Dogsey

THE DUTCH Kennel Club has introduced new rules governing the breeding of Bulldogs aimed at improving the health of the breed.

In future, if dogs and bitches cannot pass a fitness test they cannot be used at stud, and the number of litters and caesarean sections has been restricted.

The Kennel Club in Ethe UK has no mandatory health tests for Bulldogs under its Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS); it recommends that dogs pass a breed council health test.

The Dutch KC and both breed clubs in that country have signed an agreement which will apply to all matings from June 1 saying that no pedigrees will be issued to litters born in the Netherlands if the sire and dam do not comply with the new requirements.

These rules apply to foreign stud dogs also, whether or not the breeder is a member of one the clubs.