The World’s Epic National Dog Breeder Convention is back…
DATES
23rd-27th Nov 2026
WHERE
Virtual
HOW MUCH?
FREE
A squad of incredible experts join us for 2026’s National Dog Breeder Convention – and you’d be bananas to miss it! National Dog Breeder Day kicks off on the 23rd November for five days of unparalleled learning, expert insights, and community building.
Get 10 hours of CPD
Save your seat & get over 10 hours of valuable CPD for FREE!
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MEET YOUR
Inspiring Expert Speakers
Rebecca Norton-Childs: Your Host!
Education sits at the heart of everything Rebecca does through Pupstarts Breeders. Her mission is to raise the standards of dog breeding and empower breeders with the knowledge and confidence to breed ethically and responsibly.
As a qualified breeder and canine behaviourist, Rebecca has a gift for making complex topics click. She’s designed this event to make sure every breeder walks away inspired, informed, and ready to raise the bar for dogs everywhere.
Isobel Barker – Canine Nutrition Coach
From Season to Whelp: Rethinking Pregnancy Nutrition
Supporting your dog through pregnancy is about far more than simply feeding extra food. In this session, Isobel Barker will explore how her nutritional needs change from mating, through whelping, milk production and early recovery. From feeding choices and body condition to supplement timing, you’ll learn how to support her body as each stage places different demands on her.
Isobel specialises in breeding nutrition, feeding and supplement guidance. Combining a scientific background with practical breeding experience, Isobel helps breeders understand how diet, body condition and supplement timing can all influence pregnancy, whelping, lactation and early recovery.
Catherine Stowell – Veterinary Ultrasound Specialist
Canine Pregnancy Scanning in the AI Era
Learn how AI is infiltrating and influencing the breeding industry so you can confidently identify reputable equipment and specialists for ultrasound scanning. You’ll learn the fundamentals of how to confidently perform a pregnancy scan in dogs, when to use a colour doppler, the key differences between ultrasound machines, and how to choose the right one for your needs.
For those thinking beyond scanning just their own dogs, Catherine will also cover how to find ultrasound training that future-proofs you and your business. Learn about the ups and downs of running an ultrasound scanning business, and the key differences between those who survive the leaner times vs those who do not.
Dr Alison Skipper – RKC Veterinary & Research Advisor
Everything You Need to Know About the New RKC Confirmation Assessment Tool
Learn about the forthcoming Royal Kennel Club Veterinary Conformation Assessment, previously known during development as the Nose to Tail Assessment. This new non-invasive vet led assessment tool is designed to identify visible conformation that may indicate risks to canine health and welfare.
It provides a clear, nuanced framework that can support breeders to avoid extreme conformation and is intended to be used alongside other relevant health tests in breeds where this is a possible concern.
Alison has been involved in pedigree dog health work for over 35 years as a veterinary surgeon, grass-roots worker, advisor, writer and educator. She has a PhD in the history of breed-related disease in pedigree dogs and has previously worked as a researcher at the Royal Veterinary College.
Alison strongly believes that supporting good breeders to produce healthy dogs is key to improving canine welfare for the future – and she’s joining us to discuss how the tool can support breeders in making informed and responsible breeding decisions.
Roy Young Adoi – The Advanced Dog Ownership Initiative
How to Support Responsible Dog Ownership Once Your Puppies Leave the Nest
The Advanced Dog Ownership Initiative (ADOi) is a UK organisation promoting responsible dog ownership through education, assessment and accountability. It evaluates owner’s knowledge, handling skills and their dog’s temperament using welfare-centred standards. ADOi aims to improve public safety, canine wellbeing and the quality of dog-owner partnerships in everyday life, through a three prong assessment process.
This session will be a deep dive into this new initiative, and how it can help you give optimum support to your owners and puppies once they’ve flown the nest. Navigating your owners to proven, trusted trainers, and promoting responsible long term dog ownership, starts your puppies on the right path for long term fulfilment and success.
Joanna IIlska – RKC Geneticist
Breeding Beyond the Next Litter
Every breeding decision is made with the next litter in mind, but its genetic impact can reach far beyond it. In this talk, Dr Joanna Ilska will explore how the choices breeders make today shape the genetic diversity, health and breeding options available to their breed for generations to come.
Drawing on The Royal Kennel Club’s Small Populations Project, Joanna will look beyond individual mating decisions and COI to explain what genetic diversity means at the whole-breed level, why it can be lost, and what breeders can do to help preserve it while continuing to select for health, temperament and the characteristics that make their breed unique.
In this session, Joanna will translate genetic evidence into information and practical approaches that can support breeders and breed communities in making informed breeding decisions.
What will you learn?
HEAPS! Every year, The National Dog Breeder Convention brings together a wide range of experts with different specialisms designed to get your breeder brain ticking, expanding, and flooded with a-ha moments.
Whether you want to be a better breeder, are curious about breeding, or want to get a new certificate to showcase your dedication to your puppy owners – this event will not disappoint!
Save your seat now
Bag yourself 10 hours of Continued Professional Development and a certificate.
Sessions will be held live on Zoom so you must register to access.
Help us spread the word about ethical breeding – share this page!
National Dog Breeder Day – 25th November
The National Dog Breeder Convention was founded by Pupstarts Breeders to celebrate ethical and responsible breeders everywhere.
Dog breeders have been hiding in the shadows long enough, feeling ashamed to declare who we are and what we do. As ethical and responsible dog breeders, we work incredibly hard and put our all into the dogs and puppies we share our lives with.
Public opinion of dog breeders may be tarnished with bad press about breeders who do not put their dogs and puppies’ well-being first. But we know there are a considerable number of breeders, dedicated to raising well-planned litters that are given top-notch care every step of the journey.
Ethical Dog Breeders Unite!
It is through highlighting and celebrating responsible dog breeders that we’ll raise the bar and reduce the number of dogs who end up in rescue.
Plus, we’ll educate the general public on what to look for in a good breeder, so they can make well-informed choices.
It is through highlighting and celebrating responsible dog breeders that we’ll raise the bar and reduce the number of dogs who end up in rescue.
Plus, we’ll educate the general public on what to look for in a good breeder, so they can make well-informed choices.
Are you qualified?
The course content was written by Rebecca Norton-Childs and you can register now to learn directly from her!
This is your opportunity to learn, develop your skills, connect with other responsible breeders, AND get qualified!
In a year or two from now, owners will be asking ‘are you qualified to breed?’
And that’ll be sweet music to our ears. Finally there is a way to get the knowledge you need and a hallmark of excellence to showcase your professionalism.