My understanding is that breeder inspections are done by volunteers apt zero cost to KC so just where are these extra costs ?
K

My worry is that the KC, government and welfare agencies actually would prefer semi commercial quantifiable breeding operations that can be more easily regulated, and do away with 'hobby motivated' breeders who are infinitely variable living and operating in infinitely varying circumstances facilities etc like the majority of what you and I consider 'good breeders'.

looking at the comments on Jemima Harrison's blog re the ABS issue it seems that most of her supporters want breed standards, competitions (what's wrong with showing off our dogs and a judge deciding which fits the blueprint best, or is most attractive, does it detract from those who prefer to have the dogs abilities judged instead?) other than dogs herding balls or other tricks done away with. 

They too seem to want a product, a generic healthy puppy, with Welfare Agencies monitoring every litter at every step.

Why not go the whole hog and simply let the rescue centres breed and sell dogs, from what they take in.

klb that is not true, I had my inspection in October and they have recently taken on 3 people to do the checks and maybe taken on more in 2014.

the KC were railroaded into being seen to ' do something' to raise their game after the flak they got from PDE etc. They came up with the ABS as a way of demonstrating their commitment to raising breeding standards,

Except, the KC needent have been railroaded into anything.   All they had to do, was publicise all the good work already done and funded by responsible breeders so far, then give all the information of the Health schemes already in place.

But they chose to ignore all that and basically 'threw the responsible breeders to the wolves'     This wasn't what I would have expected of an organisation devoted to dogs.  They behaved like a bunch of rank amateurs instead of the educated, professional people they should be.

And responsible breeders are still paying the high price of this debacle, whilst the KC carry on with their scheme to not lose the revenue from the high volumes of commercial registrations whilst at the same time ensuring that the responsible breeders pay the price of the KCs ineptitude.

To be honest, if I were planning a litter in the near future, I'd be very reluctant to even register them with the KC, despite doing all the health tests advised by the breed clubs - including post mortem biopsy to assist in the development of  reliable CT testing.   I really can't see what benefit paying £15 per pup for KC registration confers anymore, apart from being able to show the pups.  

Yes I see your point Yvonne. Again I think it should be like in Sweden -let all those back yard breeders who do nothing but churn out pups and never set foot (and paw) at a show pay extra for their registrations.

A friend as is breeder inspector and does it in her own time at her own cost.
K

The gentleman who came to do my check said that Bill Lambert had decided that they needed permanent inspectors and had already taken on 3 of which he was one.

>I really can't see what benefit paying £15 per pup for KC registration confers anymore, apart from being able to show the pups.  >

And most new owners don't even transfer the pup into their names so may not see it as important either, I have bred 2 litters but still have 12 out of 20 in my name! 

Not directed at anyone; people have been complaining for years that the ABS lacks teeth, so why when the KC start making it more robust are those same people complaining about it? Remember that the Bateson Report, that the government is taking as gospel, recomended a central registry and inspections. Who do we want to run that registry - the KC who will already be running one, or another body with a loud voice such as the RSPCA? Inspections cost money - we all pay for annual MOTs for our cars, so what's wrong with paying for a triannual inspection of breeding premises?

An inspection scheme is great as an idea.   But should those who do all the expensive health testing, and breed responsibly,  pay for the showing and other evaluating of 'stock', pay more than those who just register regardless, and make more money out of breeding?

Should there be a two tier registration of dogs?  

If there were a two tier registration of cars, where the cheaper registration didn't require MOT testing, how happy would we all be?

As far as I'm concerned, it isn't paying for inspections  that I object to.  It's the hypocrisy of the Kennel Club's behaviour.

Of course, let's not forget that every time someone leaves the ABS they're playing right into JH's hands, with her hatred of and war against all things KC.

If the kennel club needs to deepen it's coffers - don't jump to hard - couldn't they increase memberships or registration fees for those who do not comply with relevant health checks (required/suggested by themselves or breed clubs) & for those who produce let's say for arguments sake more than one litter a year that registration costs for further litters increase steeply?

Jeangenie, I've been a member for 4 years....a supporter of the concept of a two tiered system for several years now ( it would be naive of me to expect everyone to be dragged up to a  first class standard, dedicated breed lovers rather than puppy producers) but it appears that the KC are paying lip service to the concept and are, in truth, disguising  a PR exercise.

