NBC of the UK Code of Ethics KC Approved July 2018
All members of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK undertake to abide by this Code of Ethics (as set by the Kennel Club and the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK):
Kennel Club Code of Ethics
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:
1. Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
2. 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 operations to the Kennel Club.
3. Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
4. Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
5. Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
6. Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.
7. Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
8. Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
9. Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
10. Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the rehoming of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
11. Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
12. 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.
13. 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).
14. 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.
Additional Code of Ethics (as required by the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK)
15. Will ensure that all dogs are microchipped.
16. Will not breed from:
- Any male and female who are not both pure bred, registered Norwegian Buhunds who conform to the Breed Standard.
- Any animal which has not had the relevant health tests (See rule 18)
- Females over 7 years of age (without proof of KC approval)
- Females less than 2 years old
- Males less than 1 year of age
- Females on successive seasons (without proof of KC approval)
17. Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies and adults which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
18. Will submit all Norwegian Buhunds used for breeding to the KC/BVA Eye Scheme and the KC/BVA Hip Scheme and the AHT Cerebral Ataxia Scheme:
- All dogs should be submitted for KC/BVA Eye Scheme testing at least once over the age of 2 years. All dogs must be eye tested within the preceding 12 months of any mating.
- All dogs should be submitted for KC/BVA Hip Scheme testing after 12 months of age. This test is only performed once in a dog’s lifetime and must be done prior to being used for breeding.
- All dogs should be DNA tested for Cerebral Ataxia, to ensure carriers are only mated to clear. All dogs must be tested prior to mating, unless proven to be hereditary clear ( both parents tested clear ). The third generation of hereditary clear must be tested prior to mating.
- All dogs over 7 years of age are exempt from further eye testing except for dogs still used for breeding.
19. Any Norwegian Buhund with an affected eye test must not be used for breeding. Known carriers should not be mated to each other.
20. The use of dogs for breeding with any hip score higher than the current breed median is not recommended. If other factors give the proposed mating merit, this must be discussed with the breed Health Coordinator, who shall consult the Committee, prior to mating (see BVA Website for current Breed Median)
21. Will not perform a mating which results in a COI (Inbreeding Coefficient) of more than 10 percentage points above the current breed average (see The Kennel Club’s Mate Select website for current breed average). If other factors give the proposed mating merit, this must be discussed with the breed Health Coordinator, who shall consult the Committee, prior to mating (see BVA Website for current Breed Median)
22. No breeder will breed a litter of Norwegian Buhunds from parents that are not registered with the Kennel Club (UK) or any other Kennel Club with which the Kennel Club (UK) does not have a reciprocal agreement.
23. All pure bred Norwegian Buhund puppies must be registered with the Kennel Club, with no exceptions.
24. Any mis-matings, or failure to comply with any of these rules relating to breeding, must be notified to the Breed Health coordinator who will discuss with the General Committee of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK.
25. The Head of Rescue is to notify the General Committee of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK of any welfare issues caused by possible excessive breeding by any breeder of Norwegian Buhunds.
26. Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers, via internet selling sites 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).
27. All breeders are expected to adhere to the same standards as members of the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme (see additional information for ABS Ethics and recommendations).
28. It is highly recommended that all breeders should become members of the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS) within one year of their first litter. All ABS member litters will be clearly marked as being ABS litters on the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK website. Further details on the Assured Breeder Scheme can be found on the Kennel Club website.
29. Will ensure that people are aware of any breed diseases for which no current testing scheme is available and will provide purchasers with copies of up-to-date test result documents where testing schemes are available.
30. Will ensure all puppies are microchipped prior to sale and that no puppy will leave the breeder prior to 8 weeks of age.
31. Will ensure that the public are given information about the Norwegian Buhund Club and that all first time owners are aware that they are entitled to one year complimentary membership of the Club.
Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.
Requirements to become an Assured Dog Breeder (© Eve Dunlop) Kennel Club Assured Breeders must:
- Ensure that all breeding stock is Kennel Club registered
- Hand over the dog’s registration certificate at time of sale if available, or forward it to the new owner as soon as possible
- Explain any endorsements that might pertain and obtain written and signed confirmation from the new owner, at or before the date on which the dog is physically transferred, that the new owner is aware of the endorsement(s), regardless of whether or not the endorsed registration certificate is available
- Follow Kennel Club policy regarding maximum age and number/frequency of litters
- Permanently identify breeding stock by DNA profile, microchip, or tattoo
- Make use of health screening schemes, relevant to their breed, on all breeding stock. These schemes include DNA testing, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and inherited eye conditions
- Socialise the puppies and provide written advice, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on continuation of socialisation, exercise and future training
- Provide written advice, in the scheme Puppy Sales Wallet, on feeding and worming programmes
- Provide a written record, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on the immunisation measures taken
- Provide reasonable post-sales telephone advice
- Inform buyers of the requirements and the recommendations that apply to Kennel Club Assured Breeders as well as the existence of the complaints procedure
- Draw up a contract of sale for each puppy and provide a copy in the Puppy Sales Wallet
- Provide a list of breed specific traits and tendencies or any further breed specific advice or information that may enhance the puppy buyers understanding of the breed they are buying
Scheme recommendations
Assured Breeders are strongly encouraged to:
- Make sure that whelping facilities accord with good practice
- The contract of sale should clearly lay out to the buyer the nature and details of any guarantee given (e.g. time limit) and/or any provisions for refund or return and replacement of puppy. If endorsements are being used the contract should also explain why these have been placed and under what circumstances they would be removed (if any). The contract should be signed and dated by both breeder and purchaser, showing that both have agreed to these terms
- Commit to help, if necessary, with the re-homing of a dog, for whatever reason, throughout the dog’s lifetime
- Follow relevant breed health screening recommendations
– See more at:
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/assured-breeder-scheme/