Would it put you off if..

[Possiblebreeder]

A breeder was fully health testing their breeding dogs (full health screens eg hip scores, DNA tests etc) but the dogs and resultant puppies were not Kennel Club registered?

@liveforsummer

We don't know why breed the OP is planning to breed though so it's difficult to answer. I believe she used a spaniel as an example rather than that being her breed.

I’m assuming bulldogs from the health conditions tbh... or something similarly exaggerated for the show ring.

But also, people breeding fit for purpose working dogs that aren’t eligible for KC registration because they’re sheepdogs not pedigree collies or lurchers wouldn’t be asking, they’d already know most of them aren’t KC registered and they don’t usually struggle to find buyers for the leftover puppies they’re not keeping... because if their dogs perform they’ll have people interested well before they actually breed.

And with terriers, there are so many unregistered that they’d already know it’s not an issue.

So to be asking, it’s going to be a breed where they usually are KC registered.

I suppose so. I actually know someone who breeds french bulldogs not to standard. Her original bitch was long bodied and long nosed. Picked a stud as similar as possible in that respect, gave birth unassisted, kept the bitch from the litter with the same specs. None have ever needed a section. You'd not be blamed for thinking there's some staffy in there but she's 4 generations down the line now so has pedigrees going back a very long way that prove otherwise. You'd never show them and win, but they are still kc reg so OP's reasons don't really add up in that way. I can kind of get the stance though. If it is a french bull dog then it likely will put people off if charging market value. Maybe not so much a spaniel if background can be proven

“You'd never show them and win, but they are still kc reg”

Yep, there are breeders with that sort of breed, bulldogs, pugs, french bulldogs etc. who are deliberately breeding away from the extreme looks that cause health issues, but they usually still KC register them.

If that was the sort of breed I was looking for, I’d look for someone doing that tbh, but in my little checklist before I contacted them, I’d be going... not KC registered, ok, next one.

You have listed lots of reasons you wouldn't register.

It doesn't really matter why but obviously if you don't register them then you will reduce your pool of potential buyers. I am like some PPs who wouldn't even have bothered contacting you if I knew that was the case. If you feel strongly about not registering them then don't.

Just to give another perspective, OP - if you feel this way because you feel your breed is suffering, then for me it would be even more important that you maintain registration in the hope that your health-tested stock could be incorporated to improve the breed later if there are issues.

Also, I wonder if from your description your breed is the Cavalier? If so, I can give personal experience, in that I actually have been looking for a puppy - I have automatically excluded any breeder who didn't register, and indeed those that register but don't health test.

Difficult breed, I have now let my head rule my heart and am looking at other breeds entirely.

"It isn’t an organisation we want to be associated with any way, shape or form."

OP, your list of reasons is v much like that of the friend I mentioned who refused to register his puppies any more. His dogs were gorgeous so he had no shortage of homes for the pups, from word of mouth. However, I think the dilemma and the best counter argument is that if principled people like you don't register, your healthy lines get lost to the breed.

I think with a cavalier you'd likely have no problem selling the puppies to family pet homes. The breed is in absolute crisis - KC have their part in this. Lots of people want them for their lovely natures and the fact they make great family pets, that if you could prove healthy lines and non exaggerated features with parent dogs with lovely natures it wouldn't be an issue. OP has already said she wouldn't want pups to go to a breeding or showing home. They are practically impossible to get hold of now so may well be considered. A more ten a penny dog such as French Bulldog I'd say less likely to get the good homes you'd hope for as more would rule out based on the lack of documents before looking in to the other proof you have

“They are practically impossible to get hold of now so may well be considered.”

Um... I went to look because it surprised me given they’re not that much less popular than say french bulldogs...

Every selling website I could think of has a fair amount of litters advertised - including the KC one.

I mean no clue on quality of breeders or breeding (I’d assume not great) - but there were a lot of recent adverts everywhere.

Certainly no problem getting hold of Cavalier pups if you're not fussy. Next to impossible if you are. (No clue if this is OP's breed or not.)

@Whitney168

Certainly no problem getting hold of Cavalier pups if you're not fussy. Next to impossible if you are. (No clue if this is OP's breed or not.)

Well it’s going to be something with a squashed face given the health issues mentioned.

And most of them are fairly popular and numerous, which is one of the reasons they’re in the state they are breeds being very popular usually leads to issues.