Helping dog breeders combat inherited diseases through understanding genetics.

 
Science and research | Breed standards | Accredited Breeder Scheme

What The Kennel Club is doing to further improve the health of pedigree dogs

Breed standards and education

  • Fit For Function – Fit For Life - The Kennel Club runs a comprehensive education programme on health issues and its ‘Fit For Function Fit For Life’ campaign aims to end the process of exaggeration – whereby the features of some breeds, whether it be coat, weight, skin, eye formation of shortness of muzzle, have been exaggerated to the detriment of the dog’s health.
     
  • Educating judges - The Kennel Club runs a comprehensive training programme for judges to ensure that they award prizes only to healthy dogs.
     
  • Changing breed standards - Twenty years ago the Kennel Club changed many of its breed standards to remove wording that might lead to exaggeration. The breed standards are continually under review.