Dog breeders will have the chance to meet representatives of the
Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS) at Midland Counties show
from October 23-26 at New Bingley Hall, County Showground,
Stafford, and ask them any questions they may have.
The ABS representatives will be based on the Kennel Club stand
throughout the show and members of the ABS are invited to stop by
to find out more about the breeder assessment visit process, which
the Kennel Club believes will be particularly useful now that all
Assured Breeders must now be visited by a Regional Breeder Assessor
(RBA) before they can register puppies with the Kennel Club.
Shaun Nield MBE, who oversees the management of the RBAs, will be
at the show on Friday 23rd and Joy Gonszor, the Kennel Club's ABS
Process Manager, will be available throughout the show. Among
the volunteer RBAs on the stand will be Joanne Robinson, Patrice
Hassell, Caron Bell and Val Johnson.
Joy Gonszor, Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme Process Manager,
said: "We are looking forward to seeing as many of our Assured
Breeders as possible at Midland Counties.
"This is the perfect opportunity for them to ask any questions
about booking a visit and what exactly a visit entails,
particularly for those who may have been given misinformation about
the process through hearsay, so we welcome breeders coming along to
chat about it face to face to help alleviate any concerns they may
have."
All RBAs undergo a strict selection process and undertake
theoretical training at the Kennel Club Building at Stoneleigh,
followed by a period of mentored visits with an established RBA,
before being individually assessed as competent to conduct
unaccompanied assessments.
Refresher training is provided throughout the year to ensure that
assessors are up to date with the assessment requirements of the
scheme. The Kennel Club is looking to expand its network of
assessors, and anyone wishing to volunteer for this role is welcome
to discuss this with the ABS representatives at the show.
Breeders will also have the chance at the show to pay their annual
ABS subscription, adjust details concerning the accolades they hold
and ask general questions about the scheme. Anyone wishing to join
the ABS will also be able to fill out an application form on the
stand and discuss exactly what their compulsory pre-joining visit
will include.
For more information on the Assured Breeder Scheme, please visit
www.assuredbreeders.com,
email abs@thekennelclub.org.uk,
or telephone 0844 4633 980.