There are a growing number of Health Screening Tests available for Pedigree Dogs. It is becoming very clear that a National policy is required for pedigree dog breeders. The issues that need to be addressed are numerous and having given this some thought, I have formulated draft proposals, which hopefully will prove useful in developing such a policy. The Kennel Club Licensed Breed Clubs, and also Kennel Club members and the Kennel Club General Committee should seriously consider taking the lead on ensuring this important issue is widely debated.

The need for this debate and need for significant progress on the issues raised in my proposal is very clear. I can only hope that the well established and entrenched “Ostrich Syndrome” amongst pedigree dog breeders does not prevail once again.

DRAFT PROPOSALS
A conference of ALL the individual Kennel Club Licensed National Breed Clubs should be organised, with say TWO Representatives from each. The agenda should ONLY include items similar to the following:

1) The Kennel Club should require by (date) that ALL health screening tests will require "identification verification" though a microchip. 

2) The Kennel Club should require by (date) that all puppies in a litter must be micro-chipped as a "condition of Kennel Club registration".

3) The Kennel Club should require by (date) that ALL health screening tests will include on the "Test" documentation a clause making it clear that the the KC Registered name of the dog and the test results will be published.

4) The Kennel Club should implement by (date) a system for ALL health Screening Test Results to be published on their website for each individual breed and to make this information available in pdf file format to facilitate downloading by members of the public.

5) The Kennel Club should require by (date) compulsory health screening tests, appropriate to each breed, through "consultation" with appropriate Representatives of each breed. 

6) The Kennel Club should introduce by (date) a "Breeders License" for each individual pedigree dog which the owner(s) wants to breed from and register the puppies with the Kennel Club. The requirements for obtaining a Kennel Club "Breeding License" to be subject to prior consultation with National Breed Clubs.

I firmly believe that a strong and co-ordinated approach to the Kennel Club on this or a similar set of proposals, by a significant cross section of all National Breed Clubs (it does not require all of them, or even a majority of them) will achieve significant success. 

People Power formed in this collective and co-ordinated way, and consisting of influential Representatives of National Breed Clubs will prove difficult for the Kennel Club to ignore.

This could also establish a very useful platform for future representations to the Kennel Club on "important issues" affecting Pedigree Dogs, which would prove mutually beneficial.

I have received numerous very encouraging responses to my proposals, and this gives me some hope that this important matter may be progressed. I fully appreciate that some amendments and compromises may be appropriate in order for some of them to reach fruition, this is the nature of making progress. I firmly believe that The Kennel Club have an opportunity to lead the canine world in this very important and currently very relevant matter. I sincerely hope they see this as a very positive opportunity for all concerned.

Amongst the positive responses I have received is an email from a Kennel Club General Committee Member, who wrote the following:

"I found your recent article on screening with proposals interesting and personally think the points you raise are worthy of proper discussion and agree with some of your suggestions.

Can I suggest that you formally write either personally or through a breed club to the KC Health Group with these proposals, and also consider the Breed Liaison Council route? That would enable the proper discussion to start within the KC at least".

I hope my proposals are widely circulated throughout ALL British Canine Organisations and publications, also posted on many Internet forums.

The debate has commenced, we should take all steps possible to ensure these proposals reach a very satisfactory and positive conclusion.