The Kennel Club’s online registration service is growing ever more popular and the Kennel Club’s IT department is keen to ensure that the system is as user-friendly as possible.

The subject of colour is always a sensitive issue and the Kennel Club’s principal aim in recording coat colour on registrations is that breeders and potential purchasers should be fully informed about the colour of a dog.

The list of available colours for each breed has been reviewed with this in mind, and also taking into account any specific issues raised by Breed Clubs and Breed Councils in the past. Therefore, where a colour does exist in a breed, even if the Breed Standard states that it may be undesirable, this will usually be included in the list of colour options.

The new IT system for the recording of coat colours on registrations became effective for online breed registrations and for paper applications with effect from 11th January 2010.

Until recently, it had been the norm to use the term ‘non-standard’ for some breed colours which are not mentioned in Breed Standards. This terminology has been changed to ‘non-recognised colour’ but is only available for those breeds where colour restrictions had previously been agreed.

If Breed Clubs and Councils have concerns about the list of available colours given for their breed, they should contact Caroline Hallett at the Kennel Club via caroline.hallett@thekennelclub.org.uk, bearing in mind the above limitations.

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