‘A new future for dog breeding’ moves into action and collaboration to ensure views of breeding community are at the foundation of RKC plans
- The RKC’s recently published Breeding for Health Framework (BFHF) sets out plans to safeguard the future of pedigree dogs and ensure health improvement for our dogs.
- Multiple breeder consultation groups to take place throughout March and April 2026 following initial breeder and community focused consultation in January.
- Crufts Breeder Insight Forum to take place Thursday 5 March, bringing together breeders at the prestigious event. To register your participation in the Crufts Breeder Insights Forum, please complete the online form.
- A full programme of ‘Breeding for Health’ related events during Crufts will be confirmed in the coming weeks
London, 5 February 2026: The Royal Kennel Club, the UK’s oldest and most respected dog organisation has today released further plans which aim to ensure a new future for pedigree dog breeding, by revealing the roadmap for the Breeding for Health Framework for 2026. On publication of the report in January, the RKC outlined its commitment to ensuring the pedigree breeder community was fully immersed in the development of the nose-to-tail veterinary assessment, the small populations working group and the mandatory health testing process.
The Nose to Tail Veterinary Assessment will sit alongside, and provide a viable alternative to, AGPAW’s Innate Health Assessment (IHA), aimed specifically for the RKC breeding community. Development of the veterinary assessment is already underway, with the veterinary advisory group having already held a series of planned
meetings and aiming to select the criteria for inclusion in this assessment by late March.
Following the launch of the BFHF, and in recognition of the strength of feeling and concern amongst the community regarding the IHA and broader breeding challenges, representatives from the RKC met with a select group of RKC members and experienced breeders on Thursday 29 January, who provided valuable insight on key issues and challenges facing breeders.
These insights, together with additional feedback received from the wider RKC community, members and key stakeholders, have helped shape the agenda for the Crufts Breeder Insights Forum, which will be held from 3pm-5pm on Thursday 5 March in the Piazza Suites 1&2 at the NEC. While the full agenda will be released shortly, this session will be an opportunity for experienced breeders, especially those concerned about the recent publicity around the IHA, to share their views and help shape the solutions that will be developed by the RKC in the coming months. We look forward to continuing the conversation and listening to breeders to enable us to build a strong future plan that addresses breeder concerns beyond the Breeding for Health Framework. To register your participation in this session, please complete the online form.
The successful development of our Nose to Tail Veterinary Assessment is dependent on the involvement of breeders, and therefore we would like to ensure breeders are aware and sign up to the breed focus groups, ideally in collaboration with their breed health co-ordinator. Details of these focus groups and how to join can be found below, in addition to details of further activities we will be undertaking in the coming months to support breeders.
A new future for dog breeding - what’s coming up?
9 February 2026 – the RKC will launch a breeder endorsements survey to consider what we should do with endorsements to best support breeders and puppy buyers moving into the future.
End of February 2026 – the RKC will introduce a new puppy buyer feedback process to enable breeders to receive direct feedback which recognises their hard work and commitment.
16 March 2026 – following the activities taking place during Crufts, the RKC will launch breeder insights survey to the wider breeding community, building on the information shared and issues raised to date.
23 March and 25 March 2026 – the RKC will hold the first in a series of focus groups with breeders to seek input on the development of the Nose-to-Tail Veterinary Assessment and capture feedback on concerns around the IHA. Further sessions will follow in April and beyond. Register your interest in joining one of these focus groups.
Ian Seath, Chairman of The Royal Kennel Club, says, “The strength of the Royal Kennel Club lies in its community. By working closely with breeders and listening
carefully to their views, we are building a forward-looking approach to health and welfare that reflects both scientific rigour and the realities of responsible breeding.”
Charlotte McNamara, The Royal Kennel Club’s Head of Health and Breeding, says, “The depth of feeling we’ve seen in recent months from our community and the concerns raised by breeders underscores just how strongly many people care about the future of pedigree dogs. When we published our Breeding for Health Framework recently, we made a commitment to ensure our viable alternative to the IHA would be developed in collaboration with vets and breeders, particularly breeders of breeds who stand to be most affected if left unchallenged. We are therefore happy to confirm the details of our next phase of development and look forward to working with and are thankful for the breadth of knowledge and experience we can access within our membership and broader breeding community.”
To read the full report, a summary version and find out more about the Royal Kennel Club’s canine health initiatives visit the Breeding for health framework webpage or www.royalkennelclub.com or www.crufts.org.uk.