Spettacolare Bracco Italiano

Fit for Function Gundogs - Bracchi Italiani and Working Cocker Spaniel

News:

Accredited Breeders

The Kennel Club  Accredited Breeder Scheme

The Kennel Club is currently doing a great job of marketing their Accredited Breeder Scheme.  It doesn't matter where you look, the KC advises only to buy puppies from Accredited Breeders.

In essence the scheme does seem to provide puppy purchasers with a guarantee that the breeder they are buying from is ethical and has the best interests of the dogs and puppies at heart.  That is sadly not always the case and the scheme is not "policed" properly for my liking.

Accredited Breeders are "recommended" to carry out all health tests for the breed but there is no "requirement" for them to do so!!  This is where the scheme falls down!!

Unfortunately many breeders with less than good intentions are using the scheme to market themselves as ethical breeders when in fact they are not!!  The KC is starting to remove breeders from the scheme but there will always be those that slip through the net.

It's sadly the case that in the Bracco Italiano we have Accredited Breeders who fail to carry out ALL the health screening recommended and as we are now seeing the emergence of real eye and elbow problems in the breed this is completely unacceptable.  Some ABs will have their own dogs/bitches checked but will allow an untested dog/bitch to be used in a breeding combination.  What is the point of that?  Ask to see certrificates for ALL health tests carried out.  If the breeder does not have the certificates then walk away!  There are no excuses for using un-health tested dogs in a breeding programme.  The tests are readily available to all breeders and should be used for the long term betterment of the breed.

All Bracchi Italiani should be health screened PRIOR to breeding.  It is only when we know the results of health tests that we can all make "informed" decisions relating to breeding and combinations to be used. 

Only when we are all open and honest will our breed flourish.  See "Code of Silence"

Requirements and Recommendations

The Scheme currently has the following requirements:

Accredited Breeders must:

  1. Ensure that all breeding stock is Kennel Club registered
  2. Hand over the dog's registration certificate at time of sale if available, or forward it to the new owner as soon as possible. Explain any endorsements that might pertain and obtain written and signed confirmation from the new owner, at or before the date on which the dog is physically transferred, that the new owner is aware of the endorsement(s), regardless of whether or not the endorsed registration certificate is available.
  3. Follow Kennel Club policy regarding maximum age and number/frequency of litters.
  4. Permanently identify breeding stock by DNA profile, microchip, or tattoo.
  5. Make use of health screening schemes, relevant to their breed, on all breeding stock. These schemes include DNA testing, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and inherited eye conditions.  Current health requirements under the ABS (pdf).  Bracco Italiano recommendations are hip and elbow scoring and clear eye certificate PRIOR to breeding.
  6. Socialise the puppies and provide written advice, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on continuation of socialisation, exercise and future training.
  7. Provide written advice, in the scheme Puppy Sales Wallet, on feeding and worming programmes.
  8. Provide a written record, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on the immunisation measures taken.
  9. Provide reasonable post-sales telephone advice.
  10. Inform buyers of the requirements and the recommendations that apply to Kennel Club Accredited Breeders as well as the existence of the complaints procedure.
  11. Draw up a contract of sale for each puppy and provide a copy in the Puppy Sales Wallet.

    CURRENT HEALTH TEST RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BRACCO ITALIANO ARE HIP AND ELBOW SCORING AND CLEAR EYE TEST ONE YEAR PRIOR TO BREEDING.

 In addition there are a number of additional recommendations:


Accredited Breeders should:

  1. Make sure that whelping facilities accord with requirements for good practice
  2. Ensure that contract of sale clearly lays out to the buyer the nature and details of any guarantee given (e.g. time limit) and/or any provisions for refund or return and replacement of puppy. If endorsements are being used the contract should also explain why these have been placed and under what circumstances they would be removed (if any). The contract should be signed and dated by both breeder and purchaser, showing that both have agreed to these terms.
  3. Commit to help, if necessary, with the re-homing of a dog, for whatever reason, throughout the dog's lifetime.
  4. Follow relevant breed health screening recommendations.


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