The Kennel Club has announced the most recent updates to the breed-specific health testing and screening schedule for the Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS), aimed to further improve dog health and responsible breeding.
The range of breed-specific health testing and screening requirements and recommendations under the ABS is regularly reviewed 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.
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.
The ABS guidelines emphasise the importance of conducting not only the required health tests but the recommended ones also. Results provide data which allow researchers to help develop a picture of how each breed is affected by particular diseases, and how best to improve the health of affected breeds and develop cheaper and faster testing methods.
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 are as follows:
Beagle
- Add recommendation of DNA testing for Lafora’s disease
Braque D’Auvergne (Imp)
- Add requirement of hip scoring
- Add recommendation of eye testing – annual
- Add recommendation of bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter
Bullmastiff
- Add requirement of hip scoring (upgraded from recommendation)
- Add recommendation of elbow grading
French Bulldog
- Add requirement of respiratory function grade testing
Leonberger
- Add requirement of elbow grading (upgraded from recommendation)
- Add requirement of eye testing for PLA
- Add recommendation of DNA testing for LNP1, LNP2 and LEMP
Miniature Schnauzer
- Add requirement of DNA testing for MAC
Papillon
- Add requirement of DNA testing for pap-PRA1
Pug
- Add requirement of respiratory function grade testing
- Add recommendation of participation in the Pug Breed Council health scheme
Retriever (Labrador)
- Add requirement of elbow grading (upgraded from recommendation)
Spaniel (Cocker)
- Add requirement of DNA testing for AMS and AON (upgraded from recommendation)
Spaniel (Irish Water)
- Add recommendation of eye testing – annual
Bill Lambert, Senior Health and Welfare Manager at the Kennel Club, said: “One of the key benefits of the Assured Breeder Scheme is that it is designed to be flexible and is constantly evolving which allows for the greatest positive impact on dog health. These latest updates will help to maintain maximum progress for dog health improvements and encourage good breeding practices, which will in turn help to protect the future of the UK's much-loved pedigree dogs and ensure that puppy buyers can be easily signposted to breeders who do all they can to produce healthy pups.”
Read more information on the Assured Breeder Scheme, including the latest list of health testing requirements and recommendations.