On behalf of the UK Registry of Canine Behaviourists (UKRCB), the Press Officer, Jacqueline Bunn would like to issue the following statement regarding health issues in pedigree dogs.

The UK Registry of Canine Behaviourists is aware of the concern raised following a recent BBC documentary featuring health problems caused by certain selective breeding programmes.

We actively support any screening initiative which insists on testing the physical and behavioural health of dogs intended for breeding.

While it is acknowledged that organisations such as the Kennel Club and breed clubs are trying to encourage responsible dog breeding, we believe that it is ultimately the responsibility of individual breeders to accept responsibility for the health of their puppies and ensure that they only breed from dogs which have passed all health tests for problems related to their specific breed.

It is not acceptable to breed from a dog suffering from physical or behavioural problems which could be passed down to it’s progeny and the UK Registry of Canine Behaviourists strongly encourages owners to thoroughly research the health testing of the parents of any dog they are planning to purchase with a view to only considering puppies who have been bred from parents proven to be clear of all physical and behavioural problems.

With most pedigree breeds there will be information available from the breed clubs and breed welfare organisations on the known problems which can be tested for and owners should demand to view relevant test results of both sire and dam from breeders when discussing the purchase of one of their puppies.

We would also recommend wherever possible to view both sire and dam personally.

For a long time now, members of the UK Registry of Canine Behaviourists have observed and anecdotally reported behavioural issues related to certain breeds and while it is generally accepted that environmental influences do affect behaviour, we also believe that there is a genetic element to behavioural problems in certain breeds which cannot be dismissed.

We would encourage breeders to only breed from dogs which are not only sound in physical conformation but also in behavioural conformation; dogs free of generalised anxiety, fears, phobias and aggression and displaying confident and relaxed social skills towards humans and other animals.

Any member of the UK Registry of Canine Behaviourists will be able to provide more assistance on choosing a puppy, including advice on spotting potential behavioural problems in the sire or dam.