The Kennel Club has welcomed the findings of a recent study carried out by the Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Research Group at the University of Lincoln, which assessed the efficacy of dog training with and without remote electronic collars compared to training with positive reinforcement.

The findings from the study, Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, refute the suggestion that training with an electronic shock collar is either more efficient or results in less disobedience, even in the hands of experienced trainers, than positive reinforcement.

Following the statement made by The Kennel Club at the beginning of July, the Kennel Club Board would like to continue to reassure competition organisers, exhibitors and competitors that our sports committees remain committed to working on solutions to help enable shows, competitions and other events to resume as and when they can and it is safe for them to do so.

The Kennel Club appreciates the frustrations felt and experienced in trying to get events to recommence, but we are limited in giving specific direction due to the lack of clarity over the types of event which can take place.  We are in regular contact with the Government, some of whose guidance is not always clear-cut, and will make a statement as and when we receive specific advice. We have been proactive within our remit to relax and suspend a range of competition regulations to assist clubs and societies with their risk assessments which are essential before a decision is made as to whether an event should go ahead.

The Kennel Club is calling on dog owners who live in North Devon, as well as frequent visitors to the area, to respond to a wide-ranging Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) consultation that could impact their access to popular locations with their dogs.

The proposed PSPO aims to restrict access to sites such as beaches, cemeteries and parks which are often frequented by dog walkers. Furthermore, it proposes to place a dogs on lead order for large areas of land such as Braunton Burrows and the Tarka Trail. This is likely to force dog owners to use alternative sites which may be impractical and remote, or even onto agricultural land which could lead to issues with livestock.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation?fbclid=IwAR0FqlwfYYkKmr2n5knrPZy8XcO-JZzmhGp0auDo9OMw7gE81TvbLRyN9V0

With regret, the Kennel Club must announce the cancellation of this year’s Discover Dogs event, planned to take place in London in October. This is due to the continued restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and current Government advice against staging large public gatherings such as indoor exhibitions. At present, there is no prospect of these restrictions being lifted in the timescale required to organise the event.

The Kennel Club takes the health, safety and security of everyone who takes part in its events very seriously and this must remain the prime consideration at all times. We shall look forward to welcoming you all to Discover Dogs next year.

Kennel Club Educational Trust initiates new competition with the Young Kennel Club to inspire members during lockdown

In July, the Kennel Club Educational Trust (KCET) and Young Kennel Club (YKC) are joining forces by encouraging YKC members to showcase their creative flair and share what they have been up to during lockdown, with three youngsters having the chance to win £100.

Open to all YKC members, aged 6 – 24, young dog lovers will be invited to submit a short piece that encapsulates lockdown life for them and their dog(s) during the coronavirus pandemic. This can be in the form of a 60-second video, a series of images and/or written prose, up to a maximum of four sentences.               

According to research from the Kennel Club, one in four puppy buyers spend less than two hours to decide on their puppy, with thousands then being duped by rogue breeders and online scams

Instances of scams and rip-off merchants illegally selling puppies have sky-rocketed during the coronavirus pandemic, the Kennel Club has warned, as thousands make a quick decision to get a new four-legged friend – and miss the key red flags.