The Kennel Club Assured Breeders Standard

Applicants must read and familiarise themselves with all the rules of the scheme, as contained in this standard, and be comfortable that they will be able to fulfil the criteria, including all breed specific health testing and screening, before submitting an application. By signing the declaration (or ticking the box in the case of an online application) the applicant is committing to abide by the Scheme rules and requirements.  Any breach or non-compliance of Scheme rules and regulations may result in rejection, suspension or withdrawal of membership. 

Applicants must note the scheme disclaimer printed on the application form and if the applicant is under 18 years old, then a parent/guardian must countersign the application, by way of guarantee, for the young person’s obligations. The parent or guardian will become fully responsible for all obligations under the terms of the Scheme either legal or financial.

All applications will be fully considered. Further information to ensure that the applicant is capable of meeting the scheme requirements may be required and an assessment visit will be carried out to ensure that The Kennel Club is satisfied the applicant is fully capable of meeting the requirements of the scheme. An application may be subject to committee approval and The Kennel Club reserves the right to refuse an application.

All applications must be accompanied by the current application fee. Visit our website for information about current application fees. Application forms will not be passed for processing unless the Declaration is signed (or ticked online) and the correct fee is submitted.

Statements of experience are updated during an assessment visit or may be updated by The Kennel Club at the assured breeder's request.

Registration and awards records are checked to verify whether the assured breeder qualifies for a breeding experience and/or The Kennel Club's stud book accolade. It is the assured breeder’s responsibility to inform The Kennel Club which registered breed club they belong to so that records may be checked with regard to the breed club accolade. The accolade of excellence is awarded, after nominations are considered, by The Kennel Club Board, and may be removed at any time. Information is shared with breed club secretaries to confirm breed club membership.

Assessment visits will be conducted by suitably trained personnel employed or working on behalf of The Kennel Club who may be accompanied by observers. Visits will also occur on a routine basis and an absolute minimum of once every three years prior to renewal of membership, and may also be carried out additionally and randomly upon reasonable notice.

Additional visits will be carried out upon notification that the member has moved to, or is using, alternative or additional premises, or if The Kennel Club has reasonable cause for concern that there may be breaches of the scheme rules or its standard. Assured breeders must notify The Kennel Club, within 3 months or before their next litter is due, whichever is sooner, if they move premises or commence using alternative premises for the purposes of breeding.

At any time during the investigation of a complaint, an assured breeder may be suspended from using or operating under the scheme, pending the conclusion of such an investigation. During suspension, puppies must not be sold under the scheme. There is a complaints procedure which will be followed in the case of a complaint by a buyer of a puppy under the scheme. A copy of this procedure is available from The Kennel Club. Further information on assessment visits can be found on our website or by contacting the Assured Breeders scheme department.

If an assured breeder refuses or cancels an assessment visit from a regional breeder assessor (RBA), without providing a reasonable explanation and arranging a further date, their membership is suspended until such time as a satisfactory visit is completed. If an assured breeder is unable to accept a visit within their mandatory three-year revisitation period, their membership may fall uncertified and they may be removed from the membership list. If there is an unsatisfactory outcome following an assessment visit and any required improvements are not made within the timeframe stated, membership will be suspended and no refund will be due. A detailed indication of what an assessment visit entails is available from The Kennel Club at any time and will be sent to each assured breeder when an assessment visit date has been confirmed.

Membership of the scheme will be for three years, or for periods of three years. Renewal fees are payable to ensure continued membership. Litter registration applications are not accepted by The Kennel Club from assured breeders unless their membership is either maintained or is resigned.

Assured breeders must not advertise or describe themselves as an assured breeder, use any of The Assured Breeders scheme literature or hold themselves out in any way as an assured breeder, unless their membership is current and valid. Any assured breeder that is lapsed, suspended or whose membership is expired, or where a fee is overdue will have their name removed from the current membership list and a new membership certificate will not be issued.

Membership renewal notices are sent out well before membership is due to expire and if payment is not received, membership status becomes inactive. Assured breeders whose membership payments are not up to date are issued with a choice to renew or resign upon submission of an application to register a litter. Any outstanding fees are payable immediately. Members whose payments have lapsed will not be permitted to re-join the scheme until any arrears have been cleared.

