In late October 25 the Royal Kennel Club announced that they will, with immediate effect, be recording overseas origin health check results. This is, as it has to be, subject to certain criteria, but most would strongly see this as a positive step and there have been calls for this for a while. The results of these health tests will not be available to view as BVA results are, and they, quite understandably, say BVA results will remain the benchmark, but it seems that at least dogs will show as “results with owner” rather than just be blank and open to the presumption that they have not been tested. The full release does mention that they will be assessing the format and nature of the data submitted with a possible view to improving the recording in future.

As well as overseas dogs playing a bigger role in UK breeding and puppy supply, there are several reasons UK breeders and owners opt to use overseas schemes and the fact that people often do has now been accepted and acknowledged. In this international world that we operate in nowadays, this is quite a step for the KC health department to take and there is a RKC information sheet to accompany this, giving more details, including how to register overseas health tests, available on our web site.

RKC Information Sheet Recording International Health Scheme Screening Result