Code of
Ethics
The
Kennel Club have given approval to The Southern Counties Bearded Collie Club to
incorporate additional clauses to The Kennel Club
Code of Ethics to take into account the specific characteristics and needs of
the Bearded Collie.
As laid down by The Kennel
Club:
All
breeders who register their puppies, and new owners who register ownership of
their dogs with The Kennel Club, accept the jurisdiction of The Kennel Club and
undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics.
Breeders/Owners:
- Will properly house,
feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for
appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
- Will agree without
reservation that any veterinary surgeon who performs an operation on any of
their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who
carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report
such operation to the Kennel Club.
- Will agree that no
healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed
Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
- Will abide by all
aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
- Will not create demand
for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
- Will agree not to
breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to
the breed.
- Will not allow any of
their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those
carrying out official duties.
- Will ensure that their
dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under
effective control when away from home.
- Will clean up after
their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
- Will only sell dogs
where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will
help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
- Will supply written
details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible
ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
- Will ensure that all
relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or
transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant
documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.
- Will not sell any dog
to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly
allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind.
Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as
stand alone items (not accompanying a dog).
- Will not knowingly
misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor
mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.
Breach
of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or
disciplinary action by The Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant
authorities for legal action, as appropriate.
Last
updated - September 2008
As laid down by The Southern
Counties Bearded Collie Club:
With specific reference to
Bearded Collies members agree:
1.
To keep and maintain our
Beardies, in the best possible condition and health for the whole of their
lives.
2.
Not
to subject our Beardies to any form of physical or mental abuse and to provide
any treatment necessary for their well being.
With specific reference to
breeding from our Bearded Collies members:
1.
Acknowledge
that owners of the bitch and stud dog share equal responsibility for the
puppies bred.
2.
Will
only use Beardies known to be of sound temperament and character, free from
physical and/or hereditary faults and whose hip status, general physical and
mental health has been taken into account.
3.
Will
not mate a bitch until she is mature, that is at least 2 and preferably 3
years of age. Nor beyond the age of 7 years without the appropriate permission
from The Kennel Club.
4.
Will
not breed more than three times and preferably only twice from the same bitch
across her lifetime. Nor breed from the same bitch on subsequent seasons.
5.
Ensure
that puppies do not leave the breeder until they are at least 7 and preferably
8 weeks old.
Breach
of these provisions may result in expulsion from Club membership, and/or
disciplinary action by The Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant
authorities for legal action, as appropriate.
Last updated – 7th
October 2009
The
original copy of this Code of Ethics has been signed by all Committee Members
SCBCC
Guidelines for Breeders
The
SCBCC is committed to ensuring the health and welfare of Bearded Collies by
breeding only from sound, healthy stock. These guidelines have been developed by
members of the SCBCC committee taking into consideration current evidence and
advice from the Kennel Club. This document is for the use of members: however,
we feel that all breeders should aim for the same standards and considerations
when breeding Bearded Collies. If necessary the Committee can be contacted for
help and advice: contact details can be found on the website and in the
magazine.
“Members
must see breeding as an opportunity to improve the breed, health and welfare of
Bearded Collies above any other considerations”
Before
Breeding
1.
Before breeding a litter
of puppies members should think about the wide range of issues and implications
of doing so: why do you want to have a litter; have you allowed for the
practical requirements and associated costs of a litter; how will you find
quality homes for the puppies; what will be your process for vetting prospective
owners.
2.
To reduce the risk of
hereditary diseases or the predisposal to certain conditions being passed on to
puppies and into the wider Beardie gene pool members should only breed from a
healthy dam and sire.
3.
Members should ensure
that they have the time, resources, and facilities to provide high quality care
for the puppies and dam. The first-time breeder should not under-estimate the
cost of equipment and possible veterinary care or the amount of time required
each day and night to care for the puppies and dam. Although the average
litter is seven puppies it is not unknown for Beardies to produce litters of up
to twelve!
4.
Members are advised not
to breed from bitches until they are two to three years old nor if they are over
the age of eight at the time of whelping. The rationale for the lower age limit
is that Bearded Collies are slow to mature. For the health of the bitch it is
considered advisable that she does not have more than three litters in total nor
be bred from on subsequent seasons or more than once within a twelve month
period, which ever provides the longest gap.
5.
Before a mating is
undertaken the owners of both the dam and stud dog should be aware of our
Guidelines for Breeders, even if one of the owners is not a member.
6.
The stud dog owner should
be aware of their equal responsibilities with the owner of the dam for the
mating to produce healthy puppies. Therefore they have a responsibility to
declare any known health or temperament issues with the stud dog before the
mating takes place.
