Registration

Registration with The Kennel Club (KC) should be a standard for all dogs. If a dog has not been registered with The KC, you should be asking yourself why. Registration with the KC ensures that things have been done legally and that the dogs being used are indeed purebred dogs. The registration certificate contains the following:

· The registered owners details

· The registered name of the dog

· The breed

· Date of Birth

· Colour

· Gender

· Breeder information

· Registration number

· DNA Profile

· Microchip number

· Endorsements

· And parent information- Names; registration numbers; health tests

As such this is an important document- and needs to be changed into your name and a new card will be sent out to you. This should be kept safe always as it has so much information available in one place, much like the contract given at the time of sale.

Endorsements

A KC registered dog can have two endorsements placed on it. All the chows we breed have both endorsements placed on them. These are under The KC and placed when a puppy is registered. The breeders placed them and only the breeders can lift them. One restricts the registration of any future progeny of a dog and the other prevents the issue of an export pedigree. I place endorsements to attempt to protect the puppies I breed, I do not want anything to be bred with indiscriminately. However if things are to be done correctly, responsibly and in the interest of the breed as a whole, I will lift the endorsement for breeding once the following conditions have been met:

The Chow Chow Breed Council’s breeding recommendations are satisfied- BVA Hip and Elbow scoring, Bronze Certificate, BVA eye screening. These health tests results should also satisfy the following; hip score of less than 18 (1 hip); elbow score of less than 2; eyes to be clean and clear; Bronze Certificate with nothing untoward

The breeders would need to see that the animal in question is a good

pecimen of the breed (per the breed standard)

The breeders are to be consulted and subsequently approve the choice of stud to be used (some pedigrees don’t work with others)

As you can see these endorsements can and will be lifted if a mating is considered/ well thought out and appropriate.

Microchipping

Microchipping is another important aspect of dog ownership. Every dog in the UK requires a microchip by law. If a dog escapes and is found its microchip will be checked and the registered owner will be contacted. Changing these details into your name via the Petlog website will ensure that if lost and found your dog will be returned to you.

Worming and Vaccinations

When selling a puppy I like to give a worming certificate which shows when a puppy was wormed and what with. This is useful for a vet to see and to know what course of action to continue with. In my opinion worming is a necessary part of dog ownership to ensure a chow is healthy. A vet will advise what is best for you and your chow. The same can be said for vaccinations your vet will recommend what is best for you and your dog, our current practice is to vaccinate as a puppy, at one year, at four years then at seven years if deemed necessary. There has been a lot of research done in this area but there are still conflicting opinions and nothing is definitive.

Insurance

Insurance is a matter of preference and risk. I would recommend a pet owner continuing with insurance, if something was to happen you can be protected. Personally I place a small amount into a bank account for similar reasons, instead of insurances I know I should be able to cover the unforeseen in this way. I suppose I am also this way inclined due to me experience and knowledge of my breed and breeding.