BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG CLUB OF OREGON

CODE OF CONDUCT for MEMBERS

The primary objective of the BMDCO and each of its members is to protect and secure the well being of Bernese Mountain Dogs.

Article A General conduct of members
1)Members will at all times represent themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and refrain from non-constructive criticism regarding another's dog or personal affairs.
2)Members will share knowledge and be truthful in conveying information about dogs, families of dogs and owners of dogs for benefit of the breed.
3)Members will provide Bernese Mountain Dogs in their care with a healthy, safe environment, nutrition and veterinary care at all times.
4)Members will make use of recognized organizations including but not limited to: OFA, GDC, OVC, CERF etc. to evaluate the genetic status of breeding prospects and companion animals.
5)Members will adhere to all AKC rules, regulations and requirements pertaining to the sport of dogs.

Article B Responsibilities of members who engage in breeding and selling dogs
1)Members will accept the standard adopted by the BMDCA and recognized by the AKC as the blueprint for determining the suitability of breeding prospects.

2)Members will adhere to AKC rules, regulations and requirement regarding the breeding of Bernese Mountain Dogs so as to only produce litters of pup which are eligible for registration with the AKC and/or with those kennel clubs recognized by the AKC. AKC full privilege registration of all sires and dams will be verified prior to breeding.

3) Members will refrain from breeding dogs under 1 year of age. Optimally, bitches will not be bred until after 2 years of age and should produce no more than one litter a year. Bitches owned or co-owned by members will not produce pups more often than two out of three heat cycles.

4)Members will radiograph Bernese Mountain Dogs considered for breeding for hip and elbow dysplasia and will submit radiographs for any dog to be bred to a recognized organization for evaluation.

5) Members acknowledge orchestrating the conception of life bears a moral obligation to ensure the welfare of lives produced. Primary responsibility for offspring falls on the owner of the offspring. If the owner refuses to accept responsibility, responsibility falls on the breeder of record (owner of the dam at time of mating). The sire's owner of record at the time of conception will assume responsibility for the sire's offspring should the owner and breeder of record be unable or unwilling to assume responsibility.

6) Sire and dam owner members are responsible for obtaining information pertaining to the status and development of progeny produced by their dogs.

7) Members will supply a copy of each of these documents: the Code of Conduct, and Guidelines for Breeders to any non-member with whom there is exchange of services related to Bernese Mountain Dogs and/or exchange of Bernese Mountain Dogs.

8) Members acknowledge in breeding Bernese Mountain Dogs, acquisition and application of facts from each dog's family history pertaining to orthopedics, longevity, overall health, type and temperament is essential to insuring breed welfare.

Article C Responsibilities of Sellers
1) No member will engage in brokering or wholesaling of litters or in individual sales or consignments of any puppies or adults to pet shops, dealers, brokers, agents, catalog houses or other commercial establishments.

2) Members will establish and attempt to maintain a lifetime communication with owners in whose care they place dogs.
3) Members acknowledge the value of a written contract reviewed by all parties prior to the exchange of monies or services which details all obligations and expectations of sellers, buyers and providers of services.

4) Member breeders understand they have a responsibility to provide advice, reasonable aid and assistance to owners of offspring from their breeding program for the dog's lifetime.

5) Any member selling or placing a Bernese Mountain Dog will, if asked, assist the buyer or rescue organization in finding a suitable home for the dog should the need arise. If the breeder is unable to assist, the responsibility will fall to the owner of the dog's sire at the time of conception.

6) On sale of any Bernese Mountain Dog puppy or adult the seller will:
a. Maintain all puppies to at least 8 weeks of age in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act of the United States.
b. Release only animals that are to the best of the breeder's knowledge, in good health.
c. Ensure that all animals released have received the necessary inoculations and deworming appropriate for their age.
d. Supply records detailing all dates and types of medical care the animal received, including inoculations
e. Provide written information on the care of the animal, including grooming, feeding and housing
f. Supply a 4-generation pedigree
g. Attempt to provide all known information related to health and management issues pertinent to achieving understanding of and provision for the dog's requirements and needs.

