Helping puppy buyers find their way.

Once you have made that important decision to have a puppy would you know where to go to find a responsible breeder and where you can find a puppy who will be credit to both you and to the breeder.

As a prospective new owner it is understandable to want some kind of reassurance that you are purchasing a puppy from someone whose priority is the health and welfare of the puppies that they breed. Someone who will provide you with a quality, supportive and informative service both before and after you take your puppy home. One way to do this is to contact a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder. The scheme, which is voluntary and was launched in 2004, promotes good breeding practices, giving prospective owners the best opportunity to bring home a healthy well adjusted puppy. As a puppy buyer there is now some kind of benchmark to help you in your search to find a responsible breeder.

While the Accredited Breeder Scheme is a good starting point for people wanting to find their way in the sometimes tricky process of choosing a puppy, it is not the only route to finding a suitable breeder as the Breed Clubs and Societies are also an excellent resource.

Requirements and Recommendations

The Scheme currently has the following requirements:

Accredited Breeders must:

1. Ensure that all breeding stock is Kennel Club registered
2. Hand over the dog's registration certificate at time of sale if available, or forward it to the new owner as soon as possible. Explain any endorsements that might pertain and obtain written and signed confirmation from the new owner, at or before the date on which the dog is physically transferred, that the new owner is aware of the endorsement(s), regardless of whether or not the endorsed registration certificate is available.
3. Follow Kennel Club policy regarding maximum age and number/frequency of litters.
4. Permanently identify breeding stock by DNA profile, microchip, or tattoo.
5. Make use of health screening schemes, relevant to their breed, on all breeding stock. These schemes include DNA testing, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and inherited eye conditions.  Current health requirements under the ABS (pdf).
6. Socialise the puppies and provide written advice, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on continuation of socialisation, exercise and future training.
7. Provide written advice, in the scheme Puppy Sales Wallet, on feeding and worming programmes.
8. Provide a written record, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on the immunisation measures taken.
9. Provide reasonable post-sales telephone advice.
10. Inform buyers of the requirements and the recommendations that apply to Kennel Club Accredited Breeders as well as the existence of the complaints procedure.
11. Draw up a contract of sale for each puppy and provide a copy in the Puppy Sales Wallet.

 In addition there are a number of recommendations:

Accredited Breeders should:

1. Make sure that whelping facilities accord with requirements for good practice
2. Ensure that contract of sale clearly lays out to the buyer the nature and details of any guarantee given (e.g. time limit) and/or any provisions for refund or return and replacement of puppy. If endorsements are being used the contract should also explain why these have been placed and under what circumstances they would be removed (if any). The contract should be signed and dated by both breeder and purchaser, showing that both have agreed to these terms.
3. Commit to help, if necessary, with the re-homing of a dog, for whatever reason, throughout the dog's lifetime.
4. Follow relevant breed health screening recommendations.

How to find an Accredited Breeder

Accredited Breeders who use the Kennel Club Puppy Sales Register to advertise their puppies are flagged to show that they are accredited. The Health and Information Department can provide contact details for Accedited Breeders of your chosen breed, but please bear in mind that not all of these breeders will currently have puppies available.

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Choosing the right dog, Responsible Dog Breeding 

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