37 Breed Notes – Richmond 2018

At Richmond our judge was Jeff Luscott (who last judged keesies at SKC in 2015) and he had drawn an entry of 34 dogs with 10 absentees. There were no entries in both the Special Beginners classes, Veteran Bitch and the single Junior Dog entered was absent.

Keesies were third in the ring after 50 Lhasa’s and 25 Shar Pei’s; judging started around 1.30pm and was all over by 3.00pm. After the recent spell of autumnal weather, Sunday turned out to be a decent day. Keesies had a nice big in and out ring; Rick Clasby was our steward and Doris Purdon and Eileen Wilding were enjoying themselves sitting ringside.

DCC with BOB was Melanie Harris’ Ch Neradmik All About The Boy for Watchkees JW ShCM (Ch Am Ch Kemonts Skylines Game Boy (imp USA) x Ch Lady Godiva’s Guilty Pleasures with Neradmik (imp Fin)). RDCC was Sue Christopher’s Neradmik Canache At Bisukees (Ch Samkees With Love to Neradmik (imp Mlt) x Ch Neradmik Miss Hollyberry) from Post Graduate and who was handled by Joan Miles.

It was a crowning third CC for Jean Sharp Bale’s Neradmik Grace Kelly (Imp Can) (Am Ch Designer’s Fedx x Can Ch Neradmik Academy Award) from Limit. Gracie’s 1st CC was at South Wales in 2017 from Dave Robbins & her 2nd CC was at Crufts this year from Rodney Oldham. Gracie is the first UK Champion bred by Jean’s daughter Kim who lives in Canada and shares the Neradmik affix. The RBCC went to Antonia Atkinson’s Winklestar Anthe with Valindale (Ch Winklestar Hadar x Eastkees Made To Order by Winklestar) handled by David Matthews.

Best Puppy Carol Bardsley’s Skathki Just Got Wicked (Ch Samkees With Love to Neradmik (imp Mlt) x Ch Neradmik Ruby Slipper for Skathki)

Much comment is being made about the new breeding regulations which are are being introduced in England by Defra as of October 2018 and the Kennel Club has provided the following information on how some of these changes will effect dog breeders and those involved with dogs. I have high-lighted the sections that concern most ‘hobby breeders’.

The biggest change to the regulations is the reduction of the litter threshold for which a dog breeding licence is required. A breeding licence will be required for anyone breeding three or more litters and selling at least one puppy in a 12 month period. This is a reduction from the previous litter test of five or more litters.

A breeder can breed as many puppies as they like without a licence ‘if the person carrying on the activity (breeding) provides documentary evidence that none of them have been sold (whether as puppies or as adult dogs)’. For those breeding one or two litters in a twelve month period and selling puppies, a licence may be required if you are deemed to be ‘breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs’. It is important to note that a similar business test has been in place since 1999 for those breeding under the previous five litter threshold. Defra have informed the Kennel Club that as with the existing business test, it is not their intention for hobby breeders to be caught out under this business test. The Government provides guidance on what local authority inspectors should consider when assessing whether a breeder meets the business test.

There are certain factors that would trigger the need for a breeding licence such as ‘High volumes of animals sold or advertised for sale could indicate a business; and low volumes of animals sold or advertised could indicate a business where high sales prices or large profit margins are involved’. Conversely ‘Breeders who breed a small number of puppies (i.e. fewer than three litters per year), and sell them without making a profit’ are deemed to be out of the scope of licensing.

The new regulations also include a star rating system. The new star rating system has been designed to both reward high performing breeding establishments and to give further help to the puppy buying public in identifying good breeders. Further details can be found on both the Kennel Club and DEFRA’s web sites.

Anji Marfleet