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The Kennel Club launches new Health Standard
The 'Find a Puppy' search page will prioritise litters which meet the new Health Standard.
It is one of a number of initiatives to support best breeding practice.

The Kennel Club is to introduce a number of initiatives designed to support breeders with best practice across a wide range of registrations.

This includes its new Health Standard, launched on 15 January, which is designed to promote breed-relevant health testing for dog breeders.

The new initiatives have been motivated by statistics revealing that 80 per cent of breeders were breeding one litter a year. The Kennel Club says this highlights a need to provide better support and resources for breeders of every experience level.

The Health Standard has been developed using scientific research and breed community input, such as breed health coordinators. It is accompanied by steps to promote good practice and increase uptake of health testing before breeding.

A priority level has been assigned to the health test, which has been simplified into two categories: ‘good practice’ and ‘best practice’.

The Kennel Club says that these priority levels are informed by data collected over the past decade from Breed Health and Conservation Plans. These prioritisations could change as new evidence about diseases emerge.

The Health Standard is available on The Kennel Club website as well as on customer’s online accounts.

The organisation will be signposting breeders who use the new Health Standard on its enhanced Find a Puppy listing page. Based on how well they meet the Health Standard, including the health testing that has been carried out, litters of puppies will be prioritised on the search.

Litters following best and good practice will be top of the list, then those following good practice, and then those that had undertaken health tests but not met good practice.

Bill Lambert, who is health, welfare and breeder services executive at The Kennel Club, said: “At the heart of these new initiatives is our commitment to seeing the best practice shown by Assured Breeders adopted by a greater number of breeders.

“We want to see everybody registering with The Kennel Club supported to breed responsibly and making the best choices for their dogs.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.