Introduced to improve dog health and responsible breeding
A new set of recommendations have been added to the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme to improve dog health and responsible breeding in 2016.
The new breed specific recommendations, which come into force on January, recommend a DNA test for Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) in Chinese crested dogs and a reduction in the age that field spaniels can produce litters, from two years to 18 months.
The new recommendations have been introduced following consultations with breed clubs and councils in a collaborative effort to ensure that health and welfare issues are kept at the forefront of the aims of the scheme.
Bill Lambert, Kennel Club health and breed services manager said: “As we head into 2016, these latest recommendations will help to maintain progress for dog health and encourage good breeding practices to protect the future of our much-loved pedigree dogs.
“The new recommendations come about as a direct result of input from the breed clubs and councils we work with to further adapt the scheme to the specific needs of individual breeds with regards to health testing and welfare.
“The ABS is designed to be flexible so we can make these types of additions to suit the needs of different breeds and we are looking forward to further developing throughout 2016 to help ensure that puppy buyers are signposted to good breeders for healthy and well-adjusted puppies.”
The Kennel Club updates the list of ABS breed specific requirements and recommendations twice yearly to ensure that they remain relevant. Further tests can be expected to announced as they are developed.
Existing Assured Breeders are given a grace period of six months to comply with any new requirements and recommendations.
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. 
