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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > Breeder's code of ethics (70 replies)
Breeder's code of ethics by Slamdunc on 26 March 2012 - 00:17 | ||
| With the recent discussions on breeders and breeding practices, I decided to look into a "Breeder's Code of Ethics." Suprisingly, I found several and found them to be very interesting. I thought I would post some links to them for comparision. I would like to hear from Breeders to get their feeling on what is important when breeding. I would also like to hear from GSD owners or any breed owners to find out what is important to them when selecting a dog or choosing a breeder. This is from the GSDCA website regarding unethical Breeders: Here is the link to the page: http://www.gsdca.org/german-shepherd-dogs/choosing-a-puppy/unethical-breeders Unethical Breeders
This may help some of the novice members read ads posted on forums and make an educated decision. Next, I will post what ethical breeders may do. Jim | ||
Slamdunc by Slamdunc on 26 March 2012 - 00:21 | |
Ethical Breeders:
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by Slamdunc on 26 March 2012 - 00:35 |
| Here is Breeders code of ethics, a variation of this may be a good idea for this forum: Here is the link: http://www.breeders.net/ethics.php Breeders.net Code of Ethics
I agree to be a resource for buyers of puppies or older dogs that I have sold for the life of the dog.All breeders in Breeders.NET directory are required to agree to the above Code of Ethics and to be bound by its standard of behavior. To review the Code of Ethics for specific breed clubs, you'll find their web sites by visiting www.akc.org for American Kennel Club recognized breeds, www.ukcdogs.com for United Kennel Club recognized breeds and www.ckc.ca for Canadian breed clubs. DISCLAIMER
Breeders.NET assumes no responsibility for the quality, health, or temperament of any dog, nor the warranty, guarantee, integrity, honesty or reliability, expressed or implied, by any person or of or by any person or organization whose name appears in the Breeders.NET directory. All such warranties, guarantees and promises are between buyer(s) and seller(s) as individuals. BREEDER DISQUALIFICATION Breeders.NET will disqualify a breeder from future participation in Breeders.NET where governmental or other authority has held the breeder not to be in compliance with laws, rules and regulations. If you wish to inform Breeders.NET of such a case, please complete this form. This is not an endorsement of Breeders.Net by me, but the Code of Ethics is a starting point, the bare minimum. |
by Ace952 on 26 March 2012 - 01:44 |
| great post. |
Ace952 by northwoodsGSD on 26 March 2012 - 01:51 |
| Where's the "like" button :) |
northwoodsGSD by hexe on 26 March 2012 - 03:21 |
| A Code of Ethics is all well and good if it truly establishes minimum standards that address the problems within a breed. Here's link to the GSDCA's Breeder's Code of Ethics, though--and sadly, nowhere in this document is it stated that dogs will not be bred if they have not been certified clear of hip and elbow dysplasia...it merely says 'an exchange of pedigrees and hip and elbow X-ray information must be made' before or at the time of a breeding. If no X-rays were done, then there's no info to be exchanged, is there? And even if X-rays WERE done--nowhere does it say that the dogs must have been found to be free of these two issues prior to being bred, does it? There's nothing in this document that directs a breeder to refrain from breeding animals which are too young to have hip and elbow certifications, either. http://www.gsdca.org/join-the-gsdca/breeders-code It's a weak "code" at best, frankly. But I'm not just picking on the GSDCA--most of the parent breed clubs in the US have similar BCOE's for their members, lacking in admonitions against breeding animals which were not certified free of the heritable conditions affecting those breeds; it would be easier to cite the parent club BCOE's that DO address such points in plain English and no uncertain terminology than to list the ones that don't, to be frank. And we can't look to the AKC for such a document, either--that would cut too far into their revenue, as most of the people breeding AKC-registered litters would never be capable of living up to even the limited standards of practice that the breed club BCOEs outline. [Derp!-- Edited because I forgot to add the freakin' link!!] |
by GSD Admin on 26 March 2012 - 04:35 |
| And until all these organizations come together including the AKC the best we can hope for is to educate breeders with respect and civility or else you risk turning them away. It is on the members of these organizations to demand change and until people step up, this is all pretty words, meaning nothing. Sorry, JMO. The beat them over the head approach will not work. |
GSD Admin by Slamdunc on 26 March 2012 - 05:47 |
| All we can do is hope breeders do the minimum expected of an ethical breeder. We can educate potential puppy buyers and help them to not make a huge mistake or be taken advantage off. We can warn potential customers to avoid the unscrupulous and unethical breeders, we can recommend the honest, knowledgeable, and ethical breeders. We can hopefully steer customers to the honest breeders that register and health test their litters and work and show dogs they have bred. When we do this consistently the unethical breeders may have to change their breeding practices as they will not have the customers to sell their puppies too. |
by Ibrahim on 26 March 2012 - 07:34 |
