Kennel Club announces Assured Breeder Scheme updates
The updates include a recommendation of DNA testing for Lafora’s disease in beagles.
New updates to the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme, which aim to further improve dog health and responsible breeding, have been announced.
The updates, which come into effect immediately, include a recommendation of DNA testing for Lafora’s disease in beagles and a requirement of respiratory function grade testing in pugs.
The Kennel Club said in a statement: “The range of breed-specific health testing and screening requirements and recommendations under the ABS is regularly reviewed following consultations with breed clubs and councils and with the agreement and advice from the Kennel Club Dog Health Group, in a collaborative effort to ensure that health and welfare issues are kept at the forefront of what the scheme sets out to achieve: the encouragement of responsible breeding.
“The list of ABS breed specific requirements and recommendations is updated twice a year to ensure that they remain relevant and of maximum health benefit to all dogs bred by Kennel Club Assured Breeders. Further tests can be expected to be announced as they are developed.”
Existing Assured Breeders have a grace period of six months to comply with any new requirements and recommendations to allow them to take account of any existing breeding plans.
Bill Lambert, senior health and welfare manager at the Kennel Club, said: “One of the key benefits of the Assured Breeder Scheme is that it is designed to be flexible and is constantly evolving which allows for the greatest positive impact on dog health.
“These latest updates will help to maintain maximum progress for dog health improvements and encourage good breeding practices, which will in turn help to protect the future of the UK's much-loved pedigree dogs and ensure that puppy buyers can be easily signposted to breeders who do all they can to produce healthy pups.”
Breed specific updates are as follows:
Beagle
- add recommendation of DNA testing for Lafora’s disease
- add requirement of hip scoring
- add recommendation of eye testing – annual
- add recommendation of bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter.
- add requirement of hip scoring (upgraded from recommendation)
- add recommendation of elbow grading.
- add requirement of respiratory function grade testing.
- add requirement of elbow grading (upgraded from recommendation)
- add requirement of eye testing for PLA
- add recommendation of DNA testing for LNP1, LNP2 and LEMP.
- add requirement of DNA testing for MAC.
- add requirement of DNA testing for pap-PRA1.
- add requirement of respiratory function grade testing
- add recommendation of participation in the Pug Breed Council health scheme.
- add requirement of elbow grading (upgraded from recommendation).
- add requirement of DNA testing for AMS and AON (upgraded from recommendation).
- add recommendation of eye testing – annual.
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
