The Kennel Club

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The Kennel Club ("KC") is a kennel club based in London and Aylesbury, England.

Founded on 4 April 1873, the club is the oldest of the world’s all-breed kennel clubs[citation needed]. It is the governing body for dogs in the UK and its primary objective is 'to promote in every way, the general improvement of dogs'. It was the first official registry of purebred dogs in the world, and its annual registrations in the early 2000s average 280,000[citation needed]. The KC is not part of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, as are most other countries' kennel clubs.

The Kennel Club’s best known event is the Crufts dog conformation show, held since 1928, which attracts competitors from all over the world. Crufts is held every March at the NEC, Birmingham. The Kennel Club also holds the fun dog event Discover Dogs, in London every November. This event features the Scruffts grand final for crossbred and mixed breed dogs.

The Kennel Club registration system divides dogs into seven breed groups: Hound, Working, Terrier, Gundog, Pastoral, Utility and Toy. The Kennel Club currently recognises 210 breeds of dog.

The Kennel Club has a Charitable Trust (registered charity no. 327802) which was established in 1987 with the objective of 'Making a difference for dogs'. It has donated over £3 million to a range of organisations and charities to fund a wide variety of work ranging from Scientific and Research grants to welfare initiatives.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Criticism

Main article: Pedigree Dogs Exposed

The organisation was criticised on the BBC programme Pedigree Dogs Exposed for allowing breed standards, judging standards and breeding practices which are said to be compromise the health of purebred dogs.[1] The program led to various sponsors such as Hill's Pet Nutrition, Pedigree Petfoods, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Dogs Trust to withdraw their participation in Crufts and other Kennel Club events. The BBC eventually dropped Crufts 2009 from their coverage after being unable to agree to terms with the Kennel Club.

The Kennel Club initially defended their practices,[2] and criticised the program as "highly biased".[3] It also lodged a complaint to regulatory authority Ofcom claiming "unfair treatment and editing".[4]

Due to the strong public response, the Kennel Club started rolling out new health plans. Breed standards for every breed went under review and show judges would be required to choose only healthy dogs. It has also requested regulatory powers from the Government, which would allow the club to take actions against breeders who do not comply with health standards.[5] Bans on close inbreeding is set to take effect on March 1. New breed standards for 209 dog species were announced in January 2009, and are to be effective immediately, but with breeders allowed until June to object.[6] The new standards will "not include anything that could in any way be interpreted as encouraging features that might prevent a dog from breathing, walking and seeing freely." "This will help to prevent the practice of exaggeration, where features that are perceived to be desirable, such as a short muzzle or loose skin, are made more prominent by breeders, and which can have detrimental effects on a dog’s health."

In February, the results of an independent scientific report commissioned by the RSPCA concluded that "exaggerated physical features and inherited diseases cause serious welfare problems in pedigree dogs."[7] It states that "Breeding practices and efforts by breed societies and kennel clubs, to date, have been ineffective at protecting the welfare of many breeds of domestic dog" and that "changes in breeding and selection practices are urgently required."[8] The Kennel Club states that the report "fails totally to recognise the real steady progress and advance of scientific knowledge that has already been made in the area of pedigree dog health."[9]

[edit] Accredited Breeder Scheme

The Club's Accredited Breeder Scheme - meant to help potential dog owners identify responsible breeders - has been described by Dogs Trust as "full of pitfalls, the main one being that it's self-certificating".[10][neutrality disputed]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Pedigree dogs plagued by disease" (html). BBC News. 2008-08-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7569064.stm. 
  2. ^ Irving, Ronnie (2008-08-08). "Statement about the forthcoming BBC programme ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’ – BBC1, Tuesday 19th August, 9pm" (html). The Kennel Club. http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/1976/23/5/3. 
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ Kennel Club changes breeding rules to end cruelty Times Online
  6. ^ Valerie Elliott (14 January 2009). "Healthier new bulldog will lose its Churchillian jowl". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5512620.ece. Retrieved on 14 January 2009. "New breeding standards for 209 dog species have been brought into immediate force after the furore over breeding practices shown on a BBC One documentary, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, last summer. Breeders have until the end of June to lodge any objections" 
  7. ^ New science review to fuel pedigree dogs debate RSPCA
  8. ^ Pedigree dog breeding in the UK: A major welfare concern?(PDF) RSPCA
  9. ^ Kennel Club Response to RSPCA Survey The Kennel Club
  10. ^ RSPCA quits Crufts over controversy surrounding 'deformed' pedigree dogsTimes Online, September 16, 2008

11.History of the Kennel Club

[edit] External links

[edit] Video clips

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