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NORTH
AMERICAN BORDEAUX FEDERATION CODE OF ETHICS
The North American Bordeaux Federation, requests that all breeders and
owners of the Dogue de Bordeaux who are members of this club,
subscribe to the following Code of Ethics to promote and foster the
highest standards among breeders, owners and fanciers, and to
encourage sportsmanship and cooperation in an effort to improve and
advance the Dogue de Bordeaux breed.
Health:
I swear I will maintain high
standards of health and care for
my dogs, and guarantee the health of my puppies at the time of sale. I
will have my dogues checked and tested for the most commonly seen
ailments in the breed and will be not breed any dogue that has been
deemed defective or a detriment to the future of the breed.
Vaccinations:
Vaccinations for my dogues/pups will be administered in
accordance with local and state requirements, as well as fit the
recommendations of my local area. An internal and external parasite
control program will be maintained. Sick dogs will be separated from
general kennel population. Bathing/grooming should be administered as
required by breed, in order to maintain proper health conditions.
Socialization:
A daily regimen of human interaction is necessary to
ensure the development of good temperament for all dogs and puppies.
Waste Disposal:
Waste will be removed in accordance
with accepted
local and state requirements. The kennel area must be cleaned of all
feces and urine daily. Solid waste must be removed from the kennel
area throughout the day everyday.
Food and
Water:
Clean water must be available at all
times. Care will
be taken to ensure that water dishes are not tipped over easily or
contaminated with urine, fecal matter or any other matter that is not
condusive to the proper health/maintenance of the animals in my care.
Dogs should be fed at least once daily and puppies fed according to a
recommended feeding schedule from a licensed veterinarian.
A balanced diet is necessary for good health. Food containers must be
thoroughly cleaned regularly. Attention to feeding times in a
multi-dog confinement area is necessary to ensure that each dog
receives adequate nourishment.
Shelter:
All dogs must have access to dry, weatherproof housing. The
shelter must be properly maintained in relation to climatic
conditions. Extra care will be taken to ensure the comfort and safety
of this breed in hot conditions, keeping in mind that this breed is
extremely heat intolerant. Adequate areas will be provided where the
dog can get out of the sun or heat, wind or rain, at any time of the
day or night. Regular inspections of housing is necessary to ensure
sanitary bedding and protection from objects harmful to pups and adult
dogues.
Safety and
Protection:
Should the kennel owner choose to kennel dogs
together, there must be attention given so that no dogs/puppies are in
danger of injuring one another or other animals. Also, there must be
adequate protection from stray and wild animals who could bring diease
or cause physical injury, as well as ensuring protection from objects
harmful to pups and adults. Adequate fencing/containment is a
necessity for this breed.
Dog Fighting:
I shall inexplicably discourage the promotion, support,
and raising of dogs for fighting. I will not knowingly sell, give or
trade dogs to any individual, association or affiliation that will be
using this animal or any other animal for fighting. I shall not
condone or be associated with the facing off, game testing, rolling or
pitting of dogs.
Records:
I will keep accurate personal, as well as AKC and UKC records
at minimum, and will retain copies of those records for a minimum of
five years. These records will include: health and vaccination
records, stud service contracts, pedigrees, all litters produced,
microchip/tattoo numbers on pups produced, and information on all
dogs/puppies sold, and who they were sold to.
All dogs will be easily identified within my kennel operation. I will
maintain complete and accurate registration documents on all dogs. I
will give AKC and UKC papers on each dog sold, unless the purchase
contract specifically states this dogue has been sold without papers.
I will report any person who falsifies a registration, or knowingly
misrepresents a pedigree to the proper registration outlet.
Breeding:
I shall plan each breeding with the paramount intention of
improving the breed. With each pet puppy I sell, I will require of the
new owner, by contract, that the dogue will be spayed or neutered by a
certain date with proof mailed to me for my records.
I will select a stud dog and a brood bitch with an eye to
conformation, temperament, and working instinct/ability, with a
careful study of the breed standard and the principles of genetics. I
will not breed any male or female until they are both physically and
mentally mature.
