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Anyone can breed there dogs but it takes time careful planning and money to do it as it should be done
FOR INFO GO TO WWW.KENNELCLUB.ORG.UK
Responsible dog breeding
Breeding a litter of puppies can be very rewarding, but if you are new to breeding, you should remember that it can also be a costly and time consuming experience. The dog breeding section is full of useful information if you are considering becoming a breeder and we hope established breeders will use it as a reference tool.
Whether you are already an experienced dog breeder, or perhaps you are just starting out and want to breed in a responsible manner, then the Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme may be of interest to you. The aim of the Scheme is to provide a framework to encourage the breeding of healthy, well-adjusted puppies. It lays down a series of requirements that breeders must follow in order to participate in the scheme. Once accepted onto the Scheme, Accredited Breeders may use the scheme literature and, if they use the Kennel Club Puppy Sales Register, their litters will be highlighted to show that an Accredited Breeder has posted them and much more.
How to become a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder
07-Aug-06
The Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme promotes good breeding practice and, as a breeder, you may wish to consider joining. There are set requirements that Accredited Breeders must agree to follow, which encourage the breeding of healthy, well-adjusted puppies. In return, Accredited Breeders may use the scheme literature and logo to promote their breeding. Details of the current scheme requirements can also be obtained from the Kennel Club's Health and Information Department
* Current health screening requirements and recommendations
* Application form and cost
* Advantages of being an Accredited Breeder
* How is the scheme policed?
* Announcing Accredited Breeder Accolades
Requirements and recommendations
The Scheme currently has the following requirements:
Accredited Breeders must:
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:
Accredited Breeders are strongly encouraged to:
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.
An introduction to dog breeding
07-Aug-06
The Kennel Club does not keep general information relating to breeding from bitches as this can vary tremendously from breed to breed. However, the following information may be of some help to you when planning to breed from your bitch.
Breed Specifics:
There are a number of general books on breeding currently available. Additionally, you will find that there are many breed specific books that contain chapters, which relate to breeding. There are a variety of relevant titles available from the Online Shop.
Before breeding from your bitch, the Kennel Club advises that you check with your veterinary surgeon, your breed club and/or your dog's breeder to find out whether there are any possible inherited conditions that may affect your breed, for which there is an available test (e.g. hip dysplasia and eye conditions). There are several health schemes currently in operation to assist in the prevention or control of some diseases (including DNA tests), and where these exist, the Kennel Club strongly recommends that both sire and dam are tested.
Details of approximate stud fees, puppy prices and more detailed information on your chosen breed may be obtained from the breeder of your dog or from the breed clubs. Becoming a member of a breed club will enable you to learn more about your breed and allow you to contact other owners and breeders. Telephone numbers for these clubs can be obtained via the Kennel Club's call centre - 0870 606 6750. Alternatively you can visit the Breed Standards section of the website, select the breed you are interested in and the Breed Clubs for your breed will be listed at the bottom of the page, with the Club Secretary’s name and contact details. There will also be a link to the Club’s website if it has one.
The Kennel Club:
Before thinking about breeding from your bitch, you should acquaint yourself with the Kennel Club Regulations on registering litters and the registration system in general. A Guide to Litter Registration can be obtained from the Kennel Club, but you will need to remember that the Kennel Club will not accept an application to register a litter when:
a) The bitch has already whelped six litters, or
b) The bitch was under a year old at the date of mating, or
c) The bitch has already reached the age of eight years at the date of whelping.
N.B. Relief from the last restriction may be considered provided the dam has previously whelped at least one other registered litter, and a written application is made prior to mating and supported by veterinary evidence confirming the suitability of the bitch involved in the proposed whelping.
You will also need to ensure that your bitch's Kennel Club registration does not carry a breeding restriction (endorsement). If there are any, you will need to discuss this further with the person from whom you obtained the bitch, as any breeding endorsement will need to be removed before registration of a litter can take place. In most cases it will be the breeder who has placed the endorsement, and who will therefore be the person empowered to remove it.
The Kennel Club also has a Code of Ethics which all breeders that register their litters with the Kennel Club agree to adhere to.
Stud Dogs:
The Kennel Club does not keep a register of stud dogs and therefore if you wish to use your dog at stud you should contact either your dog's breeder or a breed club to ensure that you find a suitable mate for your bitch. As a responsible breeder, you will need to ensure that any stud dog, which you decide to use, not only has a compatible pedigree, but has also been examined for any inherited disease to which the breed is subject. Remember that male dogs may also carry breeding restrictions, and therefore you will need to bear in mind that any breeding endorsement will have to be removed from his registration records before the litter can be registered. You are strongly advised to confirm in writing, prior to the mating, that any such endorsement has been removed. For further information please download and read the Kennel Club ‘Thinking of using your dog at stud’ Information Guide.
Accredited Breeder Scheme:
The Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme promotes good breeding practice and, as a breeder, you may wish to consider joining. There are set requirements that Accredited Breeders must agree to follow, which encourage the breeding of healthy, well-adjusted puppies. In return, Accredited Breeders may use the scheme literature and logo to promote their breeding.
The Law:
Under the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999, those breeders breeding five or more litters per year may need to be licensed. However, a local authority may still classify a breeder as being commercial - and therefore requiring a licence - even if the person breeds fewer than five litters per year, if in the local authority's opinion that person is deemed as breeding for commercial gain.
If breeders are in any doubt as to their eligibility under the Act, the Kennel Club advises that they contact their local Environmental Health Office for further clarification. If you need to be licensed, the Kennel Club advises that you obtain a copy of the Act so that you are fully aware of its contents and your responsibilities.
Finding Good Homes for Your Puppies:
It is vitally important that you find the right home for your puppies. Hopefully this will determine where they will spend the rest of their life, and you will want to ensure that the puppy will be happy in that environment.
As guidelines, you may wish to think about some of the following when making your decision:
* Find out if the people who want to buy the puppy have done their "homework" on their chosen breed.
* Try to meet the whole family, including any children if possible.
* Ask potential owners if they have any other dogs / pets.
* Find out whether the dog is wanted purely as a pet, or whether they may be interested in breeding at a later stage (you may have placed endorsements on the puppy's registration certificate and the new owners will need to agree to these in writing before or at the date of sale). The new owner may also want to compete at Kennel Club licensed events.
* Do not mislead people regarding the dog’s characteristics and the care it requires (particularly of the coat). Incomplete information for the new owner may result in the puppy being returned to you, or being sold on.
* Find out if the potential owner has the time and inclination to groom an adult dog (particularly long coated breeds).
* Find out how much time they spend at home. It is not necessarily a bad thing if they are out all day, provided they can take the dog to work with them.
* Find out more about where they live, for example do they have a fenced garden? Some breeders like to conduct a home check before selling a puppy (you could always ask for photographs if it is not possible for you to visit the house in person). Do not automatically rule out flat dwellers - as long as they are willing and able to walk the dog regularly they may be able to offer a suitable home. It can even be the case that the dog is better off as then it cannot just be put out in the garden for exercise!
Finally, if you are not sure that the home is right for the puppy, then do not sell it.
