scale home-based breeders that the Committee would like to protect would leave the sector rather than join the licensing regime. A further reduction in the number of litters may also disadvantage breeders of toy or giant breeds for whom a litter is often a single puppy. We are considering the impacts and benefits of the dog breeding licensing scheme’s threshold and scope in our post-implementation review (PIR) of the LAIA Regulations, and have commissioned an AWC opinion on the welfare implications of specialised canine reproductive practices, which will be published shortly. The Government will consider the recommendations and available regulatory options to eradicate opportunities for puppy farming and other forms of low-welfare breeding, improve the health and welfare of all breeding dogs, and protect consumers, in line with the intended outcome of the Committee’s recommendation. As part of this work, the Government will take account of the needs of those who may wish to breed a single litter from a much-loved pet, and those who may breed regularly but do not sell the resultant puppies, such as breeders of working dogs, for example.