All assured dog breeders to be inspected
Starting from January 2014, all dog breeders that are part of the Kennel Club's Assured Breeder scheme will be inspected, in a drive to improve quality.
Breeders who pass an assessment visit from January 1, 2014 will receive UKAS accredited certification from the Kennel Club. This will be backdated for those breeders who passed an inspection in 2013.
Going forward, all new members of the scheme will have to pass an assessment in order to be accepted as an assured breeder. Members will thereafter be inspected every three years, or before each litter they breed.
Prior to this, inspections were usually only carried out on scheme members who bred more than two litters in a year. Additionally, assessments were conducted randomly and in response to complaints, which the Kennel Club says will continue in future.
As a result of the increased number of inspections that will be taking place, the Kennel Club has announced fees will be increasing for the first time in the scheme's 10-year history.
On January 1, 2014, the application fee for new joiners rose from £15 to £20, and the yearly membership fee tripled to £30. This annual fee is set to continue rising over the next two years, costing £45 from January 2015 and £60 from January 2016.
Alternatively, members have the option of paying a nominal associate membership fee of £12 per year, as well as a separate inspection fee of £167, which provides UKAS certification for three years.
According to the organisation, the cost of the scheme per member is £200 over a three-year period, with fees helping to support its commitment to improving dog health and welfare.
In order to absorb the rise in fees, the Kennel Club says it will provide members with a comprehensive package of discounts, offering £300 worth of annual savings on health screening schemes, pet healthcare products and DNA testing.
According to the organisation, the more rigorous inspection process has been introduced in response to feedback from the majority of assured breeders, after a survey in summer 2013 revealed members of the scheme wanted additional inspections.
Kennel Club chairman Steve Dean, said: “The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme is unique and those who are part of it are leading a quiet revolution in the way puppies are bred and sold."
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
