Dogsey Breeders Charter

Hi All, below you will find a 1st draft of what we hope will become our Breeders Charter. When we launch our directory, all breeders wishing to get themselves listed must first declare that they agree to it.

While it will be impossible to enforce the charter itself, we will be doing a first in the dog world, and allow anyone who buys a puppy or dog from a listed breeder to print out the charter for use in a court of law if anything ever came to it. All they need to do is get in writing from the breeder that they are listed on Dogsey before handing over the money. While it is not a sure-fire way and there are no guarentees any outcome is assured, it is definitely a first in the dog world and it might actually help not only prevent unethical breeders listing, but make some breeders think twice before breeding in an unacceptable manner.

Anyway, what do you think about it? Is it fair? Not too restrictive?

DOGSEY BREEDERS CHARTER

All breeders wishing to be listed in our Breeders Directory must first agree that they adhere to the minimum standards laid out in the Dogsey Breeders Charter. If at any point you wish to cease following this charter you must notify us immediately - and your listing will be removed and the date logged.

Before Breeding

Even before mating a Bitch the breeder should have considered and be comfortable that they:

• Have enough time to devote to the care and well-being of a litter until they are ready to go to their new homes at 8 weeks old.

• Are knowledgeable enough to advise any new owners about caring for their puppies, including rearing, diet, training and health problems.

• Can afford to pay for the recommended health tests for the bitch and, where necessary, her litter.

• Can afford to pay for the food/inoculations required for the bitch and her pups until the time they are homed. (This can sometimes exceed 3 or 4 months.)

• Know enough to help the bitch during the whelping, if required (and also know at what point a vet should be called should the need arise).

• Can afford to pay for a caesarean should the dam have difficulty whelping the litter.

• Can afford to pay and is able to cope with hand rearing the litter should the bitch die.

• Can cope with a very large litter (some litters can exceed 10 or 12 puppies).

• Know how to rear the litter correctly, including worming, vaccinations and socialisation.

• Will be able to find good homes for all the puppies.

• Are able to take back or re-home any puppies if necessary.


Responsible breeders must also:

* Issue the purchaser with a suggested menu for the pup, and explain how to change to a new diet, also provide enough food to last at least 3 days along with a container of the water the pup is used to.

* Provide a copy of the pedigree to at least 5 generations

* Include any certificates of vaccination or identification of the pup

* Believe that each new litter which they breed should be an improvement on the parents.

* Give careful consideration to health issues, temperament and soundness and be aware of the specific hereditary and congenital defects affecting their breed.

* Check that the stud dog being used has undergone any healthchecks relevant to the breed and is otherwise fit and healthy.

* Make sure both bitch and sire to be used in the breeding be of an age acceptable by the breeds relevant club.

* Plan ahead of each mating so as to ensure that each puppy produced will be bred in the best possible environment.

* Accept responsibility for a puppy which they have bred, and make themselves available to give advice, help and information to those who have taken on any of their litter.

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The above is based on advice from the UK Kennel Club.

That's very good, and I would fulfil all of that bar the 5 gen ped one for Cooper as he is a newly registered colour so I can't provide 5 generations on his side. How will that be dealt with?
Becky

PS forgot to say, that there will also be further restrictions, that is, the directory may not be used by commercial breeders or puppy farms. I guess that is probably what we need to sort out - how do we quantify a commercial breeder or puppy farm? How many litters a year is 'acceptable' ?

Becky - how many generations can you provide? Can you give us some more info regarding the situation please so we get an idea of what's what..

Maybe apply the breeders licence i.e. those who breed more than 5 litters a year that require a licence would be excluded. I'm not sure why any small breeder would want to breed that many litters a year but I suppose if your breeding program was such that in one year that's how it worked out?
Becky

Yep that seems reasonable

How about restrictions of litters per bitch in her lifetime and how spaced out? Follow breed club guidelines?

I'm pleased to say that I fulfill all the requirements so look forward to it being set-up.

I have bred two litters, 18 months apart, from different bitches both of whom will only have the one litter. I don't breed from them before they are 3 years old and have had all health tests.

I'm a bit confused about the commercial breeder bit though, I will never be in the position of having 5 litters per year, I wouldn't want to, it would kill me to be honest.

I think you will have to take into account the different breeds as some breeds can be bred from at a young age but the slower maturing shouldn't be. So a breeder with a bitch of the first type could get more litters out of her bitch than someone with a slow maturing breed. I think you would be wise to follow the breed club guidelines in that respect.

I shall watch the developments with interest.

The Kennel club do have restrictions on number of litters.... and spacing of litters for licenced breeders, but if you're not insisting on KC registration then I think something should be included to cover these.

Same here I meet the criteria as well except for the vaccinations as my vet innoculates at 12 weeks and my pups go at 8 however I do insist the pups are registered with a vet local to the new owener before they leave me.
My breed clubs recommend that the bitches be bred no more than once a year and have no more than four litters, between the ages of 2 and 8.
I think this is in line with KC recommendations,
Hope this helps

Oh me too, I misunderstood this bit and thought it meant we hand the certificates over if they'd been done. Sorry