Why don't the Kennel Club..

Lanky Loll

Lanky Loll

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ask breeders to enter the parent details in their puppy ads?

We'd always planned to get another dog once we moved house and with that happening this week I've been looking around at what breed to get (we've decided on a Working Cocker) and trying to research breeding etc.
With the KC advocating health tests and claiming to be trying to improve breed standards why do they make it so blimmin tricky to find out the results?
I'm currently sat with multiple windows open to search the KC list, google the breeders phone number to find out if they have an online site or another ad with more info, then another KC page to search for health details, inbreeding CoE etc.
Surely it would be much simpler to have it that the parents details are entered into the ad then click there name for health tests / inbreeding whatever and would help promote the use of the checks??
Some of the gundog sites are much better in terms of information given but they're not always KC reg (not vital I know) which means I can't check some of the information out.

Arrrghh walks off muttering....
 
I agree it is annoying but it's not the fault of the breeders, the kc in their wisdom only allow breeders to use 90 characters in their ads, so they have to be minimal wording :(
 
I don't blame the breeders in the slightest ;) just can't help thinking it wouldn't exactly be difficult (or expensive on the KC's part) to add two field boxes to enter the parent details in, it would simplify the whole process for everyone and surely could only add to the value of the advertisement along with backing up their claims?
 
Yes sorry wasn't implying you were blaming the breeders. Its crazy isn't it, the KC are trying to encourage everyone to buy from assured breeders who do all health tests etc and then don't give them the chance to advertise the fact, but then simplifying things has never been one of the KCs strong points.:rolleyes:
 
Just seems ridiculously short-sighted on their part, especially when it would be so simple to do and benefit all - especially as it would allow easy identification of examples of bad breeding practices... or could that be the reason they haven't done it :confused:
 
I agree. I bought a cow and a heifer a couple of years back and was able to see x generations of info on their ancestry, inbreeding percentages, all sorts of stuff....kind of ironic that you can get more info for a cow online than you can for a puppy (and the puppy would have cost more too so its not to do with purchase value either)......
 
Go for an assured breeder and view the test sheets yourself before purchase ,the KC actually make it quite difficult to register without completed test results esp. in the case of eye tests.Trouble is they don`t make it compulsery for all breeders and I think they should.
 
That's the line I'm taking EK - but at the same time it would be really helpful if I could do at least some homework before contacting the breeders (not least because - and this is really daft I know - I hate ringing people) and would feel less like I was "timewasting" if I knew more about the pup I was ringing up about with regard to its test results because even some of the AB's seem rather inbred or to have less than great test scores once you actually work out which dogs they are.
 
The trouble is that although ABs have to carry out certain health tests, they do not have to achieve a mandatory result (e.g. low hip score) as long as they carry out the tests that is enough to achieve AB status. I think the KC are trying to weed out those who breed with dogs with poor results but there are still some who do so.:(
Lankyloll, if breeders have given an email address why don't you just drop them an email asking for details of parents, health tests etc. They should be happy to give you this information and you can then verify via the KC website. It probably isn't an issue with working cockers but bear in mind that only dogs registered in the UK have their results showing though, any dog from abroad doesn't show up, which means some of the inbreeding figures can be very misleading in breeds like GSDs.
 
Thanks MM I will be emailing breeders I think, seems a bit ridiculous though that a website like champdogs can have all the dogs details & health test results to hand but KC doesn't.

Aahhh well now to find a promising sounding litter / breeder that's not 200 miles away (and yes we are prepared to wait ;)).
 
MurphysMinder said:
The trouble is that although ABs have to carry out certain health tests, they do not have to achieve a mandatory result (e.g. low hip score) as long as they carry out the tests that is enough to achieve AB status. I think the KC are trying to weed out those who breed with dogs with poor results but there are still some who do so.:(
Lankyloll, if breeders have given an email address why don't you just drop them an email asking for details of parents, health tests etc. They should be happy to give you this information and you can then verify via the KC website. It probably isn't an issue with working cockers but bear in mind that only dogs registered in the UK have their results showing though, any dog from abroad doesn't show up, which means some of the inbreeding figures can be very misleading in breeds like GSDs.
Click to expand...

I agree with this, when I was looking for a certain breed of dog one of the top breeders was accredited but showed the figures on her website for hips etc and then was breeding from ones which were outside the standards that were recommended. A lot out, not just a bit......grrr
 
But that's a sort of loophole, IMO. Someone who knows to ask for health testing might not know about the average scores and breeders can health test but still use poorly scored dogs.

I believe that being KC registered should mean only the best are used, not the health tested with stupidly high scores. :(
 
To do that tho CT you would have to health test before registering, my pups are already registered at 2 weeks old! If the kc would just enforce standards for ABs then really promote them to the puppy buying public it would be a good start.
 
A lot of people consider the assured breeders scheme a gift to puppy farmers.
Many breeds don't have scheduled health tests and for these all that is needed is DNA filed and the £15 a year for national advertising and a way of making the public think it is a sign of quality. As with registrations it relies on the honesty of the breeders.
A quick search through adverts with assured breeder brings up some very dodgy practices including the old faithful "selling for a friend".
Does anyone know why the name was changed from "accredited breeder" or was it a direct response to DLR applying the same term to it's puppy farmers?
 
That is why I said the KC need to enforce standards otherwise as you say anyone can apply. Although presumably the KC could check my breeding history (or rather my dogs:o), when I applied, I have had no inspection visit of my premises.
The reason the name was changed was something to do with UKAS which is apparently the only government recognised accreditation body, the KC is supposedly trying to gain UKAS accreditation so presumably didn't want to tread on toes at this stage.
 
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