How to Find a Tails Reviewed Breeder in Australia

What is Tails Reviewed?

Tails Reviewed is a voluntary transparency badge available to Gold-tier breeders on Tails Australia. Unlike a self-declared tick-box, it involves a structured document review carried out by the Tails team. Every breeder who displays the badge has passed all four criteria below — and the review is repeated annually, so it stays current.

The badge does not constitute a medical guarantee, veterinary endorsement, or government certification. It is a point-in-time transparency review that gives buyers a concrete way to compare breeders based on independently checked information rather than self-reported claims.

What is independently reviewed?

Why does this matter when choosing a breeder?

Most breeder listings in Australia are self-reported. A breeder can write anything in their profile description — "health tested," "vet checked," "raised with love" — without any supporting documents. Buyers have no way to verify these claims without visiting in person and asking for paperwork, which many find uncomfortable to do.

The Tails Reviewed badge changes that dynamic. Because the Tails team has already reviewed the registration, health records, environment video, and called the vet clinic, buyers can use the badge as a starting point for confidence — before they even contact the breeder.

It also incentivises breeders to maintain accurate records and a clean, documented environment, because they know it will be reviewed.

What the badge does not mean

• It is not a guarantee that a puppy or kitten will be free of hereditary conditions or illness.
• It is not a veterinary endorsement or medical certification.
• It is not a government licence or inspection.
• It does not represent ongoing monitoring — the review is point-in-time and renewed annually.
• It does confirm that the breeder's registration, vet records, and environment were independently reviewed at a specific point in time.

How to find a Tails Reviewed breeder near you

On the Find Breeders page, open the Filters panel and check Tails Reviewed only under the Transparency section. The map and breeder list will immediately update to show only breeders who currently hold an active, non-expired badge.

You can combine this with other filters — state, breed, subscription tier, or minimum rating — to narrow down to the right match for your situation. For example, filtering for Gold-tier Tails Reviewed breeders in Victoria who breed Labrador Retrievers gives you a focused shortlist of breeders who have invested in both their membership and their transparency review.

Breeders who hold the badge also display it prominently on their profile and on their individual listings, so you can see it at a glance when browsing.

Questions to still ask a Tails Reviewed breeder

The badge is a strong starting point, but you should still do your own due diligence:

• 1
  Can I visit and see the puppy or kitten with the mother in the place it was raised?
• 2
  What health testing has been done on the breeding parents (e.g. hip scoring, genetic tests relevant to the breed)?
• 3
  What does the sale contract say about health guarantees and what happens if a serious hereditary condition is identified?
• 4
  When was the most recent litter vet check, and can I see a copy of the records?
• 5
  Are you registered with a state or national breed club or registry?

A responsible, Tails Reviewed breeder will be comfortable answering all of these. If they become evasive or discourage questions, that is a red flag regardless of badge status.

How breeders apply for Tails Reviewed

Tails Reviewed is exclusive to Gold-tier members on Tails Australia. Gold breeders can apply directly from their dashboard by completing a three-step application: identity and registration documents, vet health records, and an environment video. The Tails team then reviews the submission and contacts the nominated vet clinic to confirm the health certificate. The process typically takes up to 10 days.

The badge is valid for 12 months from approval and must be renewed annually. This keeps the information current and ensures breeders maintain their standards year after year.