Northern Counties Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club General Code of Ethics
Club Members:
- Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention as and when required
- Will agree, without reservation, that any veterinary surgeon performing 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.
- Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
- Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
- Will not create a demand for, nor supply, puppies which have been docked illegally.
- Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could in any way be harmful to the dog or bitch or the breed.
- Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbors or those carrying out official duties.
- Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars, are microchipped and will be kept fully leashed or under effective control when away from home.
- Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are exhibited.
- 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.
- Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
- 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.
- Will 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 any competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as standalone items (not accompanying a dog).
- Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs or mislead any person regarding the quality of a dog.
- It is recommended that Stafford bitches be not mated under the age of sixteen months at the time of mating nor after attaining the age of seven years, between which ages no more than four litters should be produced. The Kennel Club will not register any puppies born either by caesarean section or naturally from any bitch which has previously had two such operations. A bitch should not be mated the season after whelping.
- Stud dogs should only be used for the betterment of the breed and only allowed to mate bitches which are registered at the Kennel Club.
- All members’ dogs should be tested for all relevant eye conditions under a Kennel Club approved scheme whose results are published and that all breeding stock, dog or bitch, should be DNA tested for both L-2 HYDROXYGLUTARIC ACIDURIA (L2HGA) and HEREDITARY JUVENILE CATARACTS (HC) before they are bred from, unless they are from parents shown to be hereditarily clear. Note: Hereditarily clear means that a dog has been bred from parents that are either (a) both DNA tested clear or (b) parents are registered as hereditarily clear.
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.