I think the posts here show the reason why the KC has got stuck with this regulation being a "catch all" for health conditions.  We have those who quite rightly say that too close adherence to tests which give a score can be counter productive, and thus far this has been the KC view, give people the info. and let them make a decisions with facts in front of them.  For those of us with breeds with simple pass and fail results it has seemed lunacy that an Assured Breeder could mate 2 dogs with fail status and still be working within the rules of the scheme.  In my breed, American Cockers, this means that someone could breed a litter who are all guaranteed to go down with HC, how can this be justified as good breeding?

Has that happened within the scheme, Gwen? You would hope that the advisors would be stepping in and talking to this breeder and looking generally at their fitness to remain in the scheme if it has.

I think it's another positive step.  In my breed, many stud dog owners also have bitches so they wouldn't have to register to join the scheme if they're already part of it.

The plusses as far as I can see are, that hopefully it will encourage stud dog owners to only allow their dogs to be used on health checked bitches.  If they aren't then hopefully the litter won't be registered.

We all moan about bitches being bred from with unacceptable (in our eyes) hip scores for example, but some fault has to lie with the stud dogs owner who allows the mating to go ahead.

Ells-Bells, couldn't agree more.

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> We all moan about bitches being bred from with unacceptable (in our eyes) hip scores for example

But under the 'new' scheme that can still happen

> Has that happened within the scheme, Gwen? You would hope that the advisors would be stepping in and talking to this breeder and looking generally at their fitness to remain in the scheme if it has.

As far as I know it hasn't happened, but as the scheme currently only requires testing, not passes, the breed advisors would not be able to correct the breeder in anyway, as they would be adhering to the regulations and mating tested dogs.  The response I have had, time and again from the KC is that it allows buyers to see results and make a judgement based on the info. given.

But under the 'new' scheme that can still happen  One can only hope that if they join the scheme they will be more responsible and 'people' do talk.  I appreciate until such times as firm guidelines are in force as to hip score levels for example, it is very much open to abuse.