The Kennel Club

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

History

Founded on 4 April 1873, the club is the oldest of the world’s all-breed kennel clubs. 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. The KC is not part of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, as are most other countries' kennel clubs.

Operation

Main article: Kennel Club Groups

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.

Criticism

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. The programme led various sponsors to withdraw their participation in Crufts and the BBC eventually dropped Crufts 2009 from its coverage. The Kennel Club initially defended their practices, and criticised the programme as "highly biased". It also lodged a complaint to regulatory authority Ofcom claiming "unfair treatment and editing".

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. New breed standards for 209 breeds were announced in January 2009, and close inbreeding was to be banned.

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." 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." 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."

As a direct result of the BBC programme, the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) started an inquiry into the issues surrounding inherited diseases and breeding problems in dogs in November 2008. The results of the inquiry, released in November 2009, was consistent with the RSPCA report, mentioning the "serious problem with the health and welfare of many pedigree dogs" and how they can be caused by current breeding practices. The report made various recommendations: Breed standards should be based less on "visual aesthetics" and more on whether the dogs would be "fit for purpose". Where available for particular breeds, health tests should be strongly recommended and individuals not tested should have their test status reflected in registration certificates and should not be eligible for Champion titles.

The inquiry also stated that "the KC should make the decision about whether registering dogs or dog health and welfare is their primary objective and focus their attentions more precisely on this when taking this issue forward."

More4 was criticised for their decision to broadcast Crufts 2010. "Until the problems of health and welfare are dealt with, the showing of certain dogs with problems associated with inappropriate breed standards is wrong". A More4 spokesperson stated that its "coverage will place a particular emphasis on health and welfare issues, providing a high profile platform to keep these issues in the public eye – something that has been welcomed by the British Veterinary Association."

The Kennel Club 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 log on their website to promote their breeding.

The Scheme currently has the following requirements

Accredited Breeders must:

Ensure that all breeding stock is Kennel Club registered.

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.

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

• Permanently identify breeding stock by DNA profile, microchip, or tattoo

• 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

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

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

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

• Provide reasonable post-sales telephone advice

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

• Draw up a contract of sale (see below link) 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:

• Make sure that whelping facilities accord with good practice

• 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

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

• Follow relevant breed health screening recommendations. http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breedhealth

How to find a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder

Kennel Club Accredited Breeders who use the Kennel Club Find a Puppy service (http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/puppiesforsale) to advertise their puppies are flagged to show that they are accredited. The Accredited Breeder Scheme Team (www.thekennelclub.org.uk/accreditedbreederscheme)can provide contact details for Accredited Breeders of your chosen breed, but please bear in mind that not all of these breeders will currently have puppies available.

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". The APGAW report indicates that the low breeding standards practiced by some in the ABS may allow the public to be "falsely led into thinking a puppy they buy from an accredited breeder registered with the KC will have no health or welfare problems associated with its breeding history." It called for more random checks and robust enforcement of the scheme and states that "the use of the word ‘pedigree’ should be tied to a high standard of breeding (for health and welfare) across the board with the KC not just with the few that decide to join the Accredited Breeder Scheme (ABS)."

The Inquiry believes that ultimately the KC can win back trust by showing that they are willing to take responsibility for dogs registered with them and that they are willing to lose members who do not meet high standards.

The report warned that if the health measures implemented by the KC fails, government regulations might be necessary. The Kennel Club has issued a response to the report. PDE producer Jemima Harrison condemned the KC's response, stating that they are downplaying the criticism of the KC in the report and misrepresenting the findings.

Kennel Club Art Gallery

The Kennel Club Art Gallery is located at the Club's headquarters at 1 Clarges Street, near Green Park tube station in Westminster, London. The gallery is devoted to fine art about dogs and features themed exhibitions, as well as a permanent collection. Artists in the collection include Maud Earl, George Earl, Richard Ansdell, Arthur Wardle and Cecil Aldin. The gallery is open by appointment.

External links

• The Kennel Club
• Crufts
• Kennel Club Art Gallery