An application may be rejected if it does not meet with the strict criteria laid out in this standard. Applications with minor non-conformities may have their initial application refused and may be given an opportunity to rectify these shortfalls.

Only assured breeders are entitled to use the scheme logos, as set out in the logo use agreement (available by contacting the Assured Breeders scheme team), provided that they are active members of the Assured Breeders scheme. If any logo is used inappropriately, the individual will be asked to remove the logo and may be prevented from joining thesScheme or their membership suspended or rejected. Any documentation relating to membership that is reproduced for others must be produced in its entirety.

Such organisations must be compliant with British Standard ISO 9001 and must make available record of parentage or lineage, including a coefficient of inbreeding, to a minimum of three generations, and a record of health screening test results, or the record of a DNA homozygosity test where it can be demonstrated this this is able to support or fulfil the above requirements.

Registration may be with The Kennel Club on its Breed Register or Activity Register. The scheme recognises good breeding practice and registration with other bodies is acceptable providing they fulfil the above requirements.

It is the assured breeders’ responsibility to bring to the attention of The Kennel Club any change to their circumstances which affects their activities. This includes events such as change of address, change of environment, significant changes to staff or care arrangements. Any person with a conviction involving an animal welfare offence, or subject to disciplinary penalties under The Kennel Club Rule A11/A12, will be ineligible to join the scheme and any existing member will be suspended from the scheme for the duration of any sentence imposed by a court (including any conditional or suspended sentence) or for the duration of the period of disqualification set by The Kennel Club disciplinary sub-committee, whichever is the longer. After such time, any application to join the scheme would need to include satisfactory written reassurances and undertakings that the applicant has appropriate resources in place to meet the welfare requirements of the dogs then in his/her care and control and will require a satisfactory kennel inspection before acceptance of the application.

Any conduct considered to be incompatible with membership under the Assured Breeders scheme or contrary to the spirit of the scheme, or likely to undermine the scheme, may result in an application for membership being rejected or the assured breeder’s removal from the scheme.

System records are checked at the time of application and on an ongoing basis. The Kennel Club reserves the right to share information with other organisations to ensure compliance.

(a) need for a suitable environment,
(b) need for a suitable diet
(c) need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
(d) need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals, and
(e) need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Local authorities have varying regulations and it is the responsibility of each assured breeder to check that they operate in accordance with local regulations.

Operating standards and compliance with relevant codes of practice and local authority requirements will be verified during an assessment visit.

Collection of health data in all breeds of dog is an urgent priority and the expectation is that any assured breeder will assist in this process.

Records must include, as a minimum, all dogs’ and puppies’:

• Registration details including breed or description of type, registration number, name, sex, date of birth, date of ownership and evidence of parentage
• Date of transfer (change of ownership)
• Mating details (dates, matings performed)
• Details of puppies produced
• Health screening test results
• Permanent identification details
• Date (and cause) of death (if known)
• Date of sale of puppies and contact details of buyers
• Any veterinary treatment
• Details of puppies at birth e.g. number, any dead and cause of death if known, any abnormalities noted, e.g. date of birth, sex, colour and any other identifying marks
• A record of any complaints received
• A record of any exceptional events or breeding decisions that have the potential to result in a failure to meet the scheme standard

A regional breeder assessor will confirm this during an assessment visit.

Those who choose to breed crossbreeds are eligible to join the scheme, providing that they fulfil all other requirements, but must not make claims that they are unable to substantiate regarding the outcome of puppies and therefore must not use their status as an assured breeder to promote the breeding of dogs that may be an unknown quantity. The Assured Breeders scheme is designed to promote good breeding practice, which includes encouraging the breeding of dogs of suitable temperament, type and physical characteristics, to enable buyers to select a suitable dog. Where different breeds or types of dog are mixed, the temperament and physical traits may be more difficult to predict and therefore it can be more challenging to achieve the aims of the Assured Breeders scheme.

Buyers are asked for feedback. A regional breeder assessor will also confirm this during an assessment visit.