Article D Responsibilities of All Members
1) Members will be open and honest.

2) Members will honor all contractual agreements with buyers and sellers except where documented evidence indicates the dog's or breed's welfare is jeopardized.

3) Members acknowledge the value of keeping breeders and buyers of their dogs informed about any health issues affecting their dog and its family.

4) Members will contact the dog's breeder for assistance in re-homing if, at any time, they cannot take proper care of the dog.

5) Members will advise the breeder, if known, of a change in ownership pertaining to any dog placed in their care or placed by them into the care of another.

6) Members will provide proper housing, and appropriate training to ensure a well-mannered dog. Dogs should not be allowed to run unsupervised nor become a public nuisance, nor be kept in unsafe conditions. Training to ensure a well-mannered dog should not be abusive nor be excessively harsh for the individual dog.

7) Members are encouraged to submit health status findings to Berner-Garde, a database endorsed by the BMDCA, whose purpose is to promote the exchange of information about Bernese Mountain Dogs' health.

8) Members will not donate nor offer as prizes Bernese Mountain Dogs in contests, raffles, or fundraising events, no matter how charitable.

9) Members agree to constructively exchange facts regarding Bernese Mountain Dogs.

10) Members will adhere to all AKC rules, regulations and requirements related to all matters in the sport of dogs.

Article E Actions requiring discipline
1) Neglect or abuse of any Dog in the care of a member documented by an investigation of an authorized humane organization.
2) Suspension of AKC privileges.
3) Knowingly to sell, or aid and abet the sale of a Bernese Mountain Dog to or through an auction, pet shop, wholesaler, broker or agents.
4) Poor sportsmanship including poor care of hotel properties and unsportsman-like behavior at dog events.

Article F Penalties
Behavior that is contradictory to the Code of Conduct may be subject to discipline and per Article V - Discipline of BMDCO’s Constitution and Bylaws.

Exceptions
Provisions in the COC may be waived by the BMDCO Board of Directors and/or by a vote of the membership based on review and evaluation of specific circumstances which could appear on face to be in violation of the COC. Members are urged to contact the BMDCO Board of Directors regarding any noncompliance with the COC.

GUIDELINES for BREEDERS
The Guidelines for Breeders provides a composite of practices and principles that should be utilized and adopted by BMD breeders to promote breed welfare. This document reflects a focus on breed preservation and protection, and outlines an approach designed to insure BMD well-being, including individual BMDs, the breed as a whole and future BMD generations.

The Guidelines for Breeders is divided into three sections. The sections are: I, General comments; II Husbandry Practices, and III, Conduct and Approach to Breeding and Selling Dogs

I -GENERAL COMMENTS

All dogs used for breeding should be examples of the breed that reflect the characteristics outlined in the BMD AKC standard.

All dogs used for breeding should be in excellent health.

All dogs used for breeding should be registered with full privileges with the AKC. Full privilege registration must be verified by both dam's and sire's owners prior to any breeding of two Bernese.

All dogs used for breeding should be under the control of a responsible owner at the time the breeding occurs, and no bitch should be sold in whelp nor until after her pups are weaned.

Owners of all dogs used for breeding should be aware that the orchestration of life carries with it a responsibility for the resultant offspring for their lifetimes.

II - HUSBANDRY PRACTICES

All breeding dogs

Should be tested for genetic conditions and results of tests should be evaluated by recognized organizations such as OFA, GDC, OVC, and CERF. Genetically passed traits in families of Bernese may include, but are not limited to: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye disorders including PRA and cataracts, thyroid, Von Willebrands and other blood related diseases, and heart conditions.

Bitches

-Bitches should be given a veterinary check-up prior to breeding. Bitches should be tested for canine brucellosis if they have been bred before. A vaginal culture may be done to ascertain the presence of some diseases of the reproductive tract

-Bitches should be allowed to mature before breeding. Many BMD bitches under two years of age are still growing and ideally should not be bred until mature.

-Bitches should have had at least one season before they are bred.

