The scheme aims to encourage "best practice" and is open to all breeders (including large scale commercial breeders & 'breeders' who haven't ever bred a litter!) The Kennel Club should be applauded for attempting to improve the welfare of dogs and the puppies they register, however many reputable breeders do not feel they wish to be associated with the Scheme. Nothing is perfect and this includes the Accredited Breeder Scheme. However, the Scheme is a ‘step in the right direction’ & is being improved and strengthened as it matures. It is a shame that many established and reputable breeders do not feel able to support the Scheme, the Kennel Club needs the support of good breeders especially in the current climate of 'anti' pedigree dogs and their breeders! One of the reasons why many good breeders do not join the scheme is based on the view that if the Kennel Club had the welfare of dogs & in particular, of puppies as a number one priority, litter registrations from unregulated breeders should not be accepted at all. Currently the KC operate a two tiered registration system, one is the ABS the other the ‘regular’ system. With the ABS, breeder’s activities, the health testing of their dogs & the welfare of their dogs is prescribed. With the ‘regular’ system, only basic requirements are needed & sadly this doesn’t include mandatory health testing and given that large volume breeders are able to register puppies it does mean that there are instances of poor breeders registering their puppies with the Kennel Club. The other drawback to this scheme is the fact that some members have joined for what they perceive to be the kudos associated with Accredited Breeder status. The definition of Accredited is "to give official recognition to" (Collins English Dictionary) and "given official approval" (Princeton University). In the past, the puppy buying public seemed to think that buying a KC registered puppy was a sign that the breeder was reputable; many thought the Kennel Club had visited the breeder and were giving the breeder and their puppies a KC "seal of approval.” However, once the puppy buying public became aware that this wasn't the case; many breeders have rushed to join the KCACB Scheme. Clearly if a breeder joins the scheme to demonstrate their commitment to the health, welfare and care of the puppies, they breed together with the care of the puppies’ mother and their dogs in general that is a plus point. However many have joined the scheme as a means to "validate" their business in the eyes of the public & not with any real intention of raising their standards. A breeder showing true commitment to the scheme will follow the requirements (because they are mandatory) AND the recommendations (because they are genuinely trying to do the best by their dogs and the puppies they breed.) The Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme does not automatically guarantee a breeder is reputable. Unless a breeder has been personally visited by a KC Breed Advisor, there will be a significant number of poor breeders as members. Naturally, once visited & ‘inspected’ the number of poor breeders will decline. However, until ALL members have been visited (could take several years), it is wise for would-be owners to make their own assumptions & not just rely on a breeder’s membership of the Scheme as a foregone conclusion that they are a reputable & ethical breeder. In 2010, The Kennel Club appointed 11 new breed advisors (making 14 in total) who are actively working their way through visiting & inspecting all their current members’ facilities in addition to inspecting some new members at the point of application to join. At the time of writing 500 breeders have been visited and 20% of those have been suspended due to infringements of the scheme requirements. A further 300 existing members have resigned to avoid an inspection. In July 2010 it became MANDATORY for members (Cocker breeders) to DNA test for prcd-PRA & FN. Undoubtedly this will lead to further resignations from the Scheme, however it has never been right and proper for a breeder who does not demonstrate a commitment to the health of their puppies to be members of a Scheme promoting health & welfare. No breeder should be breeding from dogs where their genetic status for hereditary disease is unknown. Sadly, there have been ABS members breeding untested bitches to proven ‘carrier’ stud dogs. This type of mating gives a high chance of producing ‘affected’ puppies & is totally unacceptable in any reputable ‘kennel’ and breeders acting so carelessly shouldn’t have the right to call themselves Accredited Breeders. The integrity of the Scheme also relies to some extent, on feedback from puppy buyers via the form that accompanies each puppy sold by an Accredited Breeder. Every time a buyer purchases a puppy from an ACB the puppy owner should be supplied with a KC ‘feedback form’. If you purchase a puppy from a breeder who is a member and you are not happy (i.e. you have reason to believe they are not complying with the terms of the scheme) you MUST advise the Kennel Club. Without this valuable information, the Kennel Club are unlikely to be aware that a breeder is not complying fully with the scheme until a stage where they are able to visit the breeder in person. What are the Requirements?
Expectations of Good Management:
In addition, there are a number of recommendations:
** No automated checks can be made to ensure that Accredited Breeders are following recommendations, but all Accredited Breeders are strongly encouraged to do so. Copies of relevant certificates may be held on file at the Kennel Club. How are the Kennel Club going to ensure the breeders ARE up to their standard and complying with their requirements?Policing the SchemeRecent consultation with breed clubs has highlighted a lack of awareness of policing measures used in connection with the Accredited Breeder Scheme. The Scheme is policed by the Kennel Club in the following ways: Prior to acceptanceAcceptance of Membership - All applications will be fully considered.
When Accredited Breeders register a litterEvery time an Accredited Breeder registers a litter, the sire and dam of that litter are checked for compulsory permanent identification (microchip, tattoo or DNA profile are currently acceptable). In addition, both sire and dam are checked for compulsory health screening scheme results that are relevant to their breed. All the usual Kennel Club rules and regulations must be complied with. When Accredited Breeders sell their puppiesAccredited Breeders are required to use ABS puppy sales (purple) wallets for every puppy that they sell. Included in these wallets is a 'feedback form' that the new owner is requested to return directly to the Kennel Club. There are questions on this form that inform the Kennel Club about the Accredited Breeder's compliance with aspects of the Scheme that they are not able to police in any other way, for example whether the breeder provided advice on training, feeding, socialisation etc. Feedback forms come back to the Kennel Club every day, and almost without exception are complimentary about the breeder concerned. Where any problems are mentioned, these are taken up with the breeder. Litters and numbers of puppies registered by Accredited Breeders are monitored and compared with orders for additional puppy sales wallets. If Accredited Breeders do not seem to be purchasing adequate supplies of wallets, they are contacted regarding this matter. The Kennel Club has the facility for further investigation, as upon joining the Scheme all Accredited Breeders sign a declaration as follows: “I have read and understood the requirements of being an Accredited Breeder and I undertake to comply with them and hereby apply to be a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder. I will provide the Kennel Club upon request with the opportunity to review my compliance procedures and to investigate any anomalies or complaints. I accept that in the event of non-compliance, my name may be removed from the list of Accredited Breeders and I will no longer be entitled to use the Scheme literature or accreditation.” This ensures that the Kennel Club can investigate any complaints thoroughly.” Breeder Adviser VisitsThe breeder agrees that the Kennel Club may visit facilities upon giving reasonable notice. If there are issues of concern arising from a visit and it is considered that the facilities fall short of the standards expected for an Accredited Breeder then this may result in the breeder being removed from the scheme or in some cases suspended pending improvements being made. What happens if they breach any of the Scheme requirements?
For full information about the scheme visit the Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme webpage. In addition to the Scheme Requirements, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 stipulates that the owners of animals (in this instance dogs) have a 'Duty of Care' to the animals in their possession. To see more about this visit our Animal Welfare Act 2006 page. Please see our "Questions To Ask" link for further information on what you should ask; what you should expect to see when you visit a breeder and for details on what a reputable breeder offers as part of their commitment to you and your new puppy. Page updated 01/07/10
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