Assured breeders will sell only puppies bred by themselves and raised in their own environment, which will meet all the requirements of the Assured Breeders scheme. They are also expected to select from breeding stock that is known to them and where they are able to provide assurances of every aspect of the puppy’s upbringing. Commercial interests are expected to be secondary and the selling of puppies bred by third parties strictly for commercial gain is not accepted. Membership of the scheme must be the same as the recorded registered ownership of any breeding stock. Where multiple memberships or partnership arrangements are maintained, the contract of sale and any accompanying documentation must clearly record this and it is the members’ responsibility to confirm in writing absolute clarity with the buyer. Under exceptional circumstances, and on written permission from The Kennel Club, the assured breeder may be allowed to sell puppies not bred by themselves, on condition that the circumstances and reasons for the sale are made clear, in writing, to the buyer. The conditions of sale and the rules and responsibilities under the Assured Breeders scheme will still apply.

Buyers are asked for feedback. A regional breeder assessor will also confirm this during an assessment visit.

It is accepted that under exceptional circumstances (such as an accidental mating, or due to the availability of suitable breeding stock) a litter may not meet all of the requirements of the Assured Breeders scheme. This may be due to matters outside the assured breeders’ control or where they have not been made completely aware of current circumstances. Any such event will be considered by The Kennel Club on its own merit and these occasions are expected to be limited and continual requests for exceptions will not be tolerated and may result in suspension. Where these exceptional events occur, the assured breeder must keep a record of why and how the event occurred, any mitigating points and a plan to reduce such incidents going forward.

Buyers are asked for feedback. A regional breeders assessor will also confirm this during an assessment visit.

The Kennel Club rules are set out in The Kennel Club Year Book which is issued annually, and is available upon request. Existing members are updated annually of any rule changes such as are applicable and are given 6 months’ grace to fully comply.

Members must, at all times, act in accordance with The Kennel Club Assured Breeders scheme requirements and recommendations, Code of Practices as amended from time to time, applicable laws (particularly Consumer protection legislation), and good industry practice and will ensure that all personnel and any associated or connected person also complies with all such requirements, and not do or omit to do anything which may be prejudicial to or denigrate, defame or cause damage to the reputation of The Kennel Club Assured Breeders scheme.

Consideration must be given to the suitable construction of facilities, including kennel buildings where appropriate, or within the assured breeder’s home. Facilities must be of good construction, made from materials that are able to be kept clean and free of infectious disease. Particular consideration must be given to materials used in the construction of floors and other areas liable to soiling. Consideration must be given to the well-being of the dogs and also of neighbouring facilities and must include consideration to minimise noise.

If an assured breeder uses more than one location for keeping and/or breeding dogs, then The Kennel Club must be informed of this, so that adequate time may be allocated when assigning assessment visits and all premises must form part of the visit. If there are issues of concern arising from an assessment visit and it is considered that the facilities fall short of the standards expected for an assured breeder, then this may result in removal from the scheme or an application being rejected. It is a condition of the scheme that assured breeders agree to The Kennel Club referring any area of concern relating to the welfare of dogs to the appropriate authority.

A regional breeder assessor will check all facilities.

The environment must be comfortable and such that dogs are not exposed to situations which result in repeated or prolonged signs of anxiety or fear. An adequate number of staff/ individuals must be available to care for the number of dogs kept.

A regional breeder assessor will expect to see that this appears to be true.

All dogs must be kept in an environment which enables them to display normal behavioural characteristics, such as social behaviour, breed and or type specific behavioural requirements must also be taken into account, for example through the provision of sufficient enrichment and exercise appropriate to the individual breed or type.

Accommodation must be cleaned daily and waste removed as appropriate and at least twice daily. Appropriate and clean bedding material must be available. Adequate routine cleaning procedures must be in place to ensure that the environment remains clean and free from infectious diseases. A standard operating procedure to administer this must be in place. Where dogs are kept within a domestic home environment this must be suitable for the number of dogs present. Where accommodation that has been specifically designed for the keeping of dogs is provided, such as a kennel, all internal surfaces used in the construction of walls, floors, partitions, doors and door frames must be durable, smooth, impervious or easily cleansed. Where dogs kept for breeding are living in domestic premises, such as a family home, adequate and appropriate measures must be taken to ensure adequate hygiene. In all cases adequate space must be available for the dogs to exhibit normal behaviour patterns and sleeping areas and bedding facilities must be available for each dog. Facilities must be available to securely separate bitches when in season.