-Bitches should not be bred more than two out of every three seasons and should not have more than one litter within a one year time period except in situations where medically indicated for the bitch's welfare. In such cases it is in the breed's best interest to consider carefully such a bitch's long term effects on the breed if such conditions are later proved to be hereditary in her offspring.

-When breeding bitches on back-to-back heat cycles, consideration should be given to the number of pups produced from the first cycle as that has a direct bearing on the bitch's capacity to offer optimal resources to her next litter. Because bitches leach calcium from their own bones to provide it for their pups, if a bitch has just had 12 pups six months before she is back in season, there is a great possibility that the bitch's system has been drained and requires time to replenish.

-Bitches must be managed throughout their pregnancy, whelp, and while they are raising their pups to insure the health and well-being of both dam and offspring.

Stud Dogs

-Males should be given a veterinary check prior to being used for breeding. An evaluation of semen prior to breeding should be done to aid in assessing the health of the reproductive system.

-Stud dogs should be allowed to mature before being used for breeding.

-Most males, while capable of siring litters at a younger age, are often not developed adequately for evaluation purposes prior to 18 months of age.

-Males under one year of age should not be used for breeding.

-Males should be managed to assure their health and virility.

Puppies

- Puppies should be offered optimal conditions conducive to their survival and normal development from their birth until they are placed.

- Puppies should be kept in quarters that are warm, clean and dry.

- Puppies should be offered appropriate nutrition in order to insure proper development.

-Puppies should be offered a stimulating and nurturing environment designed to allow for maximum physical and mental development.

-Pups should be socialized and exposed to handling and human contact to ensure each pup's ability to bond with and trust humans.

III - CONDUCT and APPROACH to BREEDING

The breeding of dogs should not be taken lightly by those engaged in perpetuating a breed. The decision to produce offspring from a carefully selected breeding pair requires that both breeder and stud dog owner make every effort to insure that the progeny of the pair will be good examples of the breed and will live lives with people who will appreciate their value and develop and keep the dog well. To achieve this, a breeder's maintaining contact with individuals with whom he/she engages in the breeding and placement of dogs is essential. Lifetime commitment to lives produced and lifetime contact with those caring for dogs one produces are essential to a breeder's awareness of how animals they produce fair through life. The further utilization of information gleaned by a breeder through this lifetime contact sets the conscientious breeder apart from all others. It is unlikely any breeder can achieve this 100%. It is a trait of conscientious breeders to provide the opportunity for and encourage lifetime contact with all owners of dogs from their programs.

-Breeders should make every attempt to define for themselves and others their priorities and purpose for breeding BMDs.

-Breeders should seek to gain a greater understanding of the breed through study of issues related to dog health, management, and care.

-Every breeding dog comes from a family of dogs. Understanding all assessable traits possessed by families of BMDs, in addition to accurate assessment and evaluation of traits possessed by individual BMDs used for breeding, is critical to insuring future BMD generations' well being

-Breeders should promote the exchange of information between themselves and those people with whom they place dogs.

-Open and honest sharing of facts concerning BMDs' health, structure, temperament and type characteristics is an essential part of any breeders approach.

-Puppies produced from any breeding should be carefully evaluated and placed by the breeder.

-Every effort should be made when placing pups or adult BMDs to determine that the prospective owner's home and management will be adequate to meet the dog's needs and will not result in that dog becoming a public nuisance or a public burden.

-Puppies that are evaluated prior to placement and deemed to be lacking in breed characteristics sufficient to be used as future breeding stock should be sold on AKC Limited Registration and/or on spay/neuter contracts.

-Puppies placed in homes where the owner intends to eventually use the dog for breeding should be assessed by their breeders and owners in terms of their potential to contribute positively to the gene pool.

-Breeders placing dogs, as breed stock animals must assume the responsibility for insuring that the new owner is committed to applying standards and management practices that will insure breed welfare.

-Breeders should use contracts when they engage in any business related to breeding dogs or selling dogs. Contracts should clearly outline responsibilities and obligations of the persons engaged in exchange of any services or dogs. Clarity and understanding of matters in contracts is the responsibility of the persons who are conducting business. Written contracts are strongly advised to serve as instruments of record of agreements.