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.
 
Breed specific changes as at January 2012 are as follows:
 
AIREDALE TERRIER
 
Add recommendations:
 
Bitches under two years not to be mated
Bitches over six years not to produce a litter

BEAGLE
 
Add requirement:
 
DNA test for Musladin-Lueke Syndrome
 
BEAUCERON (IMP)
 
Add recommendations:
 
Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12-month period
Bitches under two years not to produce a litter
No puppy to leave the breeder before eight weeks of age
 
Change wording of recommendation:
 
From eye testing to annual eye testing
 
COLLIE (ROUGH)
 
Add recommendation:
 
DNA test for MDR1
 
COLLIE (SMOOTH)
 
Change wording of requirement:
 
From eye testing to annual eye testing
 
Add recommendation:
 
DNA test for MDR1
 
GORDON SETTER
 
Add requirement:
 
DNA test for PRA-rcd4
 
IRISH WOLFHOUND
 
Add recommendation:
 
Bitches over six years not to produce a litter
Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12-month period
 
Change wording of recommendation:
 
From breed club – heart testing to ‘All hounds used for breeding take part annually in a heart testing scheme approved by the Irish Wolfhound Club: the minimum requirement being examinations by stethoscope, ECG and ultrasound scan’
 
RETRIEVER (GOLDEN)
 
Add recommendations:
 
Bitches under 18 months not to produce a litter
Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12-month period
 
SPANISH WATER DOG
 
Change from a recommendation to a requirement:
 
DNA test for prcd-PRA
 
Add recommendations:
 
Bitches under two years not to produce a litter
Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12-month period
Annual eye testing
 
STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER
 
Add recommendation:
 
Litter eye screening for PHPV
 
ENDS
[029.12]
6th February 2012
 
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The Kennel Club is the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare and training. Its objective is to ensure that dogs live healthy, happy lives with responsible owners.
 
It runs the country’s largest registration database for both pedigree and crossbreed dogs and the Petlog database, which is the UK’s largest reunification service for microchipped animals. The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme is the only scheme in the UK that monitors and sets standards for breeders, in order to protect the welfare of puppies and breeding bitches. It also runs the UK’s largest dog training programme, the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme and licenses shows and clubs across a wide range of activities, which help dog owners to bond and enjoy life with their dogs. The Kennel Club runs the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, and the Discover Dogs event at Earls Court, London, which is a fun family day out that educates people about how to buy responsibly and care for their dog.
 
The Kennel Club invests in welfare campaigns, dog training and education programmes and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which supports research into dog diseases and dog welfare charities, including Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations that re-home dogs throughout the UK.The Kennel Club jointly runs health screening schemes with the British Veterinary Association and through the Charitable Trust, funds the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust, which is at the forefront of pioneering research into dog health.
 

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