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Guidelines for Ethical Breeding Practices

The Board of Directors feel that the following are those basic precepts that an overwhelming majority of the fancy accept as proper, honest, and fair as regards conduct between breeders. Our example, as breeders who voluntarily establish and subscribe to such guidelines, will have a beneficial effect.

The Stud Dog

  1. The stud dog should be OFA certified free of radiological evidence of hip dysplasia.
  2. Eyes should be diagnosed as free from genetic disorders by a canine ophthalmologist once yearly.
  3. The stud dog owner should require of the brood bitch -- OFA certification and current proof of unaffected eyes from a canine ophthalmologist.
  4. The stud dog should be free of hereditary, incapacitating faults, not be oversize or undersize, should be a good specimen of the breed, and possess proper disposition. In addition, the dog must have two normally descended testicles.
  5. The stud dog should be in good health, free from any disease, as well as internal and external parasites at the time of mating.
  6. A male can be offered at stud by passive advertising only. Stud service should never be actively solicited by the stud owner or agent. Solicitations should be initiated only by the owner or agent of the bitch.
  7. The owner of the stud dog, when approached, is obligated to discuss the merits and disadvantages of the proposed breeding with candor.
  8. The stud fee is actually for the act of breeding which is consummated by a "tie." The fee itself is a matter between the parties involved and subject only by mutual agreement as to amount. A stud dog owner/agent may make the practice of offering a return service at another breeding season if a mating does not produce a litter. The normal arrangement is for the full fee to be paid at the time of service.
  9. If a stud dog has not been proved by producing a litter (listed in the AKC Stud Dog Register), the burden of proof of fertility is with the stud dog owner.
  10. No substitution of stud dogs will take place unless agreed to by the owner or agent of the bitch.

The Brood Bitch

  1. The brood bitch should be OFA certified free of radiological evidence of hip dysplasia.
  2. Eyes should be diagnosed as free from genetic disorders by a canine ophthalmologist once yearly.
  3. The brood bitch owner should require of the stud dog -- OFA certification and current proof of unaffected eyes from a canine ophthalmologist.
  4. The brood bitch should be free of hereditary, incapacitating faults, not be oversize or undersize, should be a good specimen of the breed, and possess proper disposition.
  5. The bitch should be in good health, free from any disease, as well as internal and external parasites at the time of mating.
  6. Under ordinary circumstances, the brood bitch should not be bred before the age of two years.
  7. Under ordinary circumstances, the brood bitch should not have puppies on successive seasons.

The Breeding

  1. A breeding should never be undertaken unless it is specifically for the purpose of producing a better dog. Under no circumstances should a breeding be made to satisfy sales demand or for the sole purpose of supporting a kennel.
  2. A breeding should never be made unless the owner of the bitch can properly care for the litter. There must be adequate yard space and housing. There must be adequate funds to cover health care, unexpected medical bills, and for general care over an extended time when proper homes have not been found for them.
  3. All breedings should be personally supervised to ensure the dogs' safety.
  4. All arrangements should be in writing. These should cover fee, boarding, travel, and other circumstances pertinent to that particular mating, and should be signed by both parties.
  5. One puppy, full term, dead or alive, constitutes a litter.
  6. The breeder of the litter should allot proper time for socialization and play with the puppies.

The Puppies

  1. Each puppy sold should be accompanied by an AKC registration form and a correct, signed pedigree. A health record of immunization and parasite control, as well as the feeding regimen should be written out and also verbally explained to the buyer.
  2. The breeder should develop and have in mind a profile of an acceptable potential Siberian Husky owner The advantages and disadvantages of owning this puppy should be fully explained.
  3. The breeder should be aware of the facilities available at the purchaser's home for the puppy. Questions such as . . . Who is going to be responsible for its care? . . . Will it be properly confined? . . . Do all members of the family want the dog? . . . etc., should be asked and answered in the affirmative before the puppy is sold.
  4. If, in the breeder's judgment, the puppy is pet quality only, strong consideration should be given to limited registration or to withholding the registration papers by mutual agreement with the purchaser, using the outline in Chapter 3, Section 4A and Section 6, respectively, in the AKC Rules, Registrations, and Dog Shows.
  5. The price of the puppies is properly the business of the seller and purchaser. Any agreements, arrangement, and guarantees should be in writing, and signed by all parties involved.
  6. The breeder should follow up on puppies placed for at least the first year, and should be willing to help place the puppy in another home if the original buyer is unable to keep it.
  7. The breeder should be willing to answer questions as long as the buyer needs advice.

Last update of this page: 11/96

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© 1996, Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc.