Hello :)
Ive always wanted to join the breed club for one of the breeds I own.  I am interested in 'belonging' to something to show that I do have a real interest in the dogs I keep, find out more information from the people who know the breed inside out and learn more about what is happening within the breed. However...I dont breed or show, and from looking at the websites for the National and Regional club for my breed, it looks like you have to be proposed and seconded by an existing member etc etc.

Ive moved 300 miles from everyone I knew, I dont know anyone up here that has anything other than pet dogs, and being a single parent on limited income cant afford to travel round the country to chance meet someone that might be able to propose me especially when I dont want to show.  I sent an email to both clubs membership secretary (as the email addresses were on their websites) explaining all the above and my reasons for wanting to join.  But to this date, havent heard back from either of them, not even an acknowledgement.

So how do I join??

Ps, about ten years ago I bred and exhibited budgerigars, joining the Budgerigar Society was just a case of sending off your membership form.

>joining the Budgerigar Society was just a case of sending off your membership form.

Thats all you have to do with our breed clubs (I think the only one I had to be proposed and seconded for was Hampshire Gundog Club)

How about contacting your dogs breeder ? are they a member ?

Just contact the breed club concerned and ask them. ;-)

When I joined my first breed club I found the same problem, you had to find someone who would personally sponsor you and second you.

Nowadays, I find that most breed clubs accept a form signed by an existing member and membership applications are normally voted on at committee meetings.

The reasons for this are many and obviously may differ from club to club but it is a way to weed out known puppy farmers, people who only want to join to advertise litters etc etc as it is much harder to REMOVE members than it is to accept them!

It does sound a little pompous at first but having experienced both sides of the fence in this context I find it is fair.

I would find someone you know or is prepared to sponsor you, send off your form and money and wait to see what happens. People are very rarely refused membership IME.

It does vary from breed to breed.In my breed an application form can be printed off from the web site.This gets returned to the club membership secretary,along with the fee,and needs to be proposed and seconded by current members.This is them placed in the club magazine and if no objections are heard within 28 days then you are a probationary member( eg have no voting rights for 1 year).Occasionally membership is refused but this is from people that have been known to have gone against the club code of ethics.

What area are you in as presume it is for a Lab breed club ?

Generally your dogs breeder will happily propose you, and possibly get the stud dog owner to second, but often committee will happily second a proposed member.  I do this for all my puppy buyers.

Our breed club would cease to exist if nto for pet owners being members as people actively showing/breeding are fewer and fewer.

> Ive always wanted to join the breed club for one of the breeds I own <

Contact the Kennel Club they will send you a list of all the breed clubs/societies and associations in existence for your breed. Contact the secretary and ask to join. If your breed is one which has a system like the FCR Society then you might need a proposer and a seconder to join. If you do not know members most secretaries will put you in touch with somebody to meet up with who will then help you gain membership.

Some breeds have more clubs than others, so you can choose to join a regional one or a national or both! I think your breed has a few clubs.

> Contact the Kennel Club they will send you a list of all the breed clubs/societies and associations in existence for your breed.

Or you can just use the Kennel Club's 'Find a Club' service which will give you all the contact details for the breed clubs :-)

http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/club/breed/Default.aspx

Plenty of breed clubs listed here