Breed Clubs Have a Responsibility, So Why Are They NOT Promoting Health?

Written by Charlie Stapleton

If anyone looks at the Kennel Club website for a puppy they are advised to look at individual breed clubs for help in receiving the right puppy. This is excellent advice. If only it were true.

You see, I have scanned over 20 breed clubs this week after viewing Pedigree Dogs Exposed and
I am very disappointed that the KC are not policing breed clubs more effectively, after all it’s the KC who approve these clubs.

I have found misleading advice from some rare toy breed sites who say “Their coat is non shedding so should not affect low to mid allergy sufferers. Their most redeeming feature is that they have no known health disorders to date.”, having read extensively on this particular breed I know that is incorrect and very misleading. This group of dogs all suffer a range of disease and illness which is compounded by the very small gene pool in the UK, and according to one member of that breed club, the use of one popular sire is becoming worrying. IF breed club members cant get it right what hope is there for others ?

It’s also worth noting that this breed club do not publish health results for prospective new owners which would indeed be helpful in establishing the validity of their statements above!

This isn’t the only breed club giving false or inaccurate information and not making available health test results from all dogs they have , it’s appalling to only recommend testing breeding stock, health doesn’t become irrelevant once the dog isn’t breeding, it should become more apparent as this is how good responsible breeders can record the health of their breed correctly. I have also seen written “puppies are occasionally available from reputable breeders to responsible homes.”

This would infer that unless a breeder belongs to a breed club then they are irresponsible and not reputable which could indeed be highly misleading, after-all the writer would be stating that they know without doubt this to be factual.

Personally I think it’s just arrogance to imply a ‘we know best attitude’ , when factually that has been proven time and time again to be wrong and inaccurate, to expand upon that we only need to survey owners who have bought from breed clubs and in a way the Accredited Breed Club falls within this category, this is the scheme being touted by the Kennel Club as a saviour for all its ills.

The scheme has some redeeming points but in the main it’s is a scheme that fails to put first and foremost health.

Some breeders who are not members are deemed poor even by the KC, legally I feel that will be challenged soon as once again it would falsely imply that only bad breeders wouldn’t wish to join, as we all know that is wrong and inaccurate, having spoken with many breeders, they inform me that, they refuse to join the scheme because it’s simply being used by the showing fraternity as a pat on the back, yes it recommends some testing, but doesn’t go anywhere near far enough in this regard.

It gives accolades for breeding yet none for health promotion, somehow many feel it’s got its priorities wrong and I would have to agree.

Breed clubs in the main act as a social system for much of its membership and there is nothing wrong with that, but with that should also come responsibilities, testing should be mandatory for all dogs in the ownership of the membership and rescues should be better dealt with.

After 10 years two toy breed clubs are only just starting a rescue service, mostly shamed by others outside these breed clubs offering a service before them. One would hope these schemes are not just a doggy dealership as some breed rescues are labelled. One would hope the placing of the animal comes before the charge for the pet.

If there is to be some light at the end of the tunnel for pedigree dogs, then surely we must start with effective policing of breed clubs and its membership, they should not have a stranglehold on judging, that can and does only result in corruption, not by everyone but by a few, sadly those few will destroy a gene pool. They should not have a stranglehold on

The Kennel Club by misleading through its failure to conform to a yearly health survey.

I do hope the KC start to attack breed clubs like they attack those who do not belong to them or their lacklustre ABS cheme. That is when true responsible breeders will come back and support them.

I heard one Havanese Breed Club committee member making the allegation that “All dogs from Hungary hold false pedigrees”, this is one breeder who is making false statements , and I for one would like to inform this fool, it’s factually harder to breed in Hungary than in the UK, its also harder to receive pedigrees than in the UK.

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