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Netherlands Kennel Club (Raad van Beheer) - Standards Controversy

Written by Richard Mavro-Michaelis on behalf of MNCFBC

 

The Breeds Involved

The Netherlands Kennel Club has introduced a number of new regulations concerning the registration of dogs under its jurisdiction. The regulations affect the breeding of twelve breeds: Bulldogs , French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Griffon Belge and Bruxellois, Petit Brabancon, Japanese Chin, King Charles Spaniel, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Affenpinscher. In Dutch parlance these breeds are known as short-muzzled dogs.

 

The Netherlands KC has taken this action in response to Dutch parliament legislation, (the Animals Act and the Animals Keepers Act of 2014) but has done so without reference to the FCI (Federation Cynologigue Internationale) nor the individual Dutch breed clubs, nor the owners of the breed standards.

 

New Requirements

From 18 may 2020 the DKC requires that new litters of these breeds can only be registered with a pedigree if the parents meet a number of new criteria, as certificated by a veterinary surgeon. In lay terms the criteria include a nose to skull length ratio of 3 to 5, no abnormal breathing while at rest, open nostrils, no nasal fold, and complete eyelid closure over non -protruding eyes . The Netherlands KC will allow one parent not to meet the required conformation and will also allow one parent to be of a different breed in order to meet the new requirements, in effect creating a cross breed. No other litters will be issued with a pedigree of the nominated breed and therefore will not be showable.

 

Reaction

Consequently there has been a worldwide reaction in opposition and concern, emanating from national Kennel Clubs and individual breed clubs. In the UK many clubs have written to the Dutch Kennel Club expressing their objections and concerns. An example of these concerns is that well expressed by the American Kennel Club, “ these restriction will only affect responsible breeders that use the registry (registration system)……….it leaves the breeds at the hands of those who do not use the registry or submit to the breeder codes of ethics of Kennel clubs”.

 

An opposition group has been set up to inform interested people of progress in the Netherlands and can be found on Facebook, Brachy Union - Standard Protection.

 

The Midland & Northern Counties French Bulldog Club gives its moral support to the Dutch French Bulldog community as it endeavours to fight the changes.

 

Click here to see the response from the Kennel Club