Kennel Club Assured Breeders Scheme
The aim of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme is to promote responsible breeding practices.
Dog health and responsible breeding continue to be at the forefront of the Kennel Club’s activities in 2012, with the latest changes to the Assured Breeder Scheme now announced.
Among these changes are new ABS regulations which cater for owners of stud dogs who do not breed litters themselves. Previously, breeders in this position were unable to join the ABS as the original regulations were drawn up very much with the rearing of puppies in mind. However, the Kennel Club recognises that stud dog owners also have an important part to play in the breeding of puppies, and as such should be included under the ABS, which has the ethos of responsible breeding at its core.
It is expected that any Assured Breeder offering a dog at stud will ensure that all the dog’s required health tests under the ABS have been carried out and that the dog is permanently identified either by a microchip, tattoo or DNA profile. For clarity, these regulations also apply to Assured Breeders who own a combination of dogs and bitches and offer their dogs at stud.
It is also expected that, from now on, Assured Breeders will draw up a Contract of Stud Dog Service for each service performed and include details of the conditions of that service which must include details and results of all relevant heath tests performed in accordance with the ABS.
In addition to this, the scheme has announced a number of breed-specific changes. Following 29 breed-specific health testing and welfare requirements and recommendations being added to the ABS in July 2011, a further 18 breed-specific changes have been announced by the Kennel Club to ensure that the scheme remains relevant to the health and welfare needs of every breed. Assured Breeders have a period of grace of six months in order to comply with any new requirements and recommendations.
These changes have been introduced following consultations with breed clubs and councils in a collaborative effort to ensure that health and welfare issues are kept at the forefront of everything the scheme does. This is mirrored in the continual addition of new DNA tests developed by scientists at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust and other research institutions.
Speaking on the latest changes to the Assured Breeder Scheme and what they mean for dog health in 2012, Bill Lambert, Kennel Club Health and Breeder Services Manager, said: “It is well recorded that the ABS was designed in such a way that it could evolve and develop.
“The latest changes concerning stud dogs are a case in point; many people involved in the world of dogs wanted to demonstrate their commitment to responsible breeding, but although they were very involved with the breeding process they were not breeders as such as they only owned male dogs.
“It is important to welcome these people into the scheme as they are completely committed to responsible breeding practice and keen to carry out all the relevant health tests. Stud dog owners play an extremely important role in the breeding of dogs and we invite them to join the Assured Breeder Scheme.”
Assured Breeder Scheme breed specific requirements and recommendations are updated twice a year to ensure they remain relevant and of maximum health benefit to all dogs bred under the scheme. The next set of changes will be announced in the summer of 2012.
Breed clubs and breed councils wishing to make a proposal for their breed should write to Assured Breeder Scheme, The Kennel Club, 1-5 Clarges Street, Piccadilly, London, W1J 8AB.
An updated list of all requirements and recommendations for the Assured Breeder Scheme can be found at www.assuredbreeders.org.uk.
Dog health and responsible breeding continue to be at the forefront of the Kennel Club’s activities in 2012, with the latest changes to the Assured Breeder Scheme now announced.
Among these changes are new ABS regulations which cater for owners of stud dogs who do not breed litters themselves. Previously, breeders in this position were unable to join the ABS as the original regulations were drawn up very much with the rearing of puppies in mind. However, the Kennel Club recognises that stud dog owners also have an important part to play in the breeding of puppies, and as such should be included under the ABS, which has the ethos of responsible breeding at its core.
It is expected that any Assured Breeder offering a dog at stud will ensure that all the dog’s required health tests under the ABS have been carried out and that the dog is permanently identified either by a microchip, tattoo or DNA profile. For clarity, these regulations also apply to Assured Breeders who own a combination of dogs and bitches and offer their dogs at stud.
It is also expected that, from now on, Assured Breeders will draw up a Contract of Stud Dog Service for each service performed and include details of the conditions of that service which must include details and results of all relevant heath tests performed in accordance with the ABS.
In addition to this, the scheme has announced a number of breed-specific changes. Following 29 breed-specific health testing and welfare requirements and recommendations being added to the ABS in July 2011, a further 18 breed-specific changes have been announced by the Kennel Club to ensure that the scheme remains relevant to the health and welfare needs of every breed. Assured Breeders have a period of grace of six months in order to comply with any new requirements and recommendations.
These changes have been introduced following consultations with breed clubs and councils in a collaborative effort to ensure that health and welfare issues are kept at the forefront of everything the scheme does. This is mirrored in the continual addition of new DNA tests developed by scientists at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust and other research institutions.
Speaking on the latest changes to the Assured Breeder Scheme and what they mean for dog health in 2012, Bill Lambert, Kennel Club Health and Breeder Services Manager, said: “It is well recorded that the ABS was designed in such a way that it could evolve and develop.
“The latest changes concerning stud dogs are a case in point; many people involved in the world of dogs wanted to demonstrate their commitment to responsible breeding, but although they were very involved with the breeding process they were not breeders as such as they only owned male dogs.
“It is important to welcome these people into the scheme as they are completely committed to responsible breeding practice and keen to carry out all the relevant health tests. Stud dog owners play an extremely important role in the breeding of dogs and we invite them to join the Assured Breeder Scheme.”
Assured Breeder Scheme breed specific requirements and recommendations are updated twice a year to ensure they remain relevant and of maximum health benefit to all dogs bred under the scheme. The next set of changes will be announced in the summer of 2012.
Breed clubs and breed councils wishing to make a proposal for their breed should write to Assured Breeder Scheme, The Kennel Club, 1-5 Clarges Street, Piccadilly, London, W1J 8AB.
An updated list of all requirements and recommendations for the Assured Breeder Scheme can be found at www.assuredbreeders.org.uk.
