STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The purpose of this Breeders’ Code shall be to
serve as a guideline for a minimum standard of excellence in the ownership,
breeding and sales of the German Shepherd Dog. To that end, I hereby pledge to:
HEALTH
I. Maintain the highest possible standards of
health, cleanliness and care in my kennel. This includes, but is not limited to
proper veterinary care, regular contact with people and exposure to the outside
world for proper socialization of all my dogs.
II. Urge all buyers to have a puppy or adult dog sold by me, examined by a
licensed veterinarian within 72 hours of receipt. The buyer will pay for the
examination.
III. Deliver or ship only puppies or adult dogs of sound health and
temperament. Where the buyer or his authorized representative did not
personally see and choose said dog, a period of 48 hours is granted to advise of
the final decision and an additional 48 hours is provided if the dog is to be
returned.
BREEDING
I. Encourage bitch owners to breed only if they have
facilities, time and resources to adequately care for a litter and upon strong
evidence of the possibility of finding suitable homes for the resultant litter.
II. Refuse stud service to any bitch I consider in poor health, physically or
mentally unsound, or lacking the necessary breed characteristics as set forth in
the German Shepherd Dog standard. Before or at the time of breeding, an
exchange of pedigrees and hip and elbow X-ray information must be made.
III. Allow one repeat service where a bitch has failed to conceive after being
bred to one of my studs, if the stud is still in good health and available, and
at such time and place as mutually agreed upon by the owner of the bitch and
myself.
IV. Breed my own bitches only when I have a definite goal for improvement of the
breed in mind, never permitting them to produce three consecutive litters unless
breeding consecutive litters is recommended by a veterinarian. I fully
understand that I am responsible for keeping and/or finding suitable homes for
the resultant puppies.
SALES
I. Use a sales contract or written agreement in any
sale or purchase involving a dog. The sales contract offered by the German
Shepherd Dog Club of America, or one similar to it, which covers guarantees and
agreements must be used with a signed copy to each party involved.
II. Refuse to sell or recommend breeders who do not conform to the ideals and
obligations expressed in this Code and refuse all sales to dog wholesalers and
retailers.
III. Provide buyers of my German Shepherd Dogs with a four-generation pedigree,
complete health records, accurate breeding, OFA and registration records, except
that registration papers my be withheld or limited in the case of a dog who the
parties have agreed in writing will not be bred, until it has been
spayed/neutered as
evidenced by veterinary confirmation.
IV. Provide a copy of the German Shepherd Dog Standard to accompany any puppy or
adult dog sold by me.
V. To encourage and invite the new owners of any dog sold by me to attend some
type of training class and to join in becoming guardians of the Breed by
participating in local dog club activities, educational programs, a regional
German Shepherd Dog club and/or the German Shepherd Dog Club of America.
VI. Assure puppy buyers that if at any time the buyer has to place the dog, the
breeder must be notified and
given the opportunity to assist the buyer in placing the dog.
Reprinted from http://www.gsdca.org/Noframes/breeders_code.html.