Just a Dog Podcast · Episode 41 · October 19, 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
Dog mating, artificial insemination and whelping in the UK, with Stan Airey | Part 2
When we buy a puppy, few of us think to ask how their mum got pregnant, who helped her give birth, or how many of her puppies survived. Stan Airey has been helping breeders and owners whelp their dogs for over 50 years, and in part 2 of Call the Midwoof he shows me the side of breeding that puppy buyers rarely get to see. He explains how he helps dogs through difficult births in breeders’ and owners’ homes, why some people call him instead of their vet, and what he checks for the moment a puppy is born. He also shows me the equipment he once used to artificially inseminate dogs. Artificial insemination is an act of veterinary surgery, which under UK law only a vet, or a registered vet nurse under a vet’s direction, can carry out. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons , who regulate vets, confirmed this in June 2023, and Stan says he no longer does it. In England, people offering whelping, stud dog or canine fertility services don’t need a licence unless they sell puppies , and Stan welcomes licensing for the work he does. In December 2025, Defra, the government department responsible for animal welfare in England, said they would hold a public consultation on bringing whelping services, stud dog services and canine fertility clinics into the licensing system. No date has been announced yet, and when it opens, guardians will be able to have their say. Content note: this episode includes frank discussion of mating and artificial insemination, puppies born with conditions they can’t survive, and strong language. Some of Stan’s views differ from veterinary advice, and they’re included so you can hear them in his own words, but nothing in this episode is advice, so please talk to your vet about your own dog. In This Episode How a female dog shows she isn’t ready to mate The artificial insemination equipment Stan used, and why it’s now vet-only How Stan helps dogs through difficult births Why some people call Stan instead of their vet Puppies born with conditions they can’t survive Whether you can tell a healthy puppy at 8 weeks Why Stan wants licensing for people who help dogs give birth Key Takeaways Under UK law, only a vet, or a registered vet nurse under a vet’s direction, can carry out intravaginal artificial insemination on a dog In England, whelping services, stud dog services and canine fertility clinics don’t need a licence unless they sell puppies Defra have said they’ll hold a public consultation on licensing whelping services, stud dog services and canine fertility clinics, but no date has been announced Stan says a female dog who isn’t ready will sit down and turn away from the male Stan says a vet check at 8 weeks is no guarantee of a healthy puppy, and he’d like puppies to stay with their mum until 12 weeks Follow Just a Dog Podcast on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . New episodes every other Monday. Sources: RCVS: Standards and advice, June 2023, canine intravaginal AI Defra: Post-implementation review of the 2018 licensing regulations, 2024 Defra: Animal welfare strategy for England, December 2025