7.
Both parties involved in
the mating should ensure that everyone clearly understands what they are
undertaking. This is even more important if one of the parties is experienced
and the other a novice. Both parties must be clear about their roles and
responsibilities including the support to be provided, help to be given at the
mating, at the birth and throughout the puppies’ lives. This could include
vetting of potential new owners, offering advice and support to the new puppy
owners when necessary, and supporting the bitch owner on any re-homing problems.
8.
Before breeding, members
are advised to take into consideration the temperament and health of both the
sire and the dam to ensure that to the best of their knowledge such a mating
will result in healthy puppies. We recommend, for example, examination of the
respective pedigrees and the extent to which they are complementary and also the
use of the Kennel Club Mate Select service. Mate Select is a tool to help
breeders avoid inbreeding by showing the breed coefficients (or extent of
inbreeding) of a proposed pairing. Where previous progeny (or siblings) have
known health and/or temperament problems further breeding is discouraged.
Further information on Mate Select is available from the Kennel Club.
9.
Members should ensure
that only dogs/bitches that have been health screened and have satisfactory
results are used for breeding. Currently the only health screening test required
by the KC is for hip dysplasia. Ideally only Bearded Collies with a score no
higher than the breed average should be used. As of 1/11/2009 the BVA Bearded
Collie breed mean score was 11. As new tests are developed or we are advised
that new tests are required the Guidelines will be updated.
10.
Members should consider
endorsing the puppies’ registration documentation. This process places
restrictions on the new owner of a puppy in terms of exporting and/or breeding.
The endorsement forms part of the puppy’s KC registration document and is not
simply part of the sales contract. Endorsement must be done whilst the puppy is
still in the breeder’s ownership. Both parties must
confirm, by signature, that the endorsement and its implications have been
clearly explained to the new owners. If for any reason an endorsed puppy has to
be re-homed the new owners must be made aware of the endorsement and its consequences.
11.
The Kennel Club
encourages all breeders to register as a KC Assured Breeder.
Puppies
and their new homes
1.
The member breeder
should, as part of their agreement with the new puppy owner, provide on-going
support throughout the life of the dog/bitch including advice on all aspects of
care, such as feeding, grooming, exercise, behaviour and, if required,
re-homing.
2.
Members should undertake
to ensure to the best of their ability that their puppies are only homed with
owners who are fully aware of Beardies’ particular requirements and that they
are able to demonstrate they understand what the puppy will require. In
particular they must be made aware of the Bearded Collie’s boisterous nature,
the importance of regular and thorough grooming, and of their need for physical
exercise and mental stimulation.
3.
Members should ensure
that potential new owners meet the puppies’ mother and if possible the father.
4.
Members should not let
the puppy leave its mother before it is seven weeks old. Evidence increasingly
indicates that eight weeks old may be preferable.
5.
Members breeding a litter
must be willing and able to retain any unsold puppies. They must also be able to
take back any puppies where there is a problem with the new owner or assist in
re-homing the puppy if requested to do so.
6.
Members should only sell
puppies that to the best of their knowledge are fit and healthy at the time they
leave the breeder. If a puppy is known to have health defects or identifiable
departures from the breed standard the new owners must be made clearly aware of
the situation and of any potential problems that may develop later.
7.
Members have a
responsibility to inform owners if problems develop in either health or
temperament in the sire’s or dam’s other progeny.
8.
Members should avoid
selling two puppies to the same home, giving clear reasons for this decision.
Puppies are more likely to bond with each other than the new owner and will be
much harder to train and socialise.
9.
If the offer of a puppy
to a new owner is subsequently rescinded a full explanation for this decision
should be provided.
10.
Members should ensure
that when the puppies leave them all documentation is given to the new owner.
This includes a copy of their registration, a copy of their pedigree, a sales
agreement signed by the breeder and the new owner. There should also be a diet
sheet, information on worming, inoculation certificate, grooming advice and
insurance papers. They should be provided with a membership form for SCBCC.
11.
Members who sell puppies
with joint ownership or on breeding terms must obtain a signature from the new
owner confirming that the precise nature of the contract has been explained
fully to all parties involved and is transparent to both parties.
12.
Members must ensure that
new puppy owners know that they should contact the breeder for advice or in case
of any difficulties. Also that the new owners should contact them in the case of
an emergency or change in circumstances which will affect the Beardie. This
could be as simple as a change of address.
13.
Members should ensure
that if a puppy is to be exported that they undertake not to send the puppy to
any countries where dogs are not protected by anti-cruelty laws. Puppies must be
at least three months old and fully inoculated before they can go.
SCBCC
Committee
September 2011
To
be reviewed September 2012