A regional breeder assessor will check all facilities, procedures and practices.

Suitable facilities, hygienically constructed and maintained, must be provided for the storage and preparation of food for the dogs.

A regional breeder assessor will note the condition of the dogs and will expect to see adequate drinking water and a supply of food available for the dogs kept.

Adequate arrangements or plans must be available for the isolation of sick or injured animals and for the transportation of animals to and from the assured breeders establishment for veterinary treatment.

Assured breeders will be asked to outline their contingency plans during an assessment visit.

Medications must be kept in a suitable storage area, inaccessible to dogs and children and must be protected from light and extremes of temperature where relevant. Dogs must not normally be given human medications, unless otherwise advised by a veterinary surgeon. Prescribed medicines must be used only for the specific animals to which they are prescribed, unless otherwise advised by a veterinary surgeon.

Arrangements must be in place to deal with any minor injuries that can be treated at home.

A regional breeder assessor will confirm this during an assessment visit.

Dogs must also be reasonably typical of their breed or type in terms of appearance and characteristics. Breed descriptions and breed standards are widely available and are accessible via our Breeds A to Z.

A regional breeder assessor will confirm this during an assessment visit.

Details of immunisation and any other treatments must be kept for each dog and be up to date.

A regional breeder assessor will confirm this during an assessment visit.

Microchipping of dogs must be carried out by a trained implanter. Where dogs or puppies are microchipped, the relevant number must be registered on a national database in accordance with the law.

A regional breeder assessor will ask to see evidence of this and records of a method of permanent identification are checked at the time of application to register a litter.

Habituation and socialisation must be commenced by the assured breeder and continued until sale.

Buyers are asked for feedback. A regional breeder assessor will also confirm this during an assessment visit.

A regional breeder assessor will confirm this during an assessment visit.

Exercise must be given in the care of a fit and responsible person and be adequate enough to ensure the dogs’ physical and mental well-being.

A detailed outline of a daily routine will be required during an assessment visit.

Assured breeders must take all reasonable steps to ensure that breeding stock is of good physical and genetic health, of acceptable temperament and fit for function (e.g. be able to see, breathe normally, be physically fit and able to exercise freely).

Individual dogs with proven health related issues caused by over-exaggeration of physical features must not be used in a breeding programme if there is overwhelming evidence that it would be inadvisable in the sense that it is likely to produce health or welfare problems in the offspring and/or it is inadvisable in the context of a relevant breeding strategy. If any doubt exists, or if an animal has encountered previous problems, either with whelping or with the puppies produced, then suitable veterinary or genetic advice must be sought and appropriate steps taken.

Use of required breed-specific health-screening is checked automatically at the time of litter registration.

Most health screening schemes are relevant to potential sires or dams, but in some cases they are relevant to puppies bred and these must be performed prior to sale. Some health schemes require testing throughout the dog’s life. The Kennel Club publishes detailed information and relevant links on the various screening schemes on the health pages of our website. A separate schedule lists breed-specific health screening requirements and recommendations and is available by contacting the Assured Breeders scheme department. This list is regularly updated and Assured Breeders must be familiar with their own breed’s screening processes and evaluation well in advance of each mating.

No mating must take place if the test results indicate that it would be inadvisable in the sense that it is likely to produce health or welfare problems in the offspring and/or it is inadvisable in the context of a relevant breeding strategy. Where a DNA test is listed as a requirement for the breed, at least one parent must be confirmed as being clear by way of a validated test or by being evidenced as being hereditarily clear of the condition. If any doubt exists, or if an animal has encountered previous problems, either with whelping or with the puppies produced, then suitable veterinary or genetic advice must be sought and appropriate steps taken. This is particularly important where caesareans or difficult births are considered, or when consecutive litters are considered.

This is checked whenever litter applications are received. Any non-conformity at this point results in the litter application being held in abeyance and the assured breeder is contacted until a resolution is found.

A regional breeder assessor will ask to see evidence of health screening and will discuss breed specific interpretation.

