Ethics

14. CODE OF ETHICS. This is a kennel Club mandatory rule and thus members cannot propose changes.

a) Members will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.

b) Members agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon performing 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.

c) members will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.

d) Members will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.

e) Members will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.

f) Members agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or the breed.

g) Members will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.

h) Members will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.

i) Members will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.

j) Members 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.

k) Members will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.

l) Members 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.

m) Members 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 ).

n) Members will not misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.

15. CODE OF ETHICS. (PLSC additional)

o) Members will not advertise dogs for sale or stud dogs on any commercial web site.

p) Members shall familiarise themselves with the Breed Standard, as approved by the Kennel Club, and attempt to breed and exhibit stock conforming as closely as possible to the standard.

q) Prior to breeding, stock to be hip x-rayed and scored. Members will not breed from any PLS whose KC/BVA Hip-Score total is more than 20. Eye testing to be carried out within 12 months prior to breeding, under the appropriate KC/BVA scheme, with the results declared to the PLSC Health Officer/Archivist. Such information to be available anytime and may be published. Only breeders complying to this rule to be recommended to prospective puppy purchases. The Officers & Committee have the right to refuse to accept requests for inclusion on the PLSC Puppy List ( even when hip & eye results have been forwarded ) if it is considered that puppies were born through indiscriminate inbreeding.

r) Breeding only to be undertaken with stock that is proven to be sound both physically and mentally, and no breeding to be undertaken under the age of eighteen months or before the third season, at which time full maturity should be reached.

s) Bitches to be bred no more than twice in succession, and this to be followed by a rest of at least one year.

t) Stud dog owners to satisfy themselves of the condition in which ensuing litters would be raised.

u) Breeders to sell puppies in good health, exhibiting sound temperament, and are at least eight weeks of age, and accompanied by a complete diet sheet, health and record, details of worming and any inoculations administered.

v) A fully signed pedigree to be available at the time of purchase together with any agreed terms of ownership and/or endorsement to control exhibition or breeding of progeny.

w) Member will at all times maintain a high standard of health care for the Breed.

x) In addition to any foregoing documentation listed, breeders will ensure that purchasers are given a copy of the hip score sheets of parents and other certificates that may be relevant to other currently known possible defects within the Breed.

y) All members will familiarise themselves with the facility offered by the Kennel Clubs endorsement B when registering puppies. Ideally this exclusion should be placed on the registration of all pet puppies, also breeding/show puppies sold should be subject to an agreement of suitability of hip and eye results. All owners should be made aware of this exclusion when purchasing puppies.

z) Members will, when breeding dogs, adopt as a minimum standard the principles, requirements and recommendations as embodied in the Kennel Clubs Assured Breeder Scheme. It is strongly recommended that members who breed should apply to join the scheme.