Kennel Club Welfare Standard for Adult Dogs and Puppies

The Kennel Club's welfare standard aims to ensure that all dogs and puppies are raised in safe, healthy, and caring environments, adhering to legal and ethical breeding practices. 

Purpose:

This standard outlines how breeders are expected to care for their dogs and puppies when registering with The Kennel Club. It details the minimum welfare requirements that must be meet. By using The Kennel Club’s registration services, breeders  agree to comply with this standard. 

The welfare standard is based on the five freedoms from the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (or its equivalent in other UK nations): 

  • A suitable environment 
  • A suitable diet 
  • The ability to exhibit normal behaviour 
  • Socialisation with or isolation from other dogs, as appropriate 
  • Protection from pain, suffering, injury, and disease 

Breeders should review this standard and ensure compliance before breeding. 

Legal Requirements:

It's vital to follow all relevant laws. When in doubt, seek independent guidance to avoid legal breaches. These key pieces of legislation apply: 

1. Animal Welfare Act 20061 Animal Welfare Act 2006 (legislation.gov.uk) 

2. Other Relevant Laws 
Includes compulsory microchipping, consumer protection, and dog breeding regulations, which vary across the UK. 

3. Breeder Licensing 
Breeder licensing regulations differ by country. It's the breeder's responsibility to ensure they comply with local rules: 

Kennel Club B Regulations:

These regulations cover the volume and frequency of litters when using The Kennel Club’s registration services. Non-compliance may result in registration refusal or cancellation. 

Key Rules: 

  1. No breeding from a bitch that has had two caesarean sections. 
  1. No breeding from a bitch over eight years old. 
  1. No mating of a bitch under 12 months old, or breeding offspring that result from close inbreeding (e.g. father-daughter, brother-sister). 
  1. A bitch must not give birth to more than four litters in total. 

Enforcement:

The Kennel Club enforces these standards and may refuse or cancel registrations where necessary. Criminal convictions under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 or its equivalents will result in disciplinary action, including a lifetime ban from registration services for serious offences.The Kennel Club may also review access to registration services if a breeder is subject to multiple civil judgements relating to the sale of puppies. 

Welfare Expectations:

Do’s: 

  1. Ensure all healthy puppies are placed in suitable homes. 
  2. Avoid inbreeding using best practices and the COI (inbreeding coefficient) calculator. 
  3. Plan for whelping by ensuring: 
    • Proper housing and kennels with appropriate temperatures. 
    • Whelping facilities are safe, well-maintained, and heated up to 10 days post-birth. 
    • Bitches receive adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. 
    • Close monitoring for complications like eclampsia or mastitis. 
    • Regular opportunities for bitches to toilet and exercise away from puppies. 
  4. Provide suitable accommodation: 
    • Dogs must have access to a draught-free sleeping area and an exercise space. 
    • Provide constant shade and shelter to protect from extreme weather. 
    • Clean and disinfect toileting areas regularly. 
    • Housing and equipment must be thoroughly cleanable and regularly disinfected. 
  5. General Care: 
    • Ensure that there is adequate and suitable care for the number of dog. 
    • Regular grooming and parasite checks. 
    • Provide fresh water daily in clean containers and changed or refreshed as often as necessary. 
    • Ensure dogs get appropriate exercise for their physical and mental well-being. 
    • Socialise and habituate puppies before sale. Address any signs of stress or fear. 
    • Have isolation facilities for sick or injured animals. 
    • Ensure prompt veterinary care for any health issues. 
    • Have an emergency plan to evacuate dogs and puppies if necessary. 
  6. Suitable Diet: 
    • Provide a balanced diet suitable for the dog’s age, breed, activity, and breeding stage. 
    • Feed adult dogs at least once daily and puppies several times a day. 
    • Provide new owners with written dietary information for their puppy. 
  7. Documentation & Support: 
    • Provide relevant Kennel Club documents and vaccination details to new owners. 
    • Offer a puppy contract and puppy pack with each sale. 
    • Vet potential buyers and help with rehoming if necessary. 

Don’ts: 

  1. Don’t create demand for or supply puppies with illegally altered ears or tails. Dogs with cropped ears cannot be registered or compete in Kennel Club licenced events.  
  2. Don’t breed dogs likely to pass on detrimental health traits. 
  3. Don’t keep more dogs than you can properly care for. 
  4. Don’t allow a bitch to whelp more than one litter per year.  
  5. Don’t allow euthanasia to be performed by any person other than a qualified vet.  

We’re here to help

The Kennel Club is here to support breeders while, together, we improve the lives of all dogs and ensure puppies are raised in healthy, loving environments.  

If you have any questions or need assistance with any part of the Welfare Standard, please visit our website or reach out to our friendly customer support team. We’re always here to help.