The Kennel Club

The KC receives regular enquiries relating to the correct placement of endorsements and to the circumstances under which these will be lifted. 

In order to ensure that the KC will uphold an endorsement it is essential that the endorsement is placed correctly.  The main points are that the endorsement must be in place before the new owner takes the puppy home and it must be drawn to their attention, in writing,so they are fully aware of the implications before they buy the puppy.  The most effective way of ensuring this is to ask the puppy buyer to sign and date a contract with the breeder to the effect that they are aware of and accept the terms of the endorsement.  A copy of this contract should be kept by the breeder and a copy given to the new owner for future reference.  This essential requirement is referred to on the Form 1 (Application for Litter Registration) and full details are given in Appendix 1 below. 

If an endorsement is correctly placed, the KC will not lift it without the specific permission of the breeder – even if the dog changes hands again.

APPENDIX 1 – KENNEL CLUB ENDORSEMENTS PROCEDURES

Currently the Kennel Club permits the use of two endorsements on registrations – Progeny Not Eligible for Registration and Export Pedigree Not Allowed. Neither of these endorsements prevents the dog from being bred from or sent abroad, but does prevent any litters being registered with the Kennel Club and the dog from being registered by an overseas kennel club. All endorsements are placed and removed free of charge.

The use of Kennel Club endorsements is undoubtedly beneficial to breeders as a measure to help in protecting stock which has been carefully and responsibly bred. It is generally assumed that breeders endorse their stock to safeguard the dog’s future, the breed and themselves. As certain breeds are known to suffer from particular health problems, the breeder may wish that any stock bred by them are examined under the official health schemes prior to being bred from. In some fields, there is also concern about sending dogs to certain overseas countries, and therefore using the Export endorsement may help to prevent the dog falling into the wrong hands.

To remove an endorsement, it is a simple matter for the person(s) who placed the endorsement to write in and request that this be carried out. However problems can arise when the new owner makes a request to the breeder for this to be done, only to be told by the breeder that they have no intention of doing so – this is when the Kennel Club tends to become involved. More often than not, the new owner will then apply to the Kennel Club to remove the endorsement believing that it has not been placed in accordance with our rules and Regulations.

To avoid disputes of this type, the Kennel Club strongly advises that all breeders draw up a private contract when selling puppies. If endorsements are being used, the contract should mention why these have been placed and under what conditions they would be removed (if at all). This contract should be signed and dated by both purchaser and vendor, showing that both have agreed to these terms.

However it is also an area where disputes arise particularly with purchasers claiming they were not aware that the newly purchased dog would be subject to certain restrictions. If an agreement is not reached, the Kennel Club is then prevailed upon to intervene in what sometimes can be a very difficult situation, especially when there are conflicting views on whether the breeder advised the purchaser of an endorsement at the time of sale.

Therefore, in an attempt to simplify the endorsement Regulation, and to clarify the requirements regarding the placement of endorsements, the General Committee approved a slight change to B Regulations at its meeting of 14 January 2003.

The new B12b Regulation, which is effective from this date, is recorded in full overleaf.

February ‘03

Regulation B12 – Endorsements  (effective from 14/01/03)

 a.      General. The registered owner of a dog may, whilst the dog is still in his physical possession, apply to place one or more endorsements in a dog’s records and to have the registration certificate annotated accordingly. The endorsements which may be placed as follows:-

(1)   Progeny Not Eligible for Registration

(2)   Not Eligible for the Issue of an Export Pedigree

b.      Conditions. The following conditions shall apply to the placing and removal of endorsements.

(1)   When a dog whose registration is endorsed is transferred to a new ownership, the endorsement(s) will be maintained. However, the person who placed the endorsement(s) must obtain written and signed confirmation from the new owner(s), at or before the date on which the dog is physically transferred, that the new owner(s) is aware of the endorsement(s), regardless of whether or not the endorsed registration certificate is available. If requested, the person(s) who placed the endorsement must be able to produce a copy of such confirmation.

(2)   If the endorsement is not drawn to the new registered owner’s notice, and an acknowledgement in writing of the endorsement, signed at the date of transfer by the new owner is not obtained, then any conflict regarding notice of the endorsement will be resolved in favour of the new registered owner. The endorsement will remain on the register, unless a successful application is made by the new owner of the dog under Regulation B12b.(3) below.

(3)   If the new registered owner of a dog did not have notice of the endorsement, that person may apply to the General Committee of the Kennel Club who will resolve in their discretion whether or not the endorsement should lapse. Any endorsement may be lifted only with the permission in writing of the endorser or by resolution of the General Committee.

(4)   Regulation B12b 1), 2) and 3) only apply where the registered owner who originally placed an endorsement on a dogs record, transfers the dog to a new ownership. If subsequent transfers take place, the endorsement becomes a matter between the parties involved. In such cases the registered owner placing the endorsement shall not be responsible if notification of the endorsement is not given to any new owner, and may exercise his right to decide whether the endorsement be maintained or removed subject to (5) below.

(5)   The General Committee reserves the right to impose, remove or maintain any endorsement. In particular, the General Committee reserves the right to impose an additional endorsement “not eligible for entry in any event held under Kennel Club Rules and Regulations, nor any unlicensed event recognised by the Kennel Club”.

(6)   The General Committee reserves the right to impose the additional endorsement “not eligible for entry at Kennel Club licensed Breed Shows or unlicensed Breed events recognised by the Kennel Club”.

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Responsible Dog Breeding, Press Centre 

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