As a contentious and caring breeders, we have over the number of years we have been involved with dogs always exceeded the requirements of the scheme, however it is always nice to have some form of “official” recognition for this and accordingly we are founder members of the scheme.  For your reference, details of this scheme are shown below.

Once potential owners have made the important decision to have a puppy would they know where to go to find a responsible breeder and where they can find a puppy that will be credit to both them and to the breeder.

As a prospective new owner it is understandable to want some kind of reassurance that you are purchasing a puppy from someone whose priority is the health and welfare of the puppies that they breed. Someone who will provide you with a quality, supportive and informative service both before and after you take your puppy home. One way to do this is to contact a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder. The scheme, which is voluntary and was launched in 2004, promotes good breeding practices, giving prospective owners the best opportunity to bring home a healthy well adjusted puppy. As a puppy buyer there is now some kind of benchmark to help you in your search to find a responsible breeder.

But what does this mean?

The aim of this scheme is to encourage breeding healthy, well adjusted puppies. By laying down a series of requirements that breeders must follow in order to participate in the scheme, it provides puppy buyers an assurance that the breeder has followed good breeding practices.

What are the Requirements?

1.           Ensure that all breeding stock is Kennel Club registered.

2.           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.

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

4.           Permanently identify breeding stock by DNA profile, microchip, or tattoo.

5.           Make use of health screening schemes, relevant to their breed, on all breeding stock. These schemes include DNA testing, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and inherited eye conditions.

6.           Socialise the puppies and provide written advice, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on continuation of socialisation, exercise and future training.

7.           Provide written advice, in the scheme Puppy Sales Wallet, on feeding and worming programmes.

8.           Provide a written record, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on the immunisation measures taken.

9.           Provide reasonable post-sales telephone advice.

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

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

In addition, there are a number of recommendations:

1.     Make sure that whelping facilities accord with good practice.

2.     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.

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

4.     Follow relevant breed health screening recommendations.

How are the Kennel Club going to ensure the breeders ARE up to their standard and complying with their requirements?

Policing the Scheme

Recent 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 acceptance

Applicants’ Kennel Club records are checked.

Acceptance of Membership

All applications will be fully considered.  Further information may be required so that the Kennel Club is satisfied the breeder is fully capable of meeting the requirements of the scheme.

An application may be subject to Committee approval by its Review Panel.

The Kennel Club reserves the right to refuse an application.

Any breeder subject to KC disciplinary penalties under Rule A42/43 will not be eligible for Accredited Breeder Scheme membership.

After acceptance

Names of new members are published in the Kennel Gazette and effectively ‘policed’ by breed clubs who report names that are, in their opinion, inappropriate candidates to us.  If this happens then the Kennel Club investigates carefully.

When Accredited Breeders register a litter

Every 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 puppies

Accredited Breeders are required to use ABS puppy sales 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 us about the Accredited Breeder’s compliance with aspects of the Scheme that we 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 Visits

The 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 form the scheme.

Full details of what is involved and expected of an Accredited Breeder for a Breeder Adviser visit are available on request.

What happens if they breach any of the Scheme requirements?

·         Temporary Suspension - at any time during the investigation of a complaint a breeder may be suspended from using or operating under the scheme pending the conclusion of such an investigation. During such suspension, puppies must not be sold under the scheme.

·         Grievance Procedure - there is a grievance procedure which will be followed in the case of a complaint by a purchaser of a puppy under the scheme.  A copy of the Grievance Procedure is available on request.