I'm not bothered how much they charge but I do feel that my breed is a true example of what's wrong with the scheme.
Nothing meaningful being done at all.
When I had my inspection I handed over an example of my dogs files...MRI scan result, her annual heart results, eyes, DNA test, patella results ...and those of her parents...and her existing offspring......only EYES are REQUIRED to be certified (and can of course be a fail). I explained why I was very disappointed that none of the rest were required YET were IMO vital for breeding Cavaliers.

Whilst flicking through the folder the lady told me of another Cavalier breeder she had visited before me who supplied heart certificates but remonstrated with the inspector that " she had wasted money as they were not demanded".

I'm so tired of telling people who ring me that ...in my experience...ABS status does NOT guarantee ..not even suggest that the breeder has high standards ...and I'm one of them!
THESE are the people I'm standing beside and I no longer want to.

I have no objections to a visit  from the KC at all but it is very unlikely that an inspector would visit when I have a litter as I don't breed more than once a year/18 months. What exactly are they looking at if they don't see how, where, you rear a litter? How are they assesing how good a breeder you are right from the start. The best people to asses this are the potential puppy owners who have to come and visit me and the dogs long before I mate a bitch, they see the whole house, anywhere the dogs have access, they are invited to come with a million questions and they can come again and again if they wish...............not once every three years! My owners are my best indicators of whether I am a good breeder and if they are allowed to own one of my babies then I think they are excellent owners. That'll do for me!!

Diane

Yes, I get my letter yesterday and I think it is outrageous. As far as I am concerned I am more than happy for the KC to come and inspect my home but not charge me extortionate amounts of money to do so. I only breed every few years and the puppy buyers do their own 'inspection' when they come to meet me and see the puppies (compulsory as I have to meet the new owners) , the mother, the Grandmother, the Great Grandmother (all live here in the  house as my much loved pets) the whelping room, the play room, the huge puppy play pens out on the grass etc etc etc. I have only ever had litters without being an ASB as joined recently and see no benefit in carrying on being a member only a disadvantage of high outgoings and for what? I shall not be renewing.

>I have no objections to a visit  from the KC at all

I have emailed them (mating a bitch next week or so) as my membership runs to May or June?

but I told them that I shan't be re-joining after that

">What exactly are they looking at if they don't see how, where, you rear a litter? How are they assesing how good a breeder you are right from the start. The best people to asses this are the potential puppy owners

Quite.  I don't see why I should have to pay so much to 'reassure the general public' after all surely they have some responsibility to buy sensibly.

This has been sent out purely because of the stink JH has caused on her website over past few weeks with the two women who were abs breeders and have been prosecuted for dog cruelty, its another I'll thought out knee jerk response.

What about people who's bitches are currently in whelp? Would you want someone who had potentially visited several other breeders same day risking spreading kc or some other virus? Or stressing out mum?

The only people this will affect is the good people yet again getting fleeced for others short comings.
Volume breeders will simply move over to dog lovers registration I would expect.

I wasn't aware that JH had created yet another stink    but considering the subjects of her stink, who can  blame her?   This was always going to happen and was the reason I didn't want any part of it from the start.

This is basically the KC rolling over yet again and throwing more good breeders to the wolves!    Not a well thought out, considered development of the ABS scheme.

Says it all really

This is just more PR to make themselves look good.

It's about time they looked abroad at the successful schemes and considered what it is that makes them successful.  Instead of these inappriopriate knee-jerk responses, which make them, and responsible breeders look bad.  Alienating the very people they should be standing up for.

To all the people who have said you will not renew your membership: You may need to know that it isn't just a case of not paying your renewal fee, you MUST inform the KC in writing of wishing to leave the scheme or you will count as a member who owes them money. I was told this by somebody who thought they had left just by not paying the annual fee.

Totally agree dill, this was just inevitable really and I'm amazed its took this long for someone to notice so many were unchecked.
I honestly do wonder at the ways they implement these things, do they really have any understanding of dog breeding lol.

A question for those who may know.

When an inspection occurs, where the breeder holds a council breeding license, does the inspector demand to see ALL dogs used for breeding, on all premises used for breeding?   Are the breeding premises ascertained from council records, or from the applicant's records?

I'm wondering about whether someone with a breeding shed two miles away, for example, has to give the inspector the tour of the breeding sheds as well as the house where the pups are kept when sales occur.

