Code of Ethics (s4-6)

4. Breeder Member Requirements

Members applying for or maintaining Breeder Membership must adhere to the following breeding standards. Both owners of bitches and stud dog owners may apply for Breeder Membership if in compliance. 

Breeder Members shall comply with the requirements of the Animal Pedigree Act.

All puppies must be registered through the Canine Federation of Canada (CFC) via the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC), and have ownership transferred to purchaser within six (6) months of the date of sale, if born in Canada. Dogs and puppies may carry recognized international registration where applicable. 

Breeding Practices

Minimum and maximum ages described in breeding practices should be treated as superlative limits, not an average baselines suitable for every situation. Each bitch, litter and puppy will be considered individually, and decisions made in their best interest.

Breeder Members shall:

1. Breed dogs only after they have reached a minimum age of eighteen (18) months, with twenty-four (24) months recommended.
2. Ensure that no bitch produces more than five (5) litters in her lifetime, and no litters are produced past her eighth birthday. Adequate recovery period and rest seasons should be allowed to bitches, never breeding more than three seasons consecutively.
3. Ensure that no litter is produced from two untitled parents.
4. Ensure that at least fifty percent (50%) of dogs within a breeding member’s kennel have earned recognized titles in conformation or performance events.
5. Ensure that all breeding animals are appropriately registered through the Canine Federation of Canada (CFC) or their appropriate recognized international registry.
6. Ensure that every puppy produced in a litter is properly registered in accordance with Canadian law.
7. Have cognizance of flaws in their stock, and carefully select breeding pairs which compliment each other in conformation, health, temperament, and pedigree. Ideal pairings should not be compromised in favour of proximity or convenience. 
8. Cooperate with other breeders whose programs align with a similar calibre of ethics 
9. Provide appropriate prenatal and postnatal care for their bitches, and raise puppies in a safe and enriching manner  
10. Maintain accurate breeding, health, and registration records. 
11. Reference Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) Code of Practice of Canadian Kennel Operations when considering a safe environment for their breeding dogs and puppies

5. Health Testing Requirements for Breeder Members

Breeder Members must conduct appropriate health testing on all dogs within their kennel prior to breeding, and display those results transparently.

Results of required health testing should be published  with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or an equivalent internationally recognized registry.

If any accidental breeding occurs in which the required health testing, or practices listed above have not been met, this should be reported to the club.

Required Health Testing

Patella Evaluation

• Evaluation by practitioner or specialist at a minimum of 12 months of age with results recorded through OFA.

CAER Eye Examination

• To be completed by a licensed ophthalmologist at a minimum age of 4 months of age, with results recorded through OFA. Repeat exams during the dog’s breeding age are recommended.

Cardiac Examination

• Basic or Advanced Cardiac examination performed at a minimum age of 12 months with results recorded through OFA 

Hip Evaluation
One of the following:

• PennHIP evaluation at a minimum of 6 months of age, OR
• OFA preliminary hip evaluation at a minimum of 12 months of age, with recommended repeat at 24 months for official score.
• Results must be published to OFA

DNA Testing

Dogs must have DNA results from an approved laboratory or clear-by-parentage results for:

• BNAT (Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia)
• CMR (Canine Multifocal Retinopathy)
• DM (Degenerative Myelopathy)
• HU (Hyperuricosuria)
• PH (Primary Hyperoxaluria)
• PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)
• VWD1 (Von Willebrand Disease Type 1)
• CDDY (Chondrodystrophy)

Any dog which is a carrier of any of the conditions above shall not be bred with another carrier of the same condition. Carriers of autosomal recessive conditions shall be bred to specimens testing clear without incident. Carriers of CDDY will be considered with care, and it should be in the breeder’s generational goals to lessen the incidence of CDDY carriers in their program. 

Breeders should have laboratory results or affected-by-parentage results for: 

• CDPA (Chondrodysplasia) 

Results for DNA should preferably be published in the OFA database or made readily available upon request and provided to puppy buyers.  Clear-by-parentage should not be relied on for consecutive generations in order to mitigate laboratory error.

 

Recommended Health Testing

The following are strongly recommended:

• Dentition evaluation recorded with OFA
• Elbow evaluation at 24 months (or preliminary at 12 months with repeat at 24 months)
• Thyroid evaluation completed at an eligible laboratory and recorded through OFA
• Spinal radiographs evaluated by licensed veterinarian or radiologist

All required or recommended tests may be performed through recognized international equivalent registries where OFA testing is unavailable.

The use of foreign dogs, including imported semen, especially of elderly or deceased dogs, shall consider health testing acceptable as applicable for its country of origin, and time period of activity. All imported dogs, whether purchased or leased, are to follow the guidelines outlined above. 

Health and Quality of Life conditions that do not have a definitive health test should be contemplated with equal weight. The presence of non-testable conditions such as, but not limited to: allergies, cancers, anxiety in active stock, littermates  or their vertical pedigrees, will receive discretion when considering their potential in a breeding program. 

6. Sale and Placement of Dogs

Ethical practices of placement will apply equally in the sale of puppies and placement of adolescent or adult dogs.

Breeders shall:

1. Represent dogs honestly regarding pedigree, health, temperament, and registration status.
2. Carefully screen prospective homes to ensure responsible placement.
3. Provide buyers with ongoing support regarding care, grooming, and training.
4. Provide comprehensive contracts including a health guarantee, an outlined standard of care, and an enforced take-back clause in the event that the new owner can no longer care for the dog. 
5. Encourage participation of new owners in kennel club events, sports, and public representation whenever possible. 
6. Properly maintain and transfer permanent identification and registration in a timely manner
7. Allow puppies to leave for their new homes only when they show physical, emotional, and medical readiness, no younger than eight (8) weeks of age.
   
   h. Provide new owners with accurate medical records of the dog including previous vaccination date, and provide dates of recommended vaccine schedule 

i. Never knowingly sell dogs to brokers, wholesalers, pet stores, commercial resellers, or any person who would intentionally breed outside of the written standard or the Code of Ethics