Canine Care Certified

Canine Care Certified is a national, voluntary program that ensures the health, well-being and quality of life of dogs in the care of professional breeders in the United States. It is the only program that not only measures the physical health and well-being of dogs and puppies, but also evaluates the behavioral and overall quality of life for animals raised by professional breeders. Canine Care Certified establishes extensive, science-based standards for professional breeders to ensure a higher, documented quality of care for dogs and puppies. The program was developed at the request of a small group of professional breeders that wished to have uniform, national voluntary standards that considered physical and behavioral welfare of dogs and puppies raised by breeders. Those standards are the foundation and metrics of Canine Care Certified. By certifying breeders, it provides an added measure of assurance to consumers and pet owners that dogs and puppies raised under the program are cared for under stringent standards. The Canine Care Certified program is administered by Purdue University. The work of the Program is advised by the Center for Animal Welfare Science at Purdue University, which spent three years developing and piloting the certification program’s science-based standards. The standards were evaluated and enhanced by a large advisory committee of independent animal science and veterinary experts. The certification program is supported by major pet and breeder organizations as well as nationally recognized animal welfare experts and academic leaders in animal science.