12 Breed Notes – March 2020

It is a very different and fast changing world we are all living in compared to just a week ago and what a time to be an organiser of any event at the present moment, with all shows and AGM’s for the next few months being cancelled. We are all in the same boat in unchartered waters and as such, greater understanding and patience is needed by all.

It will come as no great surprise that due to Covid-19 and the health and safety of all, the Keeshond Club’s Ch Show that was to be held on 18th April at the Kennel Club Building has been postponed. The new date for the Ch Show to be held at the same venue will be Sunday 14th June 2020. The entries close on Friday 20th March (postmark) so please ensure that you meet this deadline should you wish to attend. All entries already received for dogs in age related classes will stand.

Also BUBA’s open show which was due to be held this weekend (21st March) has also been postponed. Pollard Canine Society have cancelled their Premier Open Show on 3rd May where the scheduled Keesie classes were supported by the NoEKC.

One of the last dog shows to be held for the foreseeable future was Retford Canine Society’s Premier Open show last weekend, where Keesie classes were on offer. The Judges was Anne Speake who had drawn an entry of 13 with 6 absentees. Best of Breed was Gill Brunt’s Zandvoort Mr Bond, with RBOB going to Andy & Jean Fitches’ Samoykees Harbour Lights. Gill and Blue then went on to win Utility group 3 from Dr Geoffrey Curr.

Also last weekend, the Keeshond Club held its AGM where the new Code of Ethics was unanimously agreed. The same CoE had also been agreed by the membership at the North of England Keeshond Club’s AGM in February. Paragraphs 1-14 are stipulated by the Kennel Club for all Breed Clubs and can be found on their website. The new paragraphs (15-23) have been added with the approval of the Kennel Club.

15. The aim of the Club is to further the health, well-being and welfare of the breed, and to conduct their activities in accordance with this guide. Members should help raise the general public’s awareness of the breed whenever possible and be prepared to talk about the breed when interest is shown; honestly explaining the positive aspects of owning a Keeshond.

16. The Club supports the BVA guide which states: It is clearly sensible for all dogs which are to be used for breeding to be examined under the Eye Scheme prior to being bred from, as this is the simplest way of identifying breed-related and potentially inherited problems. Advice on the frequency of re-testing is provided each time the dog is examined under the Eye Scheme. Examination and certification of older dogs, usually those no longer used for breeding, should be regarded as essential, because longitudinal information collected over time is a crucial means of providing owners and breeders with the information that they need in order to make informed breeding decisions.

17. The Club also recommends that all Keeshonds used for breeding are to be Hip and Elbow scored with the results sent to the BVA. The Club also recommends that animals should be inoculated and wormed following the current guidelines and/or veterinary advice; the same applying to homeopathic remedies.

18. Each litter should be carefully planned using, to the best of one’s knowledge, animals that are free from hereditary or congenital defects and of good temperament and quality. In order to minimise the risks of using animals affected by the early onset of idiopathic epilepsy, only unaffected mature dogs and bitches should be bred from and should not be mated before 24 months of age or in any way which would be deleterious to them. Normally thereafter bitches should be bred from not more than every other season. Breeders should explain to buyers of puppies the necessity of protecting unspayed bitches from an unplanned mating.

19. To ensure suitable homes are likely to be available before breeding and to have facilities to run on any puppies until such homes become available. No puppies should leave the breeder until at least eight weeks of age. Breeders will ensure all puppies be sold with a comprehensive puppy pack to include as a minimum: a signed five generation pedigree, a record of worming, Microchip transfer details, Kennel Club registration certificate, diet sheet, advice on training, care and grooming, including advice on appropriate grooming equipment.

20. Breeders should inform prospective owners of conditions where DNA tests are currently in place and and breed only from animals that are tested negative, or are negative by descent for the PHPT gene. Breeders will also inform those accepting their animals that there is evidence of certain associated conditions in the breed for which no current control schemes are available. Details of these conditions, as it affects the member’s animals, should be made available to prospective purchasers.

21. All live puppies should be registered at the earliest opportunity with the Kennel Club, which will help the Club to maintain accurate records of puppies born annually. Members should not register puppies with any other organisation. Where applicable Kennel Club Endorsements on Registrations, breeders Stud Dog Agreements and Breeding terms should be clearly explained, understood and put in writing and duly signed by both parties, and copies kept by each. Breeders should keep an accurate record of mating and pedigrees.

22. At Shows members should conduct themselves in a polite and courteous manner at all times. They should ensure that any dog in their care does not interfere with or in any way distract another dog or handler especially whilst handling in the show ring. Bitches in season or those that have recently been in season should not be kept ‘ringside’ as this is an obviously and unfair distraction to male dogs.

23. When confronted with a situation not covered by the above, members should conduct themselves in a manner in which they would expect to be treated in similar circumstances. A breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from Club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authority for legal action, as appropriate.

Further information can be found on www.bva.co.uk and www.keeshondhealthmatters.co.uk

Anji Marfleet