Minimal club recommdation of a mature breeding dogue is: A female 18
months of age or older who has had at least 2 heats, and a male who is
at least 12 months old or older.
Additionally, I will not knowingly breed any bitch whose health or
life could be in jeopardy by doing so. Nor will I breed a bitch who is
beyond the breeds ideal breeding years (approximately 6 yrs old and
under is considered ideal).
Before entering into any breeding arrangement, I will scrutinize the
pedigree, conformation aspects, and working potential of both the sire
and the dam, keeping in mind the ideal overall picture of the breed.
I have an obligation to refuse any breeding if, in my opinion, it is
not in the best interest of the breed.
As a responsible stud dog owner, I understand that should I refuse a
breeding, I will fully explain my reasons to the owner of the bitch.
I subscribe to the policy that only those dogs who are believed to be
free of defects should be used for breeding. Dogs who should not be
bred are those possessing: unilateral or bilateral cryptorchids,
evidence of vicious or shy temperaments, and any other defect
addressed in the breed standard.
Being a responsible breeder, I will refrain from using a dog that,
although free from the above defects, consistently produces afflicted
puppies.
I will also ensure that my sales contracts state that any pup of mine
is required by law to be returned to me if at any time the owner
cannot or does not want to keep it. This is to help ensure that the
dogues produced by club owners do not end up in shelters, rescue, sold
at auctions or in the hands of puppymill breeders.
Whelping Area:
The whelping area must be warm and clean and must have
plenty of ample space for the animals to move about, as well as easy
accessible for cleaning and inspection. For both pups and mother, the
kennel owner must provide a healthy whelping area for maximum growth,
survival, exercise and socialization with humans.
Confinement:
Each litter must be segregated, or properly identified.
Dogs must be confined in such a manner that prevents their escape, yet
provides adequate room for individual mobility. Crated dogs must
receive adequate exercise daily as well as adequate human
socialization. Females in season must be separated from males (other
than the male she is bred to) for the entire heat cycle.
Sales:
I will be discriminating in the sale of my puppies, and
concerned with the type of homes in which they are placed. My
dogs/puppies will not be sold to dog wholesalers, retailers or pet
stores.
I will provide and transfer all applicable registration papers at the
time the purchase agreement is completed and/or is agreeable to both
parties.
Upon the sale of a puppy, I will provide the buyer with a feeding
schedule, an inoculation and parasite control record, important
information pertaining to the breed and a health guarantee.
I will refrain from releasing any puppy until it is at least eight (8)
weeks old, nor will I ship any puppy under eight (8) weeks old.
Advertising: I agree that all advertising of dogs/puppies should be
factual and honest, both in substance and implication.
I will avoid making statements that may be misinterpreted or seen as
inflated or as lacking facts to substantiate it.
I will avoid encouraging buyers regarding the breeding potential of
any dog/puppy. The breeding of any purebred dog involves certain
responsibilities, and is not to be taken lightly.
Exhibitors/Breeder
Relations:
I understand that exhibiting dogs is a
sport, and that I am expected to express good sportsmanship in all
activities. As an exhibitor I will refrain from unnecessary criticism
of other people's dogs in public.
I will not act in any manner which could embarrass or misrepresent the
breed or the members of this club.
As a matter of ethics, I pledge to help educate the general public as
well as to assist the novice breeder.
Implementation:
The NABF Code of Ethics is the responsibility of each
individial breeder to uphold. Each member is required to
regulate/police themselves and present an ethical basis for their
breeding kennel.
The NABF will not act to police breeders, nor force them to subscribe
to any specific issues. Each person is expected to be of such ethical
fiber that the proposed COE's comes naturally to them as upstanding
representatives of this fine breed.
Members in violation of these codes would be subject to disciplinary
action only if the club members as a whole feel warranting a member
vote for disciplinary actions is in order. Such disciplinary action
may consist of suspension or expulsion of club priviledges.
No member will be considered for membership of the NABF if they sit
unfavorably with any association, or if they have any criminal past
involving inappropriate, neglectful, abusive or unethical actions
pertaining to animals of any kind.
Kennel owners must meet all local, county and state government
requirements for kennel operations.
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