The Kennel Club has today responded to APGAW’s report ‘A Healthier Future for Pedigree Dogs’.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “The Kennel Club welcomes any report which seeks to help improve the health of pedigree dogs and to improve breeding practices. We very much welcome the fact that APGAW has recognised that this is a hugely complex issue and that there is a real lack of reliable information about the precise extent of the problem which affects some breeds.  We believe that this report contains a number of very sensible recommendations which could have wide ranging benefits for all dogs, not just those registered with the Kennel Club.

“We agree that the key to solving what the report acknowledges to be, the ‘complicated problems’ involved, will be through the Kennel Club and other stakeholders working together and pooling vital scientific information. The Kennel Club started this process by conducting the world’s largest dog health survey in 2004 and by working ever more closely with vets. But there is still a long way to go in order to ensure that we get a true picture about the precise extent of the problems that exist for certain breeds, and the best way to address them.  As the report recognises, there can be no catch all solution and issues must be looked at on a breed by breed basis.

“It is with the objective of further improving pedigree dog health in mind that the Kennel Club has, alongside the Dogs Trust, commissioned and funded an Independent Review into the breeding, registration and showing of dogs, chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Bateson. We must await the results of this review before we take action on some of the specifics in APGAW’s report, but in general, we believe that the report contains some sound bases for future action.

 “In particular, the Kennel Club is pleased that the report recognises the importance of health screening and DNA testing and of “supporting and encouraging” responsible breeders. The Kennel Club has been working on developing health tests with the British Veterinary Association for many years, and all Kennel Club Accredited Breeders are required to health test their dogs. We agree that those problems that do exist in specific breeds – and the health tests that are available for them - need to be clearly identified and the Kennel Club has taken numerous steps, and agrees it should continue to do so, in order to ensure that dog owners are fully aware of the problems and how to help minimise the risks.  We also agree that compulsory permanent identification could be extremely beneficial in this area; this is already a requirement for KC Accredited Breeders.

“The Kennel Club has asked for legislation to be introduced that would require the breeders of all dogs – whether cross breed or pedigree and whether Kennel Club registered or not – to follow the same high standards, similar to those already followed by Kennel Club Accredited Breeders. We are glad that the report acknowledges that compulsory testing can only be enforced by government intervention, otherwise health tests will be taken up only by the more conscientious breeders who voluntarily register with the Kennel Club, but not by less ethical breeders who are outside the Kennel Club system. This would create a dangerous divide that could be detrimental to pedigree dog health.  

“One of the issues raised in the report is the suggestion that a written contract containing certain standard terms should accompany any puppy sale. We are pleased to report that such a requirement already exists for puppies coming from Kennel Club Accredited Breeders.  In addition we are working with the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) to establish similar contractual requirements for the sale of all dogs – whether Kennel Club registered or not.

“Furthermore, the Kennel Club welcomes the role that the report says the show ring can play in improving dog health, through encouraging and rewarding the breeding of healthy, happy dogs. We agree that the Kennel Club is in ‘arguably the best position to improve breeding practice’ through the show ring. For that reason we are glad that More 4 is broadcasting DFS Crufts in 2010, in order to ensure that there is a high profile platform for the discussion of these important issues.

“Of course, this discussion needs to permeate all levels of society and we hope that all of those who care about the health and welfare of dogs, including the veterinary profession, will talk to the dog owners and lovers that they come into contact with about the health problems that exist in all dogs, whether cross breed or pedigree, and what we can all do to help eliminate them for the benefit of future generations. The Kennel Club will do everything it sensibly can to progress these issues.”

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