The Kennel Club has 23 Breeder Assessors who play a central role in maintaining the high standards of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme as it continues to grow in size and stature.

Each Breeder Assessor  is chosen following a rigorous selection process that takes account of their breeding experience, knowledge of the scheme and general commitment to the dog world.

Between them the Assessors have amassed years of breeding experience and include Show Champion breeders, Crufts judges, a veterinary surgeon, a veterinary nurse and behaviourist and a former Breed Club Secretary.

The Assessors are responsible for inspecting the premises of the Scheme’s members and ensuring that its principles and standards are upheld.

Contacting the Breeder Assessors
If you would like to contact any of the Breeder Assessors please go via the ABS Team at the Kennel Club by emailing abs@thekennelclub.org.uk.

Regional Breeder Assessor visits
What to expect before, during and after a Breeder Assessor visit.

Scheme Guidance

List of Kennel Club Breeder Assessors

Stevie Allerton (West Yorkshire) - Stevie breeds, exhibits and works German Shorthaired Pointers in the field.  She awards CCs in the breed at shows and also competes and judges at Field Trials.  Her aim is to produce dogs with the correct conformation, health and temperament to enable them to win in the show ring and fulfil their purpose as gundogs. As a former care homes inspector, she has many years experience in working within a regulatory framework and making judgements against standards.

Tony Buckwell – A veterinary surgeon who has lectured on the ethical use of animals in society and was instrumental in drafting Statutory Codes of Practice for the housing and care of breeding animals. He also owns and works dogs, organises field trials and stewards at field trials.
 

Laura Clark – Prior to joining the Kennel Club as a full time employee, Laura has managed to combine a career in the Veterinary Sector with a successful hobby breeding and showing Boxers since 1997. One of the Kennel Club’s most experienced assessors, Laura is fully trained BSI Institute of Environmental Management Assessment Approved Lead Auditor and has held a long term interest in Animal welfare issues. She has is currently a member of the Boxer Breed Council health committee, and has taught Animal Care at Higher level.

 
David Coode – Has been breeding Labradors that work and show for 35 years (Warringhah). Has bred 21 champions in total, 14 with full titles. He is a championship judge and judges Obedience and Gundog Working tests.
 

Margaret de Marais (Leicestershire) – Margaret trains for obedience, agility, flyball and all of her Shetland Sheepdogs have qualified through the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme. She has had experience as a kennel maid and a dog walker and has been breeding dogs for more than 40 years. As Vice Chair of a Local Authority Health & Environmental Services Committee she has honed her evaluation and assessment skills.

Anthony Foulston - Previously owned and managed a breeding and boarding kennel and has been a Kennel Club Field Officer for Breed, Agility, Obedience and Heelwork to Music, for six years. He has shown dogs, has bred champions and has been judging since 1986.

Janet Green – Has kept dogs for 30 years and breeds. Started showing Chow Chows 12 years ago and amongst other positions she is the Chairman and health Coordinator of the Chow Chow Club of Wales.

Pat Hutchinson – Has been breeding and exhibiting Rough Collies for 31 years and started judging in 1982. Positions held in the dog world include Secretary for the East Anglian Collie Association and breed club’s Health Coordinator and has published two books on the breed.

Margaret Kay (Isle of Arran, Scotland) – Margaret has bred Yorkshire Terriers for almost 30 years and undertook veterinary nurse training at Glasgow University School of Veterinary Medicine. She owns Labrador Retrievers, an English Springer Spaniel and Yorkshire Terriers and runs puppy socialisation classes, obedience classes and an Agility Summer School. She is a strong advocate for dogs being ‘fit for life’ and has Yorkies which regularly swim in the sea and do agility. Margaret is a member of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of Scotland and promotes the participation of ‘pet owners’ within the Club.

Bill Lambert - Kennel Club Health and Breeder Services Manager, Bill, has been involved with dogs all his life and bred his first litter in 1982. Although not a prolific breeder, he has owned and bred a number of champions including Best of Breed at Crufts on no less than 3 occasions. He is a Championship Show Judge of Bull Terriers and Miniature Bull Terriers and has officiated in a number of countries around the world. He is a former Vice Chairman of the Bull Terrier Club, and was a Committee Member from 1984 to 2007. He wrote the Bull Terrier Breed notes for Dog World Newspaper for many years and in addition to his role with the Health and Breeder Services Team he works closely with the Kennel Clubs' External Affairs department and is an official Kennel Club Spokesman.
 

