Kennel Club Health Standard and requirements for English Setters
The Kennel Club has recently published a new Health
Standard for good breeding practice, with recommendations for
each breed. The English Setter Health Committee has worked with the
Kennel Club for many years, but does not agree with the
recommendations in the current Health Standard. The Committee
continues to work with the Kennel Club to propose changes to the next
revision of the standard.
The English Setter clubs have all agreed to recommendations made
by the Joint English Setter Health Committee, on what health tests
should be completed for dogs used in breeding programmes, and new
potential owners should ask and expect the following from breeders:
Essential
That both parents have been Hip X-rayed and scored through
a recognised Scheme. Such schemes would be the BVA/KC UK scheme
these will be viewable on the health test result finder on the KC
website, the Australian Hip scoring Scheme or the European Hip
Scoring scheme - these will not be visible on the KC website currently.
Recommended
Many breeders now hearing test (BAER) their breeding dogs and
puppies. Deafness can be in one or both ears. The rate of deafness in
the breed is low, 4.5% are deaf in one ear, and 0.5% are deaf in both ears.
Imported (not born in the UK) dogs used for breeding
Should be PRA4 and NCL DNA tested. These conditions are rare, and
are not found in the UK population so there is no requirement to test.
Not required
BVA/KC Elbow scoring. Whilst owners may choose to elbow x-ray
their dogs, there has never been a prevalence of elbow dysplasia in
the breed that has required the breed to be part of this scheme. |