Kennel Club To Take Tougher Line On Breeders

The Kennel Club, (KC) is launching a complete review of every pedigree dog breed in the UK. Under public pressure since the BBC's Pedigree Dogs Exposed Programmme, KC is seeking statutory powers to clamp down on irresponsible dog breeders who fail to make an animals health their top priority.

The Club says it is creating a breed health plan for each of the UK's 209 pedigree dog breeds. This will include updated breed standards to ensure that no dog is bred for features that might prevent it from seeing, walking and breathing freely.

Dog show judges will be briefed on the new breed standards so that only the healthiest dogs are rewarded in the show ring.

KC released the first of these new breed standards yesterday, for the Pekingese, and says it has taken a tough line with the breed following extensive and abortive consultations. For nearly a hundred years the Pekingese has been bred to have a flat face; a feature which can lead to breathing problems; under the new health plan the breed will be required to have a defined muzzle.

The breed health plan will also look at ways breeders can expand the gene pool of their breed.

The Kennel Club has called on the government to give it statutory powers to make its established Accredited Breeder Scheme compulsory throughout the country. If successful, this would mean that all breeders who are not part of the scheme would be unable to produce or sell puppies within the law.

Ban On Puppy Culling

Breed clubs are now required to adopt the KC Code of Ethics, to ensure that their practices fall in line with its policy for putting the health and welfare of puppies first. This includes a clause that explicitly forbids the compulsory culling of healthy puppies.

Caroline Kisko, KC Secretary, said yesterday:

"The groundswell of public attention on the very important matters surrounding dog breeding is a welcomed momentum that will enable us to drive through, with added urgency, new and extended initiatives that will help to safeguard the health of our pedigree dogs. We have been listening and agree with the general public's view that more needs to be done.

"Steps such as our breed health plans will enable us to ensure that the health of every dog is the number one priority and we are taking a tougher line with breed clubs by adjusting those breed standards that fail to promote good health. By asking the government for statutory powers we will be able to take a tougher line with all breeders and breed clubs that fail to abide by our high standards."