Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:11 am Post subject: The Accredited breeders scheme name change!
In it's wisdom the KC have changed the name of the Accredited Breeders Scheme to the Assured Breeders Scheme. Cant help feeling that they are intimating something with the new name which they cannot deliver!
It appears that the KC cannot call it's scheme "Accredited" because the only organisation who can bestow that title is UKAS. So does that mean all the other "Accredited" things, such as Accredited Instructors are going to have to have a name change? I imagine it does.
Accredited Breeder should be the only name change as it is the only one going through UKAS. Accredited Instructors is done through City & Guilds so unless they decide to go for UKAS too, it should stay the same
How come its taken so long to decide there`s a need for a change, the ABS has been around for as long as I`ve been here, I imagine it was around a long time before that too.
I wonder too, if, changing it to assured will leave the KC open to possible law suits from people who have a pup with something like HD, kind of "You assured me this wouldn`t happen", even though we all know that all the health checks in the world doesn`t guarantee a perfectly healthy pup.
I quote from the Gazette, "Bill Lambert, Health and Breeder Services Manager, said, "UKAS is the only accreditation body recognised by the government" In other words, anyone can call themselves "Accredited" but it means nothing if it is not approved by UKAS.
Actually this is not a bad thing, because a short while ago the another company running a dog registration scheme launched an "Accredited Breeders Scheme" in an effort to make their dogs appear to be something more than they were.
They haven't got it yet Catherine, in fact it was 4 years after they started calling themselves Accredited that they first started talking to UKAS. The scheme was launched in 2004 and they say that they first spoke to UKAS in 2008. But it was not until after the Bateson report in 2009 that they decided this was the right way to go.
On the plus side, the Breed Advisor visits are to be stepped up. There are now 24 regional advisors and (it says) the aim is for everyone to get at least one visit during their period of membership. What it does not do is to define "Period of membership" Because there is a yearly membership fee, is the period of membership just that year, with it restarting when you renew your membership? Or does it mean just one visit ever, no matter how many times you renew your membership?
An interesting point is the statement, "The scheme now requires that all relevant health checks should be carried out before mating takes place and that NO MATING SHOULD TAKE PLACE WHERE THE TESTS INDICATE THAT IT WOULD BE INADVISABLE TO DO SO"
This is a departure from of old where the rules which only called for the tests to have been done, not that the breeder needed to take any notice of the results. Of course, it still does not state, in relation to hip scoring, what is an acceptable score, so it's still only paying lip service, although that I suppose could change when (if) the DNA test arrives.
I think Assured breeder sounds a bit naff but a name change doesn't worry me. Most people haven't got a clue quite what its all about anyway and ask now if you are a 'registered breeder' chuckle. Its a great scheme, but its almost created more question marks for buyers than its rubbed out. However long may it continue to get two levels of breeders out there and am easy 'criteria' to recommend to buyers.... DON'T buy from 'them' DO buy from 'them'. And if some are so stubborn they don't want to join then they will wallow with the rubbish in the bottom tier. Its going to take a long time till we have the right folks all aboad so we CAN say that, but if they know what is good for them and certainly our breed they will, surely? Or scrap the whole thing and go back to 'buyer takes their chance'. i wouldn't object to that at all, its always been about education, but this does seem a oppostunity to smarten things up and I find it hard when people pick holes for no good reason. In the 'scheme' of things its a pretty new 'scheme' without teeth yet, but it will only grow them with support.
I realise that it has flaws but it needs us inside it to put pressure on how we want it. Not sitting outside moaning about it but still being lumped with the worst of the worst.
Di
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Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
Could not agree more Di. We really do need something to point to and say, "This is the top tier." There have been a lot of small steps taken over the years, nothing big, but add all those small steps together and it's beginning to be significant.
It has to be a step in the right direction and I personally think it gives a breeder an idea of what standard they should be achieving at the very least! if a breeder then excels that criteria in whatever means that is, then it is all to the good.
My only question mark element is the permenant identifying of pups (tattoo or chip) is that although I dont have a problem with chipping my own animals Im not altogether sure it is my decision on a pup Im selling. So I have decided IF I have another litter then it would be put in my contract of sale that I have advised them of why they should consider it and what the options are (types of identichip that is available, tattooing).
I think the scheme gives a benchmark - which has to be a good thing - as it is gives us something to work with, even if people are not entirely happy with it for whatever their reasons, a benchmark of a standard has to be seen as a positive step.
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" My only question mark element is the permenant identifying of pups (tattoo or chip) is that although I dont have a problem with chipping my own animals Im not altogether sure it is my decision on a pup Im selling. So I have decided IF I have another litter then it would be put in my contract of sale that I have advised them of why they should consider it and what the options are (types of identichip that is available, tattooing). "
Heidi,
PUPS don't have to be permenantly ID'd before selling under the ABS, only the breeding stock used. So you could do it exactly your way (which is mine too....) I.E: Recommend they do but you can't ENFORCE it.
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
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