Kennel Club ABS


The aim of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme is to promote responsible breeding practices.

 

What are the Scheme Requirements?

At present there are 10 specific requirements that Kennel Club Assured Breeders must fulfil:

 

  1. Ensure that all breeding stock is Kennel Club registered, and take all reasonable steps to ensure that it is healthy and able to function normally (i.e. fit for function: fit for life).

 

  1. Hand over the dog's registration certificate at time of sale if available, or forward it to the new owner as soon as possible. Explain any endorsements that might pertain and obtain written and signed confirmation from the new owner, at or before the date on which the dog is physically transferred, that the new owner is aware of the endorsement(s), regardless of whether or not the endorsed registration certificate is available.

 

  1. Follow Kennel Club policy regarding maximum age and number/frequency of litters.

 

  1. Permanently identify breeding stock by DNA profile, microchip, or tattoo. (N.B. At some stage all breeding stock will be required to be DNA profiled.)

 

  1. Make use of Kennel Club health screening schemes, relevant to their breed, on all breeding stock. These schemes include DNA testing, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and inherited eye conditions. All relevant health tests should be performed before the mating takes place. No mating should take place if the test results indicate that it would be inadvisable in the sense that it is likely to produce health or welfare problems in the offspring and/or it is inadvisable in the context of a relevant breeding strategy. The current list of checks can be found at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1100/abshealthreqs.pdf

 

  1. Give written, breed-specific advice in the Puppy Sales Wallet on:

a)     tendencies or potential traits in the breed

b)     socialization, exercise and training

c)     feeding and worming programs

d)     grooming

 

  1. Inform the buyer in writing of any vaccination which has been carried out.

 

  1. Provide reasonable post sales telephone advice and endeavor to deal with any issues arising in good faith.

 

  1. Inform buyers of the requirements and the recommendations that apply to Kennel Club Assured Breeders as well as the existence of the complaints procedure.

 

  1. Draw up a contract of sale for each puppy and provide a copy in the Puppy Sales Wallet.

 

In addition to the requirements 1-10, it is expected that the Kennel Club Assured Breeder will

operate to high standards and duty of care and comply with any local authority requirements. Any

conduct considered to be incompatible with membership under the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme or contrary to the spirit of the scheme or likely to undermine the scheme may result in an application for membership being rejected or the breeder’s removal from the scheme. If, in exceptional circumstances, and for accepted reasons, a litter registered by a Kennel Club Assured Breeder does not meet all current requirements, then the Assured Breeder must inform all puppy buyers of this in writing at the time of purchase.

 

Please note in addition to the requirements above,

there are a number of recommendations that Kennel Club

Assured Breeders are strongly encouraged to follow:

 

a)     Make sure that facilities, including whelping facilities, accord with good practice.  (Please see overleaf.)

Continued

 

b)     Follow any relevant breed specific recommendations.

 

c)     The contract of sale should clearly lay out to the buyer the nature and details of any guarantee given e.g. time limit and/or any provisions for refund or return and replacement of puppy. If endorsements are being used the contract should also explain why these have been placed and under what circumstances they would be removed (if any). The contract should be signed and dated by both breeder and purchaser, showing that both have agreed to these terms.

 

d)     Encourage new owners to take their puppy to the vet as soon as possible after taking delivery of it.

 

e)     Commit to help, if necessary, with the re-homing of a dog, for whatever reason, throughout the dog's lifetime.

 

f)      Kennel Club Assured Breeders should participate in any breed health survey or other health initiatives in their breed.

 

g)     Puppies should be permanently identified (microchip or tattoo) prior to sale or the puppy buyer advised that the puppy should be permanently identified (microchip or tattoo) at an appropriate time.

 

h)     Certain health tests which are appropriate to the breed should be carried out on puppies prior to sale.

 

i)      Any prospective purchaser should normally be able to view the puppy with its mother.

 

Guidelines for Kennel Club Assured Breeders

Expectations of good management

 

  • Dogs should be housed in clean and comfortable conditions with adequate heat and ventilation with particular regard for the animals’ health, age and breed.

 

  • Dogs should be provided with suitable and adequate food, drink and clean bedding material on a regular basis.

 

  • Dogs should be exercised and visited at suitable intervals, and should be in the care or supervision of a fit and responsible person.

 

  • A secure and safe environment should be provided, with sufficient space proportionate to the number of dogs kept to ensure good physical and mental wellbeing.

 

  • Arrangements should be in place to provide adequate exercise to ensure the dogs’ physical and mental wellbeing.

 

  • Facilities available should be in a suitable and fit condition for the keeping of dogs and maintained or kept in a good state of repair.

 

  • Breeders are expected to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the dogs are kept under control and do not cause a nuisance to neighbours and visitors to the property.

 

  • Reasonable precautions should be taken to ensure prevention of the spread of infectious or contagious diseases, and facilities should be available for the treatment of dogs in an emergency.

 

  • Dogs should receive adequate grooming and veterinary treatment and records of any veterinary treatment should be easily accessible.

 

  • Arrangements or plans should be available for the transport of animals to and from the Assured breeder’s establishment.

 

For more information contact abs@thekennelclub.org.uk or the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme department directly on 020 7518 1015 www.thekennelclub.org.uk/assuredbreederscheme

 

 

KC GD August 2011

 


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