| I think I understand what Slamdunc is saying and in principle I agree totally with him and I have the following to say: After getting decent education on the breed to a good extent, most of this education was from this site, here's what I care for if I decide to buy a puppy in future, 1. Breeder should be truthful with me and answer my questions honestly and not with a salesmanship mind. 2. Breeder should have a good reputation in regards to previous transactions with customers. 3. His/her kennel should be clean and provides enough space for the dogs 4. His dogs should be fed good quality food and well taken care of in regards to medical follow up 5. Dogs should be healthy. 6. Dogs should be certified against common diseases such as HD, ED etc 7. Breeder should have very good knowledge on the breed and breeding practice 8. Dogs should have at least the minimum requirements for breeding, titles, survey etc 9. Dogs should be registered and puppies are registerable. If the breeder fullfills all above but is a liar or deceitful then nothing else he/she's excelling at means anything to me. I can understand or accept any missing item from 6 to 9 due to a certain specific case but I wouldn't accept any missing item from 1 to 5. Me and few of my friends decided to start breeding and currently are working on it, we do not have the facility here to meet items 6 to 9, we will make that well known to customers, we will not claim that our aim is to better the breed, we will not claim our puppies are as good as what can be imported from the country of breed origin, we will not use the internet to make false claims, propaganda or bait customers, the puppy price will only cover part of the actual cost, no mass production, we will not encourage further breeding of our puppies, each customer will be advised to look for a puppy for adoption before he/she buys a puppy from us. We will tell the truth. Now I know I may be hated for what we will do by some of the members here whom I look high to, that is fine, at least I am being honest and I will not say otherwise or convince anyone to buy a puppy from us, I don't need to and I won't claim I am as good a breeder as the average breeder over here. This site was created as I understand for the love of the breed, I do not understand how a deceitful breeder who does not meet the basic requirements of ethical breeding when he/she has all facilities in his/her country to check and verify HD, ED etc, train and title his/her dogs, enjoys the availability of show rings and various clubs, I do not understand how such a breeder is allowed to misuse this site and bait customers into buying an unhealthy puppy or dog. And so no one thinks that I am referring to latest discussions involving certain breeders, I am not and I am not suggesting that any member should attack a breeder without facts. I do not understand when a liar is exposed for the public it is not ethical but breeding a sick dog is ethical and okay. Please do not limit what I am saying to a certain case, focus on the principle and general idea. Why claim what you are not !! Why claim your dogs are better than what they really are !!! Be honest with your own self no matter what others might think of you, accept what you are, at least people will not call you dishonest, liar or deceitful. Let them call you unsuccessful or lower quality breeder that is much better than "liar" . |
by macrowe1 on 26 March 2012 - 11:34 |
| great post! |
macrowe1 by Blitzen on 26 March 2012 - 12:19 |
AKC will not generally allow member clubs to use Breeder's Codes in a punative manner, only as a teaching tool. |
Blitzen by GSD Admin on 26 March 2012 - 20:10 |
| See the article section up top? All you need to do is write something up and submit it to me and I can add it to the articles. I highly encourage our members to do something like Blizten suggested and I will make sure it gets into the article section. If you are a good writer and want to submit an article we will look at them and if we feel they are good I will make sure it gets into that section. I have a few that need to be added and will look at getting them up there in the next week or so. Please make sure that only one person is working on any given topic like this one, in other words I don't want to get 10 articles about the same topic. |
by Slamdunc on 26 March 2012 - 22:54 |
| How much do you pay for the articles you want to post on the site? |
by GSD Admin on 26 March 2012 - 23:08 |
| When we have professionals write them, I have no idea. But members would not be paid to contribute articles. The 2 members who have written and turned in articles have not asked to be paid but Oli wanted me to get something in writing so a year from now someone doesn't come back on him for money. When they are professionally written a release is signed allowing Oli to become the owner of those articles. I was under the impression that Blitzen was looking for a place to post guidelines for helping members buying a dog, not looking to get paid for posting those guidelines. My bad. Nevermind. |
by Slamdunc on 26 March 2012 - 23:19 |
| Just checking to see the conditions and terms, that answers my question. I would have to pass. |
by GSD Admin on 27 March 2012 - 03:37 |
| All for "the love of the breed". $$$ I thought this was about helping new members but I see I was way wrong. I am done with the double talk, so go ahead and get the last word. |
by darylehret on 27 March 2012 - 05:11 |
| C'mon Jim, do the "ethical thing", don't just type the type, walk the walk and follow through with this brainchild. It should be noted though, that the term ethics should not be confused with customary practice. |
darylehret by Blitzen on 27 March 2012 - 12:38 |
| By "guidelines" I simply meant some bullet points that address the minimum a new buyer should ask of a breeder, not an article. On second thought, it's probably not a good idea for this board since there are too many disagreements on what is ethical/customary practice and what's not. We can't even agree that a dog should be AKC registered/registerable let alone which health tests are appropriate. I will refer newbies to the GSDCA website and their buyers' guidelines. My message will always be -buyer beware. |
by darylehret on 27 March 2012 - 17:40 |
| I got a great idea. Let's make a checklist or flow chart of all the formentioned criteria, and give it to a buyer that under NO conditions, is he/she to purchase a dog unless the chart says it's OK. Then, tally up how many phone calls and breeders visits cause the the prospective buyer to come up empty handed. Let's make it a CHALLENGE! |
by Blitzen on 27 March 2012 - 17:44 |
I know quite a few breeders who could conform, Daryl. I doubt there would be many newly qualified buyers left empty handed if they required the basics before buying a dog. |
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