GERMAN SPITZ CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN
GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS
All members of the German Spitz Club of Great Britain undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics.
Club members:
1. Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
2. 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 operation to the Kennel Club.
3. Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
4. Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act
5. Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
6. Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.
7. Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
8. Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
9. Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
10. 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.
11. Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
12. 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.
13. 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 a competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as stand-alone items (not accompanying a dog).
14. Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs, nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.
15. GENERAL: Members shall not make statements or behave in such a manner as to bring the Klein or Mittel German Spitz, the German Spitz Club of Great Britain or its members into disrepute.
16. BREEDING
a. All bitches and stud dogs to be bred from must be Kennel Club registered and free from breeding endorsements. b. Bitches will not be mated before 12 months old.
• Bitches will not be bred from after two caesareans.
• Bitches will not be bred from in three successive seasons
• (i) No member of the Club will offer any dog at stud or mate any bitch unless it is free from any known hereditary defect. The respective dog/bitch must have been eye tested for MRD, and other diseases, under the K/C/BVA or EVCO scheme, and the current annual (i.e., within the last twelve months) Eye Certificate, stating the dog/bitch is clear from any symptoms of known hereditary eye diseases on the day of test must be held prior to mating. The Certificate should be available to be seen and a copy lodged with the Club. (ii) No bitch is to compete in any of the following dog sports
• heel work to music/freestyle
• Agility
• Flyball
• Obedience
• Hoopers
• Canix
• Treibball
• Dock diving
• Rally O
From the date of first mating until 14 weeks post natural whelping and 18 weeks post caesarean section and being cleared by a veterinary surgeon as fit for function.
(iii) It is strongly recommended by the Club that all German Spitz owned (or co-owned by a member of the Club) be eye tested under the KC/BVA or ECVO scheme every three years up to the age of eight years at the very least. Copies of the results should be made available to the Club.
(iv) All German Spitz puppies should be litter screened between the ages of 6-12 weeks and the Certificate made available to be seen by prospective purchasers of any puppies and lodged with the Club.
(v) It is strongly recommended that all dogs and bitches used for breeding purposes should be hip scored under the Kennel Club and BVA scheme and the results made available for the Club and the German Spitz database held on German Spitz World.
(vi) Whilst it is currently unrealistic to specify a maximum hip score that would render a dog or bitch as unsuitable for breeding the Club urges members to breed sensibly. We would recommend that a dog or bitch with a high score should only be bred to a dog or bitch with a low score and not to an untested dog or bitch, (this will be amended to give recommendations on score numbers once more is known about the condition within both breeds and considering the gene pool).
(vii) It is strongly recommended that all dogs or bitches used for breeding are tested for von Willebrand Disease (vWD) and all affected dogs/bitches removed from any future breeding plans and the results submitted to the club for records and addition on the health database.
(viii) It is strongly recommended that all dogs and bitches for use for breeding purposes be patella scored under the Putman scheme or European equivalent and the official document made available to the club for record and addition to the health database.
(ix) The only exception to the rules above are for any dogs under a breeding/health scheme run by the Kennel Club and/or AHT to further understand a condition and to improve the health of the breed.
17. SALE OF GERMAN SPITZ
a. Members will not allow puppies to go to a new home before 8 weeks of age.
b. Members must ensure that prospective owners are fully aware of the complication of unregistered or endorsed registration of puppies.
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.
Paras 1-14 KC Mandatory Code of Ethics - September 2008 Original Paras 15-17 Approved by KC 22 January 2009 Para 16e Approval for inclusion by KC -17 July 2010.
Para 16 amended by members at AGM 1 March 2020.
