Kennel Club Registered Scheme

[Druidlookingidiot]

I found this on a kennel website. I know about this very high quality kennel and I find this statement quite concerning.

We are no longer kennel club assured breeders and have decided to leave the scheme. Having supported the scheme from its start we do not agree with The kennel club still registering puppy farm bred puppies with no health testing insisted on and whilst this goes on we will not rejoin the scheme.

I can see where they are coming from to be honest. It would be hard for the KC to differentiate puppy farmed puppies from others, but there is nothing to stop them refusing to register litters born to untested parents.

There’s been issues with the assured breeder scheme since it started, things like checks not ever being carried out... and yeah allowing dogs to be registered anyway when the breeder is blatantly not following the rules of the scheme...

It should have been a great way of making sure breeders were doing the right things... but...

It should have been a great way of making sure breeders were doing the right things... but... sad

This. It's honestly heartbreaking that the KC are not brave or radical enough to be the country's leaders in ensuring dogs are bred so that they (and the parents) are healthy, happy and sound.

They are in the best position to really make a difference and lead the way, to be a force for good and to solidify their place in the future leadership of dog breeding. They are squandering it with in fighting and cowardice - and the dogs are suffering for it.

@SirSniffsAlot

It should have been a great way of making sure breeders were doing the right things... but... sad

This. It's honestly heartbreaking that the KC are not brave or radical enough to be the country's leaders in ensuring dogs are bred so that they (and the parents) are healthy, happy and sound.

They are in the best position to really make a difference and lead the way, to be a force for good and to solidify their place in the future leadership of dog breeding. They are squandering it with in fighting and cowardice - and the dogs are suffering for it.

God, that's awful . I had no idea.

There are plenty of good breeders who have left the Assured Breeder Scheme in disgust because to many puppy farms/volume breeders it is just a 'badge of honour' for little outlay that markets their puppies beautifully and avoids advertising costs, whilst requiring nothing of them.

There will no doubt be people along to say all show breeders are crooks, but to me the only sensible approach when searching for a pedigree puppy is to look for:

• show record, to demonstrate a reputation and a record of breeding dogs that look and behave like the breed YOU chose after all
• only ever registered puppies - there are no good reasons not to register a pedigree litter, but by God there are plenty of bad reasons why you wouldn't
• a breeder who still has older stock living with them, both for health and values reasons
• a breeder who can demonstrate good results from the required schemes for the breed (not 'vet/health checked' - proper health schemes with certificates and results registered with the KC).

Find one of these, show them genuine interest, and be prepared to wait until a pup comes available. I am currently waiting for a puppy, just as a pet, to live alongside my usual breed, and am thinking that if I get the right pup within two years I'll be lucky. I won't be buying a poorly bred pup in the meantime, though.

None of this is foolproof. Buying puppies is bloody hard these days, there's no getting away from it, and some can present a very good front but not be so great behind the schemes.

The above will increase your chances of getting a happy, healthy puppy that looks more or less as you want though.

Agreed, @Whitney168, except I'd expand
show record, to demonstrate a reputation and a record of breeding dogs that look and behave like the breed YOU chose after all
to include working/ competition record, in breeds that still have jobs to do. Most show awards give no idea as to temperament.

Yep, fair point @GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman (although successful show dogs normally have steady temperaments too to succeed - again, am not naive enough to think this is always the case, but all the above advice at least stacks the odds in your favour).