The Kennel Club is freezing new applications to the Assured Breeders scheme, whilst the next step in reviewing the registrations model, including the Assured Breeders scheme, is underway.
The review process, which is underpinned by research and insights from breeders, aims to ensure The Kennel Club’s registrations offering gives relevant and valued benefits to breeders and celebrates and rewards good breeding practice.
Whilst the process is underway, including a review of best practice embedded within the Assured Breeders scheme and how elements of that can be applied to the registrations model for the wider benefit of dogs, new applications to the Assured Breeders scheme will be frozen.
For existing Assured Breeders scheme members, there will be no changes to the scheme and they will continue to receive the same level of support, benefits and resources as before.
Furthermore, a more flexible and support-based assessment approach will be offered to existing members. The Kennel Club will be ceasing UKAS Accreditation for the scheme from 30 May, which will allow the adoption of a risk-based, hybrid model of virtual assessments, alongside retaining some physical on-site assessments, with advice and support for those who need it. UKAS required that assessments were not advice led, so the change will enable The Kennel Club to offer more support to breeders as they fulfil the scheme requirements, which remain unchanged. The scheme will remain compliant with ISO 17065 standards.
Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club, said: “Assured Breeders are at the forefront of good breeding practice and it is critical that we find the best way forward for supporting all breeders, based on insights, research and conversations we have had, so that we can widen the relevance and benefits of Kennel Club registration and encourage best practice across the board.
“While we now work through the finer details of the review, which includes a close analysis of our offering to Assured Breeders, and what the future looks like in terms of our registrations model, we will be freezing applications from new members. We highly value our scheme members and will continue to ensure that we offer them the same high-quality support and service as always.
“We have also taken the decision to leave UKAS, which will enable us to be more responsive and flexible to the needs and wants of our members. UKAS accreditation was valuable in the early days of establishing the scheme but the UKAS assessment model limited the level of help, advice and support that could be provided to members during the assessment process. The assessment model was also linked to face-to-face assessments, and we know from the Covid period that there was support for a more risk-based hybrid model of virtual and face-to-face assessments.
“There will be no other changes at this time to the scheme as a result of this transition away from UKAS, and we remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards within our Assured Breeders scheme – our priority remains the health and welfare of dogs and giving the support needed, in the format required, to our valued Assured Breeders.
“We will continue to provide updates to our membership about any developments, as soon as we have them, and thank them for their continued support and commitment to responsibly breeding the dogs that we are all here to represent.”
Assured Breeders who would like further information can see more in the FAQs, available at thekennelclub.org.uk/absupdate2024.