Latest Updates to the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme

The Kennel Club has announced the most recent updates made to the Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS) to further improve dog health and responsible breeding.

These updates include a new requirement across the scheme making it compulsory, where a DNA test is a requirement in a breed, for at least one parent to be tested clear for the relevant condition.

A range of breed-specific health testing requirements and recommendations have been introduced following consultations with breed clubs and councils and with the agreement and advice from the Kennel Club Dog Health Group, in a collaborative effort to ensure that health and welfare issues are kept at the forefront of what the scheme sets out to achieve: the encouragement of responsible breeding.

Bill Lambert, Kennel Club Health and Breeder Services Manager, said: “The Assured Breeder Scheme is designed to be flexible and is constantly evolving. The latest updates will help to maintain maximum progress for dog health improvements and encourage good breeding practices, to protect the future of our much-loved pedigree dogs and ensure that puppy buyers can be easily signposted to breeders who do all they can to produce healthy pups.

“Requirements have been added for three breeds and recommendations have been added for a further four breeds, and these have come about as a direct result of input from those who love and care for their breeds – the breed clubs and councils we work with. These updates demonstrate how we adapt the scheme to the specific needs of different breeds with regards to health testing and welfare, and will have a positive impact on the breeds involved as well as the wider pedigree dog population.”

The list of ABS breed specific requirements and recommendations is updated twice a year to ensure that they remain relevant and of maximum health benefit to all dogs bred by Kennel Club Assured Breeders. Further tests can be expected to be announced as they are developed.

As previously, the most recent updates come into effect immediately, however existing Assured Breeders have a period of grace of six months in order to comply with any new requirements and recommendations to allow them to take account of any existing breeding plans.

Breed clubs and breed councils wishing to make changes to the breed specific requirements and recommendations for their breed should write to Assured Breeder Scheme, The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London, W1J 8AB.

Breed specific updates as of 20th July 2016 are as follows:

Alaskan Malamute

  • Add recommendation of DNA test – Cone Degeneration

Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)

  • Add requirement of DNA test – Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG)

Bearded Collie

  • Add requirement of annual eye test
  • Add recommendation of DNA test – Collie Eye Anomaly/Choroidal Hypoplasia

Chinese Crested

  • Add recommendation of DNA test – Progressive Rod Cone Degeneration-Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd-PRA)

German Shepherd Dog

  • Add recommendation of DNA test – Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy (CDRM)

Spaniel (Clumber)

  • Add requirement for DNA test – Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)

Spaniel (Field)

  • Remove heart testing only from recommendations

Read more information on the Assured Breeder Scheme.