Changes to Dog Showing Regulations

The Kennel Club has launched online reporting forms for vets to report operations and caesarean sections carried out on Kennel Club registered dogs, in order to make it easier for both to continue helping the Kennel Club monitor and improve dog health and welfare.

The new online reporting forms have been launched in order to simplify the reporting process and make it easier for vets to submit information that will ultimately help to improve the health of pedigree dogs, as it provides information on breeding lines which may pass on certain defects and helps to deter breeders from breeding from animals with hereditary problems.

As part of registration with the Kennel Club, any operations which alter the natural conformation of a dog registered with the Kennel Club should be reported by the dog’s owner or their vet. Owners who wish to compete at Kennel Club licensed shows with dogs which have undergone such operations must apply for permission to do so. Vets and breeders are also asked to report caesareans as the Kennel Club will not register a litter from a bitch that has already had two caesarians.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “The veterinary profession and the Kennel Club both hold valuable information about pedigree dogs and by sharing this information we can get a much more accurate picture about dog health.

“We have created the online reporting forms to make things as easy as possible for vets to report surgeries and caesarean sections. Although many responsible owners and breeders, and some vets, already report operations to the Kennel Club, this is not a uniform practice and we hope this new simpler way to do so will help to ensure that we work more closely together in the future.”

When registering a litter with the Kennel Club, breeders sign a declaration which means that the vet will never be breaching confidentiality when reporting such operations. The declaration says:

“I/we confirm and agree that any veterinary surgery performing a caesarean section and/or operation on any of my/our dogs in such a way that the operation alters the natural conformation of the dog or any part thereof may submit a report to the Kennel Club.”

The declaration regarding the reporting of operations which change natural conformation was made a condition of Kennel Club registration in 1990 and caesareans were added to the declaration in 2010.

Comment

Points to note in this news release from the Kennel Club are that when you register a pedigree dog with the KC you are signing to agree that any surgical procedures which alter the natural confirmation of the dog are reported by your vet. The vet is therefore not breaking any confidentiality issues by doing so.

With regard to caesarean births, the KC wish to be alerted if too many C-sections are needing to be performed in a particular breed. An example is with bulldogs - previously they were being bred to have heads so large the bitches were not able to give birth naturally. The breed is now being bred to a different standard which requires smaller heads. The KC wish to have an early alarm system in case a similar problem appears in different breeds.

Hopefully the reporting system will be used by vets as it should help ensure that all breeding stock is producing healthy puppies.