It's about time they looked abroad at the successful schemes and considered what it is that makes them successful.

In Sweden, ALL dog breeders that register their pups are inspected by the Swedish KC. No special scheme, it is just the way things have always been done. You breed, so you get inspected, end of story.

There you go ...... KERCHING on the part of the KC as I have always felt the case.    It's up to the individual, but not only would I not subscribe to this, I'm not into 'elitism' which is what this smacks of.    There are many top breeders who haven't felt the need to join in all of this.

Do you mean to tell me that if you breed and want to register a litter, you HAVE to subscribe to all this?   Sounds like blackmail to me, and thank heavens I'm now retired, and out of all this.

Add -   Browsing through all the replies here, I'm loving Yvonne's letter.  Well said.  Doing something was always going to be difficult but as ever, it's the people who ARE responsible that get clobbered.   And as for 'only £5. a month', once on a fixed income, it's the £5s that add up, bit time.  Which nobody realises until faced with not being able to work extra hours etc.   And as for being listed 'free' on the KC website, big deal.   When I, just the once, paid to have a litter registered, I was horrified to find myself listed alongside known puppy farmers in my breed.   Never again!

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/experienced-breeder/assured-breeder-scheme/kennel-club-breeder-assessors/breeder-assessor-visits/
is quite interesting. if you click on the part highlighted it outlines what the new visits will entail and what is expected of you

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">you MUST inform the KC in writing of wishing to leave the scheme

Have done so with my email telling them I'm about to mate a bitch, so they need to visit me ASAP, but I will lapse my membership after 31st May.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/experienced-breeder/assured-breeder-scheme/kennel-club-breeder-assessors/breeder-assessor-visits/

I have looked at the information about what is expected on a visit and apart from seeing the paperwork the RBA does not seem to want any information about where the puppies are born, reared or cared for, or how parents are chosen. If the scheme is supposed to ensure we are breeding better pups I would have thought that would have been more important than where dog food is stored!

and herein lies the issues:

The RBA will wish to discuss two main areas - canine management and facilities and paperwork and documentation.
- See more at: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/experienced-breeder/assured-breeder-scheme/kennel-club-breeder-assessors/breeder-assessor-visits/#sthash.ivpFKakX.dpuf

I have spoken to people recently visited and the nit-picking over paperwork, what kind of water bowls were available, taking a litter up to bedroom each night being criticised, also an hours exercise daily  being insufficient, when most advice for the breed says up to an hour.

I have looked at the information about what is expected on a visit and apart from seeing the paperwork the RBA does not seem to want any information about where the puppies are born, reared or cared for, or how parents are chosen.

You must have missed the 12 page document which tells you all about the temperature puppies should be kept at, when the bitch should be separated from other dogs, how much space each dog needs to sleep, bedding for the bitch and pups, how frequently they should be checked on etc etc -and yes there even is a little bit about how to select the breeding stock.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/343848/guidance_v1_15.doc

> taking a litter up to bedroom each night being criticised,

Well thats me out then as I do this. When the pups are about 3 weeks old. they are downstairs during the day then back upstairs with me at night.

> You must have missed the 12 page document

Yes I had missed it. thanks. I have not read the whole thing yet but it sounds more like requirements for keeping a commercial breeding kennels rather than a hobby breeder having the occasional litter in their home. Do the KC really want us small breeders? It seems this scheme is now aimed at bigger establishments for whom the costs are easily recouped by the sale of pups.

that's exactly the point I made earlier.
Any dog can be mated to any bitch over and over again with the AB selling each and every pup (as they never show or have plans to improve the breed in any way) until a daughter is kept on the bitches 4th litter (and then the older animal found a pet home), all with no affix on either side. All pups advertised on epupz, no health tests done. Coated breeds kept clipped and animals living like guinea pigs on sawdust
No reason to fail them though! Their paperwork is in order even if it's just copied from the KC themselves.

Talking about someone's breeding plans or looking at the quality of the animals is not what the adviser is asked to do. The whelping arrangements however are asked about although anyone with half a brain would not want the RBA there with young pups in the house so you just have to take the breeder's word for it all as many people are like me and the whelping box is put away as we don't have a whole room permanently set up for puppies.

