Breeder/Exhibitor/Fancier Education> Guidelines for Ethical Breeding Practices
Guidelines for Ethical Breeding Practices
The first objective of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Siberian Husky Club of America (SHCA) is; “to do all that is possible to preserve the heritage and the working ability of the pure-bred Siberian Husky, and to bring the natural qualities and abilities to perfection through selective breeding”. Every member subscribes not only to this and the SHCA’s other objectives, but also to the SHCA’s Code of Ethics and the following Guidelines for Ethical Breeding Practices. The Board of Directors feel that the following are those basic principles that an overwhelming majority of the fancy accept as proper, honest, and fair as regards to conduct among and between breeders. It is our example, as SHCA members, as breeders who voluntarily establish and subscribe to such guidelines, which will have the most beneficial effect on the breed. All breedings should be undertaken not only for the betterment of the breed, but also to preserve the historical and working attributes of the purebred Siberian Husky as described in the Breed Standard. Accurate and thorough records should be maintained in compliance with, or comparable to, those standards set by the American Kennel Club. These guidelines as set forth below, are intended to apply to the breeding of all purebred Siberian Husky dogs and bitches, both domestic and imported.
General Breeding Practices
The Stud Dog and Brood Bitch should each be a good specimen of the breed, possessing proper temperament and structure as described by the SHCA Breed Standard.
The SHCA member knowingly only breeds purebred Siberian Huskies to other purebred Siberian Huskies, which are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) or other foreign dog registry recognized by the AKC.
The SHCA does not condone the breeding of dogs that will knowingly produce offspring that will be affected with diseases proven to be genetic.
The Stud Dog and Brood Bitch should each be certified, in accordance with the testing requirements as defined by the pertaining recording registry, to be free of radiological evidence of hip dysplasia by OFA, PennHip, or other equivalent recognized registry.
The Stud Dog and Brood Bitch should each be certified by a board certified (ACVO) ophthalmologist, or equivalent, to be free of any genetic eye disorders on an annual basis starting after one (1) year of age, but at a minimum, within the year prior to any and all planned breedings.
As additional genetic or health testing for heritable diseases becomes available, the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch should each be tested as recommended by the SHCA in order to promote and protect the health of the breed. See Addendum SHCA Genetic and Health Testing for Stud Dogs and Brood Bitches.
All advertising or publication of photos with the intent to advertise a Stud Dog or Brood Bitch in any SHCA publication, shall be honest and not in any way be misrepresentative, fraudulent, or misleading and should not be worded in a manner such that encourages raising and selling dogs purely for profit.
At the time of breeding, the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch should each be in good health, free of communicable diseases as well as internal and external parasites, and tested to be negative for Brucellosis.
Under ordinary circumstances, the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch should not be bred before two (2) years of age.
The Stud Dog
The owner of the Stud Dog should require the owner of the Brood Bitch to provide proper certification that the Brood Bitch is clear of hip dysplasia, genetic eye diseases and any other relevant genetic or health testing as recommended by the SHCA, and as set forth in paragraphs 4-6 of General Breeding Practices above.
The Stud Dog will have normal testicles properly located in the scrotum. (as per defined in the AKC Rulebook Chapter 12. Section 8, pg 44)
Fresh chilled or frozen semen should be from Stud Dogs that follow the SHCA’s ethical breeding guidelines in effect at the time of collection. In the case of a breeding using frozen semen from a deceased dog, test results of health testing at the time of the collection should be provided and full disclosure of any known genetic or physical abnormalities or concerns should be made to prospective breeders making use of the semen.
The owner of the Stud Dog, when approached, is obligated to discuss the merits and disadvantages of the proposed breeding with candor.
If a Stud Dog has not been proven by producing a litter (listed in the AKC Stud Dog Register, or any other recognized, legitimate International Dog Registry), the burden of proof of fertility is with the owner of the Stud Dog.
No substitution of Stud Dogs will take place unless formally agreed to by the owner or agent of the Brood Bitch.
