Changes to Kennel Club Registration

Reputable breeders sell their puppies with a written contract of sale. I certainly signed one with each of my pup's breeders. Under Kennel Club regulations a breeder is entitled to place an endorsement on a puppy's record with the Kennel Club restricting the registration of any of its future offspring. Such endorsements may only be lifted by the person who placed them, the breeder, and that person needs to send a written, signed instruction to that effect to the Kennel Club. The rationale for this is to ensure that any dogs that are bred from, whose offspring are to be registered with the Kennel Club, are proven to be free from any inherited or other health problems, are excellent examples of their breed, both physically and in temperament. The British Veterinary Association and the Kennel Club run canine health testing schemes for inherited and other health problems affecting pedigree dogs and you may read more about these here. The relevent tests for a Flatcoated Retriever are eye tests for generalised progressive retinal atrophy, hereditary cataract and glaucoma, and X-rays for hip dysplasia.

Like many flatcoat puppies, Merlin came to us at 8 weeks with clause in his contract stating that his progeny would not be eligible for registration with the Kennel Club unless he could be shown to be healthy and of good type and temperament for a flatcoat.

Merlin at 8 weeks.

ln the last 12 months Merlin has had all the required health tests (and additionally had his elbows scored). Merlin's eyes tested clear for generalised progressive retinal atrophy, hereditary cataract and glaucoma, his hips scored 2 - 2 (total 4) and his elbows scored 0 - 0. Having judged him in the show ring and qualified him for Crufts 2016, respected breed judges have assessed Merlin to be of good type for a Flatcoat and he is now showing real promise in the field as a working gundog. So yesterday Merlin's breeder, Polly King, wrote to the Kennel Club instructing them to lift his breeding endorsement. Thank you, Polly. My boy may one day sire a litter of pups!

Boresisle Arabella Allen for Larksburn & Foxpath Lelantos for Larksburn.

I too was in touch with the Kennel Club yesterday. Merlin's registered Kennel name is Foxpath Lelantos. The affix Foxpath denotes that Merlin was bred by Polly King of Foxpath Flatcoated Retrievers. Polly gave Merlin and his litter mates names form Greek myths and legends. Lelantos is the name of a Titan god. The name was derived from the Greek words lêthô, lanthanô, and lelathon, meaning "to escape notice," "move unseen" or "go unobserved" implying that Lelantos was the Titan god of air and the unseen, presiding over the subtle breezes of the wind. Quite a suitable name for a flatcoat, I thought! However I also have my own affix (that I have never used) - Larksburn. I chose it in memory of my first flatcoat, Jasper, whose ashes were scattered in to a river there to take one final swim out to the sea. Today Merlin became Foxpath Lelantos for Larksburn and because I couldn't possibly leave her out, Ruby was renamed Boresisle Arabella Allen for Larksburn.

I guess I must get around to updating my "Our Dogs" page on the website!