Following on from a previous post the RBA does not have paperwork from the council but all dogs should be looked at whether in the house or out of it. Not much anyone can do however if 10 dogs are supposed to be there and the breeder tells you half of them have gone to work with her husband or something is there! You can only look at what's there on the day and with a couple of weeks notice there is plenty of time to ship a few out!

I will be e mailing the KC and asking for my ABS membership to be withdrawn and bullet pointing the reasons why? There is no way I am waiting round until my renewal in June 2014. In 2011 my husband and I split and in 2012 I was sent a renewal reminder. The KC would not allow me to renew even the dogs were all signed over to me, I lived at the same premises and the affix was solely mine. Unless I had a letter from my ex husband stating that he didn't want to be an ABS member I had to apply in my own single name and pay a joining fee. This is did several months later yet three days ago I received the letter we are all talking about, one to ME and one to me and ex husband that hasnt lived here for over 2 years! It is obvious theye didn't even listen to a word I said to them re the original renewal............... The scheme needs me more than I need the scheme and I have totally lost faith in the fact that the KC, (however dinosaurly slow) were going to improve standards.

I won't even go into how I was shortlisted as an ABS inspector, asked to go to London and didn't even get an interview, nor told I was not required, and ALL the " names" there were selected with no interview process whatsoever!! That was years ago...............

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">it sounds more like requirements for keeping a commercial breeding kennels rather than a hobby breeder having the occasional litter in their home. Do the KC really want us small breeders? It seems this scheme is now aimed at bigger establishments for whom the costs are easily recouped by the sale of pups.

Exactly my feelings all along.

Certainly I think the government, Welfare Agencies (if they can't get rid of breeding altogether) want this, and be rid of us inconvenient individualistic hobby motivated breeders.

Can I just ask one question about all this inspecting....... who exactly checks on those doing the policing?   I realise there are codes of ethics when it comes to keeping animals, but I'd suggest that not everybody agrees with what's acceptable and what isn't.  Just like judging, all this could be said to be subjective.

Not belittling the objectives here on the part of the KC, but as has been said already, what about the occasional hobby breeder who sets up their home for the duration, to do a litter.    We had our puppies and nursing mum in the living room, in a 4 X 4 ft whelping box (doesn't everybody!!) before once they were moving around more, moving them into the kitchen and adding the second 4 X 4 ft section.   Having them in the living room meant one of us could sleep on the sofa with them.  No doubt this wouldn't have pleased a KC Inspector?

it would depend on the person doing the inspection and their background. If then RBA themselves bred dogs they would be a lot more sympathetic to what most people do. Likewise if the RBA kept a breed themselves that did not naturally fawn over strangers a bitch backing off would seem perfectly acceptable. They would be interested in talking to the breeder about breeding matters like pedigrees etc "as one breeder to another exchanging views" which is how it set out to be.These visits were supposed to be friendly exchanges with the RBA learning as much from the breeder as the other way round although the actual important stuff was covered too. That has all changed and the KC is not at all interested in such an inspector.
Look at the background of some of the RBA's now and you will see what I mean.
There is no longer any leeway, it is there way or no way.
It is extremely possible for a person to be a great breeder, extremely knowledgeable about their breed with many years of experience. the kind of person you could spend hours with chatting to yet they are hopeless with paperwork. Some people (believe it or not) don't have a computer....how hard for them to do the reams of paperwork expected. A total novice of the type I have outlined before prints it all off pat yet know nothing and can not offer any advice.........guess which one gets the better report? But guess to the one I'd rather buy a puppy from!

Having them in the living room meant one of us could sleep on the sofa with them.  No doubt this wouldn't have pleased a KC Inspector?

What on earth gives you that impression?

That certainly WOULD have been perfectly acceptable and a situation heard many times. I am however concerned myself at the new regulations. Looking at 4.1 "overall situation" it states dogs indoors must have access to more than 1 room. I have seen many people where the dogs have all day access to the kitchen and can come and go to the garden at will. The kitchen (often a large kitchen/diner) is the only room the dogs go in especially if they are large muddy dogs. I myself prefer my dogs not to go upstairs, it's personal preference.
It also says that the dogs (and each dog is treated separately) must have a specific bed/indoor kennel. Again I fail. My dogs like to sleep in doorways and prefer a cool floor or right by the fire. I would actually prefer to see dogs sleeping on rugs in front of the fire/rayburn than in crates stacked 3 high, but 1 has a specific bed and the other doesn't....I would fail wouldn't I!

