What Is It About A Pedigree?

Why would you buy a pedigree dog over any other type? The Kennel Club takes a look.

Is it the fact that you can predict the sort of character they are likely to have, the sort of coat - be it long haired, short haired, wire-haired or no hair? Not to mention their size and exercise needs - are you a long distance runner, who needs a dog to keep up, or would you rather be able to pop your dog under your arm when out and about? Do you simply feel like you can relate more to a certain breed, and are more keen to care for it?

As a potential or existing responsible dog owner, these sorts of questions are likely to have come up and the Kennel Club would like to take this opportunity to look at what it is about pedigrees that make them an attractive choice, considering the virtues intrinsic to each breed, and from being registered by the oldest dog club in the world, and the largest in the UK. In November the Kennel Club, organisers of London's largest canine event, Discover Dogs, encourages all those interested in dogs to meet over 180 breeds in person.

There are 206 breeds currently eligible for registration with the Kennel Club and some 300,000 pedigree dogs are registered each year. These breeds are categorised into seven groups: Hounds, Gundogs, Terriers, Utility, Working, Pastoral and Toys, each group with a distinct character. For example Terrier's are thought of as 'brave and tough', Gundogs are considered 'all-round family dogs' and Hounds as 'aloof but trustworthy'! What is it that you're looking for?!

With the acquisition of a pedigree dog you can know more about the dogs character, which helps when selecting the right temperament of dog for the right home. Each breed benefits from a specific Breed Club, which welcome new members, and organises fun activities. Through the breed clubs owners can meet like-minded people who share an interest and passion for the breed and can also call on breed experts for advice. Should owners' circumstances change, then there are also breed specific rescue services, which completes the circle as those that know and like a certain pedigree but would also like to rescue a dog, can go directly to them.

Owning a pedigree dog registered with the Kennel Club provides not only an opportunity to share and enjoy a variety of fulfilling activities, by, for example, taking part in dog shows both locally and nationally. It also ensures that money is being put back into the canine world to enable the Kennel Club to run its many schemes, including safety for children around dogs, keeping breeding standards high, and progressing health and care initiatives. The Kennel Club works for the good of dogs and is the voice for dogs on behalf of all their owners. Any profits from the Club's various products and services are invested back into the world of dogs via its Charitable Trust.

A worrying aspect of pedigree life, which has more recently come to light, is that many native breeds, several dozen in fact, are in danger of going the same way as the dodo - to extinction. The Kennel Club has been so worried about the numbers of certain breeds in demise each year, that a 'vulnerable breeds' list has been created to monitor (working with each breed club) the number of new registrations per annum. Sadly, since it began in 1995, the majority of these breeds have continued to significantly decrease.

Losing any breed would be a tragedy as each one is unique and offers something different - from a Pointer who is known for being 'kind with an even disposition', to a Dandie Dinmont, described as 'independent, highly intelligent, determined, persistent, sensitive, affectionate and dignified'!

A famous example of a vulnerable breed is Greyfriars Bobby, the Skye Terrier who remained dedicated to his master even after his death by spending the rest of his life at his graveside, until he too died. Skye Terriers have declined to the lowest figure of new registrations, with only 30 registered puppies bred last year. They have been on the vulnerable breeds list since 1995, but have suffered a steady descent, tumbling to a worrying new low. It would be another very sad end to the story if they were to die out completely.

There are some who believe that pedigree dogs suffer more health problems than their crossbreed cousins, but there is no factual evidence to support this. In fact, it could be argued that the advantages of purebred canine ownership outweigh the disadvantages, as many breeds benefit from health screening schemes.

These are implemented by responsible breeders in conjunction with the Kennel Club and veterinary organisations allowing breeders and owners to select for the minimum risk for breed specific problems. There is huge potential for wiping out diseases in pedigree dogs, and within a matter of a few generations of rigorous DNA testing and selection of appropriate breeding mates, faulty genes can be removed from the breed's gene pool. This benefit simply does not exist in the cross-breed population, primarily due to the fact that the dogs ancestry is unknown.

Responsible dog breeders know this, and this is why the Kennel Club has a scheme to promote good breeders, to keep the standard high for all through the Accredited Breeder Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to provide a framework to encourage the breeding of healthy, well-adjusted puppies. It lays down a series of requirements that breeders must follow in order to participate, serving to reassure puppy buyers that they have bought from a breeder who has undertaken good breeding practices.

So it's not 'why buy a pedigree dog', but 'which one'?!

Please visit www.thekennelclub/org.uk for further information.

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