Policy Statement and Breeders Code

POLICY STATEMENT AND BREEDERS CODE

For the sake of convenience, the male personal pronoun has been used throughout this statement, but its provisions apply to members of either sex.

Except where apparent from the context the word ‘dog’ applies to both sexes. This code applies with equal weight to both the breeder of the litter and the stud dog owner.

1.	All breeding should be aimed at the improvement of the breed. Before breeding a litter, equal weight should be given to type, temperament, health and soundness. The hope of financial gain should not be of primary consideration.
2.	Members should do all in their power to discourage breeding from clearly inferior specimens, and those members who have stud dogs should refuse stud service to such specimens. It cannot be stressed too strongly that nervous or aggressive dogs are not satisfactory as pets or for breeding stock.
3.	No bitch should be bred from until she is fully mature, that age being variable, though as a guide two years should be considered the minimum age. No bitch should whelp twice within a twelve-month period. No bitch should be required to have more than five litters.
4.	Members who have bred puppies that suffered from conditions classified by their veterinary surgeons as inherited defects, or which exhibit serious divergence’s from the Standard, should take all possible steps to give publicity to the fact, and owners of the stud dogs concerned should agree to such publicity being given.
5.	Hip dysplasia is a potentially crippling abnormality with a high degree of heritability. Even dogs that show no clinical symptoms when young are liable to develop arthritis in later life and to suffer from pain that may be severe. The aim should be to breed only from dogs whose hips have been scored and are within the range recommended by the scheme geneticist. Stud dogs and brood bitches that have consistently produced progeny with high scores should be withdrawn from breeding, and their progeny should not be bred from.
6.	No member should breed a litter unless he has the tine and facilities to devote proper care and attention to the rearing of the puppies and the well-being of the dam, and no member should provide stud services unless he is satisfied the owner of the bitch has such care and facilities
7.	Any member breeding a litter must have facilities and be willing to take back any of his stock for re-homing.
8.	No member should breed a litter unless he has the facilities and commitment to retain all unsold stock. The Bearded Collie Club maintain members’ puppy lists and puts prospective buyers in touch with members who have litters, but it is not an agency for the sale of puppies.
9.	No puppies should leave the breeder before the age of six to eight weeks depending on maturity.
10.	No puppies should be exported before they are fully inoculated or before the age of three months, unless they are travelling in the personal care of the owner or his known representative.
11.	No puppies should be exported to countries where they are not protected by anti-cruelty laws, which are enforced, or where there is any doubt as to the national attitude towards dogs.
12.	No dogs or puppies should be knowingly be sold to laboratories, pet shops or dealers in dogs, or to any person known to sell to laboratories, pet shops or dealers, nor should stud services be provided to such persons. (For this purpose a dealer is defined as any person who regularly buys dogs or puppies in the hope of selling them for profit). No dog or puppy should be sold or offered in a raffle or competition.
13.	Prospective buyers of puppies should be screened by the breeder for suitability and should be advised by the breeder of the characteristics of the breed, with the emphasis placed on boisterousness, jumping, chewing, digging, need for regular grooming, traits. Puppies should NOT be sold to homes where they will be left on their own all day. Prospective buyers should be shown an adult specimen of the breed in its normal habitat in order to fully appreciate the breed’s characteristics and size when fully grown.
14.	It is strongly recommended that a deposit should be obtained when accepting a firm booking. No puppy for which a firm booking has been obtained from one individual should be sold to another individual without obtaining a definite cancellation of the booking by the first individual.
15.	No Puppy which has any known defect, or which shows any definite departure from the Standard, should be sold without the buyer being made aware of such defect or departure from the Standard and its possible consequences. Members should only sell puppies that, to the best of their knowledge, are in good health at the time of sale.
16.	Each purchaser of a puppy should be provided at the time of sale with a pedigree, diet sheet, and information about grooming, training, worming and inoculation.
17.	No puppy that, for any reason, is unregistered with the Kennel Club should be sold without the buyer being made aware that he will probably be unable to register the puppy on the Kennel Club Breed Register.
18.	It should be impressed upon buyers that they should contact the breeder in the event of any problems or concerns abourt the puppy. Breeders MUST be of assistance in these circumstances.
19.	Advertising by members should be factual. Misleading, exaggerated or unfounded implications of superiority should not be used.
20.	Members should refrain from making unfair or untrue statements about the dogs or practices of others.
21.	All dogs owned by members should receive the same degree of care and affection, whatever their role.
22.	Any joint ownership or breeding terms contracts between members, whether for dogfs or bitches, should be freely entered into without undue pressure being applied by either party.
23.	Each member should endeavour to work in unity with other members, putting the welfare, preservation and advancement of the breed above personal ambition.
24.	Officers and Committee Members of the Club must always be ready to do their best to help members with any queries or problems.