No you wouldn't.
Mine live totally informally, access all areas and are just pet dogs really.
Where you may come unstuck is stuff like a fire escape policy and leaflets for a load of stuff which is hardly life or death.

Any idea what is required for your fire escape policy?

Mine don't have specific beds, they have free run of front room, hall and dining room but are contained in the dining room at night where there are 2 dogs beds and a sofa and I had a crate for the pup at the time I was inspected. I told him where I whelp pups, I explained that because of the unusually hot June I had to move the puppies to a cooler room and explained how I set up my whelping area, showed and gave copies of my contracts and other info that I put in my puppy packs. I showed him the run we have off our converted garage room for when the puppies are too big for my front room and he met all my dogs who are crazy face licking Dalmatians and I passed. The inspections are not difficult. I live in a 3 bedroomed semi, not a big mansion or commercial kennels.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">We had our puppies and nursing mum in the living room, in a 4 X 4 ft whelping box (doesn't everybody!!) before once they were moving around more, moving them into the kitchen and adding the second 4 X 4 ft section.   Having them in the living room meant one of us could sleep on the sofa with them.

Exactly what we do, and then we have a little dog house and cover part of a dog run, for outside playtime once they are 4+ weeks, and want more space.

The other dogs have to fit around the needs of the litter, for the time being.

The inspection criteria document http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/experienced-breeder/assured-breeder-scheme/kennel-club-breeder-assessors/breeder-assessor-visits/ (click download http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/343848/guidance_v1_15.doc) talks about cleaning routines, food storage etc etc, just not applicable to our homes really.

Paperwork also of how many dogs one has (I don't need a list thank you) dates of birth etc (they have their reg docs), dates and reasons for death?  Can't say I have recorded it anywhere other than the dates on website, but then I have only lost three so far.

>The inspections are not difficult. I live in a 3 bedroomed semi, not a big mansion or commercial kennels.

how recent was your inspection? 

A friend had hers recently and was in tears over the report, dogs deemed too boisterous, in need of more training, (she was offered to sit in a non dog room for interview if she preferred but opted for the dogs area). 

Taking pups upstairs at night was deemed wrong, and hours exercise for adults was considered too little (it is the amount generally advised for the breed, though they enjoy more, and often would get it).

Doubts were expressed over socialisation as she lives in the country (she has a couple of very young children, and a teenager with all their visitors).

We all have differing standards of behaviour for our family members, human and canine.

All her puppy owners, including a senior breed club official, are delighted with the temperaments and socialisation of the pups from her three litters so far bred in the last 5 years, many of them joining in on club and litter walks she has organised.

It seems to me the KC have rushed the start date and not given breeders enough time to arrange the visits.

I would be interested to know how they are going to fit the visits in over the next few weeks in time for the litters already on the ground to be registered within the scheme. Then there's all the breeders planning on mating their bitches trying to arrange a visit before pups arrive......

I keep a close eye on how many checks have already been completed in my breed and believe me it's not a lot, and there are so many ABS breeders the KC have put them into counties! If there is only one more inspector, how on earth are they going to do it?

I'm not opposed to visits....I do however think the criteria is set up for commercial breeders and not the once a year or less breeder. There are also far too many opportunities for unscrupulous breeders to flout the true conditions of how their dogs are kept, visits arranged two weeks in advance give plenty of opportunity.

I'm finding it difficult to decide whether to leave the scheme or stay with it.....

My inspection was in October of this year. We did the interview/paperwork part then he met the dogs (who had been waiting loudly in the dining room ;-) ) and they followed us around the downstairs and garden. They jumped up to greet but were told to sit/stand on occasion so we did manage to get them under control when needed as 5 Dalmatians can be overwhelming.

We don't have dog beds here.

We used to, but the dogs wouldn't use them.   We kept banging into them and after many bruised shins got rid of all but one, which is used when we have pups - for them to snuggle together in.

The dogs have vet beds, usually more than there are dogs, but all the dogs will snuggle together on the smallest one, or one that has folded over.    I have a picture of the three bitches all sleeping in my old wash basket.   It was like a jigsaw puzzle.   I also have photos of them sleeping jigsaw style on a vetbed.   But they're just as likely to sleep on top of each other too, draped like blankets.

The sight of three Bedlingtons squished into a foam catbed is one you don't forget in a hurry.