Assured breeders are required to demonstrate that inbreeding coefficients have been considered in their breeding strategy. This can be achieved by using either the Inbreeding Coefficient calculator, or another database which contains more pedigree information, if available. This consideration should largely be of the CoI of the resultant litter rather than of each parent, and viewed in the context of i) the number of generations over which it is calculated, and ii) the average coefficient of the breed. Some consideration of the number of offspring already sired by the male is advised.

A regional breeder assessor will ask to see evidence of this and will discuss breed-specific interpretation.

The Kennel Club Board will not accept an application to register a litter when:

1. The dam has already whelped four litters, save in exceptional circumstances and only provided the application is made prior to the mating and with veterinary evidence, as to the suitability of the bitch involved in the proposed whelping and permission has been received, or
2. The dam has already reached the age of 8 years at the date of whelping, save in exceptional circumstances and only provided application is made prior to the mating, and the proposed dam has previously whelped at least one other registered litter and permission has been received. Any such application must be supported by veterinary evidence as to the suitability of the bitch involved in the proposed whelping, or
3. The dam was under one year old at the time of mating, or
4. The offspring are the result of any mating between father and daughter, mother and son or brother and sister, save in exceptional circumstances or for scientifically proven welfare reasons and permission has been received, or
5. The dam has already had two litters delivered by caesarean section, save for scientifically proven welfare reasons and this only provided the application is made prior to the mating.

Bitches should not normally be allowed to produce more than one litter, within a 12 month period, or on consecutive seasons, and never without veterinary guidance.

Checks on breeding history are done at the time of registering a litter.

It is essential that every litter bred, irrespective of the breed, accords with scheme requirements. An assured breeder cannot opt to breed one breed in a responsible way and another less responsibly.

Every time an assured breeder applies to register a litter, fulfilment of Assured Breeders scheme requirements is checked. A regional breeder assessor will want to see all dogs kept.

This must include details of the conditions of that service and results of all relevant heath tests performed in accordance with the Assured Breeders scheme.

Read further guidance for drawing up a stud service contract.

A regional breeder assessor will ask to see a copy of contracts during an assessment visit.

Confirmation of veterinary examination or evidence of a vet check must be passed to the new owner. The assured bBreeder must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the owner also takes the puppy to a vet shortly after sale, by way of a requirement to fulfil this obligation within the contract of sale.

The puppy pack is central to the scheme and must contain all of the up-to-date written information that assured breeders are required to give to buyers or new puppy owners. This must include advice on: socialisation, grooming, feeding, worming regime, exercise, training (early and later), features and characteristics likely to appear in the puppies, particularly those which may be considered to be specific to the type or breed of dog, immunisation regime, and details of identification and there is capacity in the wallet for copies of health screening certificates. The wallets are sent to scheme members automatically when puppies are registered with The Kennel Club and are also available upon request. The information must be appropriate and specific to the breed, type and age of each dog. The assured breeder must also provide their contact details to all buyers.

A new owner questionnaire is included with each puppy sales wallet and buyers are asked to complete them and send them back to The Kennel Club. From these completed forms, it is possible to get a clear indication of which assured breeders are not providing the information that they are required to. Occasionally, new owners are contacted directly and asked to complete a questionnaire. A record is kept of the wallets that are supplied and any discrepancies are taken up with the Assured Breeder. Read more information about puppy packs.

This must be dated and signed by both parties and must include contact details of both assured breeder and buyer. A document containing guidance for drawing up a Puppy Sales Contract is available from www.assuredbreeders.com or by contacting the Assured Breeders scheme department. The Contract of Sale must clearly lay out the nature and details of any guarantee given, e.g. time limit and/or any provisions for refund or return and replacement of the puppy.

A regional breeder assessor will ask to see a copy of contracts during an assessment visit.

Written and signed confirmation must be obtained from the new owner at, or before, the date on which the dog is physically transferred. Assured breeders must ensure that the new owner is aware of the endorsement(s), regardless of whether or not the endorsed registration certificate is available. If registration endorsements are being used, the contract must also explain why these have been placed and under what circumstances they would be removed (if any).

Puppy buyers are asked for feedback.

Puppies that do not conform to aesthetic ideals and older dogs formerly used as part of a breeding programme must not be euthanised other than for the reasons described above.

A regional breeder assessor will consult on this during an assessment visit.