Anthony Milton (Cambridgeshire) – Anthony Milton is Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology at Aberdeen University where he was head of the department for over twenty years before retiring. He now teaches pharmacology to both medical and veterinary students at Cambridge University. He has been breeding and showing Border Terriers for over thirty five years, and awards CCs in the breed. He is presently Chairman of the East Anglia Border Terrier Club.

Ray Morland (Lincolnshire) – Ray is a Health and Safety Consultant and has many years’ experience in assessing and maintaining UKAS Quality Assurance systems. He started breeding and showing Afghan Hounds nearly 40 years ago, and for the last 20 years Whippets have become his main breed. He organises Young Kennel Club weekends and training days and is a KC Accredited Trainer for Conformation and Movement ‘Hands On’ Assessments and Managing a Dog Show Society. He awards CCs in Chinese Crested dogs and is Treasurer of Boston DSC.

Shaun Nield MBE (West Lothian) – Shaun has more than 20 years’ experience in the world of pedigree dogs. He has owned and worked professionally with German Shepherd Dogs and English Springer Spaniels in the police service and the military and is used to maintaining standards through inspections, which he routinely does within the military. He now owns Bernese Mountain Dogs and Large Munsterlanders which he shows and English Springer Spaniels which he breeds and works. Shaun has two Pets As Therapy assessed dogs which he hopes to use for the rehabilitation of injured servicemen. He is a member of three breed societies and is engaged with improving breeding standards through local and national government liaison.

Helen Reaney (Staffordshire) – Helen has owned Staffordshire Bull Terriers for more than 20 years and has bred and shown since 1994.  She now awards CCs in the breed and was Secretary of a ringcraft club for 13 years.  She is currently Secretary of the Notts & Derby District SBTC, the Kennel Club Breed Liaison Officer for the SBT Breed Council and is Secretary of the Kennel Club Terrier Group Judges Development Programme.

Sue Sampson - Sue may be instantly recognisable to many as the “friendly face” of the Kennel Club as for a number of years she has run the Kennel Club Road show stand at dog shows and other events. Prior to working for the Kennel Club, Sue started out in the advertising industry for the Ted Bates Group where she worked on the Pedigree Masterfoods account. Sue then moved to work within the Pet Food industry where was involved with a number of prestige brands, and for many years she visited kennels on a daily basis as part of her role. Although not a breeder herself Sue owns dogs and has a good understanding of dogs and dog breeding having worked closely with breeders for most of her working life.

Lynne Scott (Dorset) – Lynne breeds, shows and has owned Rottweilers for many years and awards CCs in the breed. Lynne is actively involved with Rottweiler Welfare and has been called upon to inspect the homes of prospective adoptees. She also owns and successfully shows Basset Griffon Vendeens (Petits). She is currently the Secretary of Dorset County Canine Society, Assistant Secretary of the BGV club and a member of Bournemouth and Paignton Championship Show Societies where she stewards on a regular basis.

John Shaw (East Yorkshire) – John owns and runs a boarding kennels and cattery and houses stray dogs for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Dog welfare is a big part of his life and he is a member of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain and runs the rescue centre for the breed in England and Wales. Over the years, he and his wife Ann have had experience of breeding Lhasa Apsos, Pyrenean Mountain Dogs and Pugs.

Stephen Talbot – A microchipping trainer with extensive experience of over 15 years in the animal welfare industry. He is knowledgeable about breeding and health requirements and how to care for a dog's welfare and has been breeding for some years. He is used to providing help and advice to prospective puppy purchasers, as well as other breeders, as his main aim is to make certain that a dog is as healthy as possible and fit for purpose.

Graham Thurlow - a former DEFRA vet. He says: “I have carried out eight ABS advisory visits to date and have been struck by the standards achieved by the breeders concerned. All clearly care for their charges and are keen to ensure that their welfare is well catered for. “They have also been very positive in relation to responsible breeding, being keen to work towards eradicating hereditary defects where these occur in their breed of choice, and that the breed is fit for purpose as per the Kennel Club’s requirements. “I have certainly learnt a great deal regarding the world of dog breeding and, not being involved with dog breeding myself, hope that comments and suggestions that I have made when visiting breeders will have a positive impact on further improving overall standards.”
 

Joy Venturi Rose – Has an MSc in Animal Behaviour Counselling and is a qualified veterinary nurse who has owned and bred Labradors for thirty years and has many successful dogs including Full Champions. She takes part in Field Trials, Championship Shows and Working Tests and is a championship show and field trial judge. She is also Joint Health Coordinator and serves on a number of committees.

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