The Brood Bitch
The owner of the Brood Bitch should require the owner of the Stud Dog to provide proper certification that the Stud Dog is clear of hip dysplasia, genetic eye diseases and any other relevant genetic or health testing as recommended by the SHCA, and as set forth in paragraphs 4-6 of General Breeding Practices above.
Under ordinary circumstances, the Brood Bitch should not be bred on consecutive heat cycles. If a breeding is to be done on back-to-back heat cycles, this should be done on no more than two (2) out of three (3) consecutive heats cycles.
The Breeding
A breeding should never be undertaken unless it is for the purpose of achieving the first objective of the Constitution and Bylaws of the SHCA; “to do all that is possible to preserve the heritage and the working ability of the pure-bred Siberian Husky, and to bring the natural qualities and abilities to perfection through selective breeding”. Under no circumstances should a breeding be done to satisfy sales demand or for the sole purpose of supporting a kennel.
A breeding should never be done unless the owner of the Brood Bitch is able to properly care for the litter and keep the resultant offspring for as long as it takes to suitably place each puppy.
All natural breedings should be personally supervised to ensure the dogs' safety.
The stud fee is for the actual act of breeding which is consummated by a “tie” or achieved through artificial insemination. If the breeding does not produce a litter, the Stud Dog’s owner/agent, as an option, may offer a return service for another breeding season or may offer another negotiated agreement. These should be specified in a written contract between the authorized parties. Breedings should be undertaken with an open and honest dialogue between all parties involved.
All contracts and agreements should include, but not be limited to; the stud fee, any costs for boarding, travel, information on what constitutes a litter and any other circumstances pertinent to that particular breeding. This should be set forth in writing and a signed copy should be retained by both parties. The stud fee itself, is solely a matter between the owners of the Stud Dog and the owners of the Brood Bitch and subject to their mutual agreement.
The Puppies
The results of any and all genetic or health testing that has been performed on a Puppy’s sire and/or dam should be made available to puppy buyers.
The breeder of the litter should allot proper time and space for socialization and exercise of the Puppies.
An AKC registration form (or registration form for another foreign dog registry recognized by the AKC), and a correct pedigree should be provided for each Puppy sold or transferred (electronic formats of these are acceptable) to help ensure that each Puppy is individually registered. A health record of immunization and parasite control, as well as the feeding regimen, should be in writing and given to the puppy buyer as well as verbally explained.
No Puppy should be transferred to its new home until it is at least eight (8) weeks of age. It is encouraged that all Puppies have some form of permanent identification, such as a microchip or tattoo.
The breeder should develop and have in mind a profile of an acceptable potential Siberian Husky owner. The advantages and disadvantages of owning the breed as well as the potential Puppy should be fully explained to the puppy buyers.
The breeder should be aware of the facilities available at the puppy buyer's home for care of 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 to the satisfaction of the breeder before the Puppy is sold.
If in the breeder's judgment the Puppy is of pet quality only, a spay/neuter contract should be discussed and strongly encouraged with the prospective puppy buyer and consideration should be given to limited registration.
If a health issue exists with a Puppy, it should be disclosed to the puppy buyer both verbally and in writing and if considered genetic, a spay/neuter contract should be required by the breeder and consideration should be given to limited registration.
The price of the Puppies is solely the business of the breeder and puppy buyer. All terms of agreements (contracts, warranties, etc.) should be in writing and signed by all parties involved with a copy retained by each party.
The contract should include a request that the breeder be contacted in the event that the puppy buyer, at any time in the life of the Puppy, is unable to keep the Puppy. If contacted, the breeder will make every reasonable effort to assist the puppy buyer in placement of the Puppy, or if necessary, take the Puppy back to the breeder’s premises until a future home can be found.
The breeder should follow up on Puppies placed for at least the first year. The breeder should be reasonably available to answer questions for as long as the puppy buyer needs advice.
An SHCA member will not sell, consign, donate, or transfer puppies or adults to commercial wholesalers, retail pet stores, dealers, auctions/raffles of any type, or to any persons or institutions known to be prejudicial to the Siberian Husky breed or purebred dogs, or to others who would aid and/or abet in the breeding or selling of the aforementioned.