Another successful UKAS audit for kennel club assured breeder scheme

6 January 2020

The Kennel Club is still the only organisation in the UK to receive UKAS accreditation to certify dog breeders, which it does under its Assured Breeder Scheme, ensuring that scheme members take all the necessary steps to breed quality, healthy puppies.

Accreditation by UKAS was recommended by Professor Sir Patrick Bateson, in the Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding in January 2010, as an important step to give puppy buyers a clear indication of who they should trust, as there is too much confusion in the puppy buying market and too many rogue breeders. Since the report, the situation has got even worse with people taking advantage of the relaxation of pet travel laws, which makes it easier to bring sickly puppies, bred under extremely low welfare standards, into the UK from abroad.

The ABS recognises and rewards good breeding practice and aims to work with breeders and puppy buyers to force irresponsible breeders out of business. Breeders joining the scheme commit to meeting and maintaining high standards to better the health and welfare of their puppies and breeding stock.

Assured Breeders are required to provide puppy buyers with a ‘puppy information pack’ containing guidance to assist them with the ongoing care and socialisation of their puppy. They agree to provide post-sales help and advice and, in the unfortunate event that a puppy buyer can no longer care for their puppy, will assume responsibility for re-homing.

Assured Breeders are also required to allow the Kennel Club’s trained Regional Breeder Assessors to visit their premises to conduct an inspection and a review of their husbandry practices and breeding records. For those scheme members who are new to breeding, this offers an opportunity to seek guidance and advice to develop their breeding programme, and for established members it is an opportunity to discuss any issues or ideas face to face.

For further information on the ABS, please click here. All enquiries should be directed to email abs@thekennelclub.org.uk.