Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme

Although we are members of the Accredited Breeder Scheme, we do not believe the measures go far enough. We believe there should be a form of mandatory 'Fit for Breeding test', not just for the Dobermann but for all breeds. By working alongside the UKDA (United Kingdom Dobermann Association) a member club of the IDC (International Dobermann Club) along with about 36 other countries, we are hoping that by working with other breed clubs, the Kennel Club and Dobermann enthusiasts we will be able to instate such a form of fit for breeding test in this country, as already exists in many other countries. We believe that before being bred from dogs should be correctly identified, of correct health, conformation and character.

 

The following article appeared in “DOG WORLD Dobermann SHOWCASE Supplement" June 15, 2007

All Breeding Stock should be Tested
For health, character and conformation, says David Anderson

The Dobermann was bred to protect us, now we must protect the Dobermann.
The Dobermann was bred to be a companion and a member of the family, loyal and affectionate, but with the propensity to protect his beloved family. This loyalty and urge to protect came from being such an integral part of the family.
He is the only dog in the working group to be bred for such a purpose: many others were bred as herders or droving dogs, mostly working outside the family environment. I believe this original, and noble , purpose and characteristic of the Dobermann should still apply today.

The Working Attributes
As joint owner of the Chancepixies kennel name with Jean Frost, I have been involved with the breed for some 30 years. Throughout this time I have been involved in many aspects of the Dobermann, through show, where I have made up champions and taking the breed CC record handling Ch Sallate’s Ferris, who is still the record holder to date, breeding, rescue and judging at championship show level in this country and abroad.
In more recent years I have also embraced the working attributes of the Dobermann, through competing in the sport of Vielseitigkeits Prüfung für Gebrauchshunde (VPG)/Schutzhund (Sch), having bred four out of the first ten Dobermanns in this country to gain a full VPG title, and taken two of those to this level myself, as well as being Chairman of the Great Britain Working Dobermann Club (GBWDC, www.gbwdobermannclub.com).
It is with great concern that we, alongside many supporters, now find our beloved breed in danger. Over 3,000 Dobermanns a year are being registered a year by our Kennel Club, with 600 to 1,000 of these dogs finding themselves in rescue or being needlessly destroyed. It is my view that there are 600 to 1,000 too many being bred.

For Financial Gain
It is a fact that any Dobermann who has KC registration can be bred from, unless the breeder takes the time and effort to draw up a contract to the contrary. The KC will register those puppies, in most cases irrespective of health, character or conformation. So we find ourselves in a situation where many Dobes are being bred purely for financial gain by people with little or no knowledge of the breed.
Irresponsible breeders can lead to owners having no back-up or support with a dog they do not understand, and the Dobermann by virtue of its basic instincts is a breed at risk. In my opinion, if we do not take control and work alongside our KC and other organisations, we will lose control of the breed to the Government and legislation through knee-jerk reactions.

High Ideals
As a club the GBWDC is passionate about preserving and improving the Dobermann in this country, through promoting correct character as well as the correct conformation. The club was founded in 2004 by George Robinson and in September 2006 we were accepted into the International Dobermann Club (IDC) alongside the other member countries. Part of the GBWDC’s purpose and objectives is to further the British Dobermann at national and world level by pooling resources and information to uphold the standard of the breed in this country in aspects of health, conformation and character.
We have approached some of the relevant organisations in the UK with our concerns and proposals and we have many supporters within the breed clubs, show people, working people, pet owners, KC members, Dobermann enthusiasts generally and dog lovers from all breeds and the general public at large.
We are sure that in the future we will be able to work together with other organisations for the good and future of the Dobermann.
Part of the GBWDC constitution is to raise the standard of the Dobermann in this country through the promotion and running of a form of ‘fit for breeding’ assessment for correct temperament, conformation and health. Tests such as this already successfully exist in many countries throughout the world.

‘Fit for Breeding’
The test we are proposing to introduce is to ensure a minimum level of health, character and conformation of the dog, and works with the facilities that currently exist in the UK
Each dog should be microchipped/tattooed and DNA profiled to ensure correct identification before carrying out a ‘fit for breeding’ test.
Health: Every dog that is to be bred from (dam and sire), should have been tested for the following: von Willebrand’s disease, PHPV and hip dysplasia.
Temperament: Especially in this day and age, every dog should be trainable and of sound mind. The following qualifications should be a minimum requirement in order to pass the temperament phase, as much to show the competence of the handler/breeder as of the dog: KC Club Good Citizen Award, gold: VPG/Schutzhund – BH; or equivalent qualification.

Made responsible
Conformation: To allow a dog to be bred from, it should be somewhere near the standard as laid down by the KC. This phase is to be carried out by an independent, qualified championship show judge with a written, graded critique.
In these days of litigation coupled with the fact that we are living in an increasingly “throw-away” society, it is fast becoming clear that breeders need to be made responsible for the dogs that they bring into this world.
The public are being put at risk through lack of education, not only on how they themselves should act in the company of dogs, but also because of a lack of knowledge from those who bred the dog in the first place.
Far too many members of the public are under the impression that a dog who is KC registered is of a certain standard of health, temperament, etc, and as we see all too often this is not always the case.
I believe that a test, such as the one we propose, should be passed in order for the dogs to be KC registered. This would ensure that the breeder too would have the knowledge to pass on to their new owners; after all you can no longer drive a car without passing a test, or indeed drive an untested car.

Public Danger
Just as we all now know that cars in the wrong hands can be a danger to the public, it is becoming increasingly obvious that so can dogs.
Also part of the GBWDC constitution is to endeavour to send a team of suitably qualified Dobermanns from Britain to the IDC world Championships. This year from June 15 to 17 we will have two Dobes and handlers competing at world level, George Robinson with Edmondo von Bayrischen Löwen (Nero) and Des Connolly with Chancepixies Legend (Finn). This is a first for Great Britain and in future years we believe the sport will grow stronger in this country.
Already the club is going from strength to strength, having held its first trial at Nuneaton in December 2006 and the first all-Dobermann trial was held at Chancepixies in April 2007 with the Dobermann judge and helper travelling from Germany. The 12 entries for this trial travelled from all over the country to compete, and a great day was had by all.