So how does that work with the 'individual dog bed' requirements?

If I put three individual size crates out, you can guarantee they'd all squish together in the one, in preference to having one each!

Regarding cause of death, there isn't always a defined cause of death.    What happens then?

From what I'm reading, the local 'professional breeder' (no health testing, breeding stock from the free ads,  puppies born in unheated sheds and brought in house for a week before sale, umty litters a year, no socialisation, and sold to the first with cash etc) would pass with flying colours!

The KC seem to be abandoning the dedicated, breed enthusiast in favour of puppy farming as long as the boxes are all ticked.
It's pretty gutting, when I think of all the tens of thousands of pounds raised and donated by breed enthusiasts in the last 40 or so years, to develop the health tests available today, for the KC to then appear to approve commercial breeding over hobby breeding.  

It's the hobby breeders that have contributed to the health studies and test development, not the commercial breeders - they're too busy raking in the cash!

I suppose if you had enough bits of vet bed for each dog then who can tell if they all prefer to sleep together just as long as there is technically one each? My Dals like to sleep on top of each other :-P
I wasn't asked anything about cause of death for dogs?

Dogs too boisterous?

The Bedlington Welcome is what prospective puppy owners are put through.   If they can't cope with the enthusiastic, effusive welcome, they aren't considered for a pup!   

Takes 10 minutes for them to calm down, if you just sit quietly, but if you start walking around, or go to the loo, it all starts again.     

I'd fail right there on the boisterous dogs!

Famous for their fabulous temperaments though :-)

From what I'm reading, the local 'professional breeder' (no health testing, breeding stock from the free ads,  puppies born in unheated sheds and brought in house for a week before sale, umty litters a year, no socialisation, and sold to the first with cash etc) would pass with flying colours!

It clearly states whelping area has to be 26 to 32 degrees C so I doubt that very much! It also very clearly states that puppies must be socialised before being sold, and I copy and paste:
6.7)  Socialisation. Members must socialise puppies prior to sale. This should be demonstrated with accommodation areas identified where this may be achieved and a socialisation plan being available. Puppies should be regularly exposed to a wide range of different humans, non-aggressive vaccinated dogs and other animals, where appropriate.  When dogs are mixed, the compatibility of the dogs will vary depending on the stage of the breeding cycle and their age. Puppies should also be exposed to a varied number of places and situations. Puppies should be handled regularly shortly after birth and providing that it does not cause undue stress to the bitch, to habituate them to human contact and to examine them for any sign of disease.  Handling should consist of gently picking up and examining each puppy.  This should be done at least twice daily.  Puppies must be maintained as a litter or with puppies of a similar age and size.  However, puppies should be separated from litter mates and the bitch for short periods from the age of six weeks.  During periods of separation there must be human social contact. Puppies should be separated to habituate them prior to re-homing.

Paperwork also of how many dogs one has (I don't need a list thank you) dates of birth etc (they have their reg docs), 

I have all my paperwork in a big ring binder with everything in, but I have just spent a few hours compiling a separate binder with all the details the KC ask for such as registered name, call name, breed, colour, distinguishing marks etc, date of last and next vacc/worming, I then of my own accord added date of last season, if the dog is on any daily medication, if the dog does not get on with a certain other dog, is neutered or not, microchip number, where they sleep etc. It occurred to me that this could be EXTREMELY useful. We all have to provide an emergency contact, I have got 4, and at the start of the binder I am going to print my emergency contacts and my vet's details. One A4 page per dog. Say hubby and I crash the van on our way back from a show, maybe even die, and somebody has to be called in to see to the dogs, it could be VERY helpful indeed for that person to have all relevant details easily to hand without having to sift through reg certs and pedigrees and eye test certs and DNA certs and stud books numbers etc etc! Think I will do a second one for the cats. My emergency contacts generally know the dogs, but even close friends sometimes find it hard to tell dogs of the same breed, sex and colour apart.

It's a one day inspection of a couple of hours.

As has been said, easy to copy out the requirements and write up in a way that fulfills them.

Doing it is another matter, but that won't be relevant as the inspector won't be there on a daily basis.

Also easy to put up infrared lamps over the whelping area.   Whether they are used is another matter.

This is the problem with a tick box scheme.   It's very easy to appear to be doing the right things whilst actually doing nothing of the sort.  It's what puppy farms rely on :-(