The White Swiss Shepherd Dog Club is committed to responsible dog ownership and to the future of the breed.
The Club asks all owners/individuals who wish to breed to aim for the highest possible standards and to abide by the following guidance.
General Code of Ethics as directed by the UK Kennel Club
All breeders must 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. 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 re-homing 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. 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.
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.
All breeders must 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. 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 re-homing 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. 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.
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.
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog Club Code of Best Practice
GENERAL
Members should conduct themselves at all times in a manner that is a credit to the Club and ownership of White Swiss Shepherds Dogs. Members should not use any method of communication whatsoever in a way that could be considered defamatory, insulting or detrimental to another member, or the Club, or to the breed in general, nor furnish information including pedigrees and photographs of dogs not owned by them without prior written consent of the owner.
BREEDING AND EXHIBITING
Members who breed or exhibit should:
1. Familiarise themselves with the 'Breed Standard' of the White Swiss Shepherd Dog and aim to breed or exhibit dogs that conform to it.
2. To breed only from/with White Swiss Shepherd Dogs registered with a recognised Kennel Club.
* Males not to be bred from under the age of 18 months of age.
* Females not to have a litter under the age of 2 years of age.
3. To breed only from/with White Swiss Shepherd Dogs that have undergone testing/screening and received satisfactory results for both hips and elbows, MDR1 and DM
Hip Dysplasia (x-ray)
Elbow Dysplasia (x-ray)
MDR1 (Multidrug Resistance mutation) (Swab or blood sample)
DM (Degenerative Myelopathy) (Swab or blood sample)
Please Note: Under the BVA scheme the total hip score for each individual dog is not to be above 15. If a club member wishes to use for breeding any dog with a hip score higher than 15 a request can be made in writing to the Club's Committee.
The total Elbow score for each individual dog must either be an ED0 or ED1. (ED0 being the ideal). Dogs with a score of ED2 or ED3 shall not be bred from. Please Note: A dog with a score of ED1 may only be bred with a dog that has a score of ED0, and moving forward towards the future, breeding goals should be to use dogs totally free of Elbow Dysplasia (ED0).
With regard to DM testing, only dogs with a result that is either clear (N/N) or a carrier (A/N) may be bred, the ideal breeding is clear to clear as these dogs offspring will all be clear. Please Note: A dog that is a carrier (A/N) can only be bred to a dog who has tested as clear (N/N). Any dog testing as ‘high risk’ (A/A) must not be used for breeding.
With regard to MDR1 testing the same applies as DM. Breeding clear (+/+) to clear (+/+) is the ideal, a carrier (+/-) may only be bred to a clear (+/+) and affected dogs (-/-) are not to used for breeding.
In addition to the above the Club also require that all breeding males and females be DNA Profiled.
4. Create and maintain accurate breeding records to include any health screening results/reports, registration documents and Pedigrees and ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents, health screening results etc. are provided to the new owner/s when selling or transferring a dog or puppy.
5. Endeavour to obtain a Restricted Registration Certificate (endorsement) to prevent breeding from any puppy exhibiting such faults that are or may be of a hereditary nature, so that to breed from such a dog may be detrimental to the dog itself or to the breed in general.
6. Should not, under any circumstances, make false or exaggerated claims that cannot be substantiated, e.g. future prospects of puppies, quality of breeding stock etc.
7. Not allow their puppies to leave under the age of 8 weeks of age.
8. Endeavour to ascertain that all prospective new owners are suitable and that for any reason a dog or puppy needs to be rehomed can resume responsibility, where practical.
9. Offer new owner/s a suitably prepared 'Contract of Sale'.
10. Supply new owners a list of all dietary requirements, a completed record of both Vaccinations and Worming (as per KC Code of Ethics)
11. Not sell their stock to a third party or a pet shop or puppy dealer nor operate as such. (Refer to KC Code, item 13)