Code of Ethics for Members of the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK)

Valid from 2016-01-01

Code of Ethics for members of the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK)

SVENSKA KENNELKLUBBEN Code of Ethics for the Swedish Kennel Club

This Code of Ethics is applicable to members of the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) and its member organisations from 2016-01-01.

1. Rules for members of the Swedish the true breeder is another person. Ad- Kennel Club (SKK) organisation ditionally, members shall not entrust a distributor, nor act as such, for the sale Each member of the SKK organisation: or purchase of dogs. 1:1 Shall treat and care for dogs and other animals with care, in accordance with 2. Ethics regulations for breeders established practice as well as the appli- and dog owners cable animal protection laws. This means Dog breeding shall be conducted in such a that neither an SKK-authorised kennel manner that it furthers the health and well- liason officer nor any government aut- being of both the bitch and her offspring. hority should have any reason to warrant Each member using their dog for breeding remark against the conditions in which purposes shall be familiar with the SKK the animals are kept. Shall cooperate breeding policy, breed standard, testing and ensure that SKK-authorised kennel and registration regulations, breed-specific liason officer can conduct visits. breeding strategies and current provisions 1:2 Shall act and behave in such a way that in animal protection legislation. Breeding does not damage or oppose SKK or its shall take place with quality in mind and member organisations and shall not with great responsibility. speak disparagingly in neither writing Each member of the SKK organisation: nor conversation about functionaries with roles within SKK. 2:1 Shall only breed dogs of the same breed registered with SKK or a foreign kennel 1:3 Shall follow SKK rules and regulations association that has been recognised by and carry out the obligations/commit- SKK. Shall register each puppy in a litter ments that are stipulated in SKK agre- with SKK at the same time. ements, and in all other respects work to fulfil the obligations/commitments that 2:2 Shall only use dogs for breeding that do may be entailed by dog-related activities, not have any severe diseases/defects, and and shall in no way circumvent SKK that have a good and typical tempera- decisions or regulations. ment for the breed. Any dog that displays a behavioural disorder in the form of 1:4 Shall never appoint a front-man, nor act excessive fear reactions or aggressive as such, by registering puppies under behaviour in unprovoked or, ordinary another person/kennel’s name, when

2 GRUNDREGLER FÖR MEDLEMMAR I SVENSKA KENNELKLUBBEN

situations for the dog, shall not be used transport a pregnant bitch or puppy in for breeding. Shall only mate pairs that, contravention of applicable regulations based on the available information, do issued by the Swedish Board of Agri- not increase the risk for serious illness/ culture. defect amongst the offspring. As the Shall not mate a bitch who has reached owner of a breeding dog, shall com- the age of seven (7) years, if she has ply with the SKK health programme. not previously had a litter of puppies. For breeds that require results from a Bitches who have reached the age of veterinary/genetic examination and/or seven (7) years must always undergo a cognitive examination/cognitive des- veterinary examination prior to mating. cription, a valid certificate of such shall The certificate shall state that the bitch be issued for the breeding dogs prior to is in such a condition that she can pro- mating. Shall not breed from dogs that, duce a litter of puppies without risk to upon DNA testing for serious diseases her health. Upon mating, the veterinary with established recessive heredity, are certificate may not be older than one determined to be carriers of double (1) month and shall be appended to alleles (homozygous). Dogs who have the registration application. A bitch, been established as carriers of an allele regardless of breed, may not be mated (heterozygous) for a serious disease with after she has reached the age of ten (10) established recessive heredity shall only years. be used for mating with another dog who has been declared free of genetic/ Shall not allow a bitch to produce more heretitary disease and under the condi- than five (5) litters. Should a bitch pro- tion that breeding is not in conflict with duce two (2) litters within twelve (12) the appropriate health programmes. months, the bitch shall then be rested for a minimum of twelve (12) months 2:3 Shall not mate father with daughter, before the next litter. A bitch that has mother with son or full brothers and reached the age of seven (7) years old sisters with each other. shall rest for no less than twelve (12) 2:4 Shall only use dogs in breeding that are months between her litters. able to reproduce naturally. If artificial 2:6 Shall ensure before sale that the puppies insemination (AI) is used, the respective live in an environment that is beneficial veterinarian responsible for the AI shall to their physical and cognitive develop- certify that the dog and bitch are not ment. They shall also be well socialised assessed to have a reduced sex drive or amongst both humans and other dogs. inability for normal mating. AI shall Puppies shall not be separated from their always be performed by a registered mother - other than temporarily - before veterinarian. the puppy turns eight (8) weeks old. 2:5 Shall not use a dog/bitch for breeding Puppies shall be delivered no earlier than until the dog displays the physical and when they have reached eight (8) weeks behavioural maturity of an adult dog. old and shall be ID-marked and have Bitches may only be mated once they undergone a veterinary examination. are eighteen (18) months old. Shall not

3 Valid from 2016-01-01

2:7 Shall always drawn up and adhere to by SKK. Kennels/breeders shall have an agreement when selling or other- no more than ten (10) dogs at the foster wise transferring ownership of a dog, home. “Foster home” refers to the person The contents of the agreement shall be who has bought, or otherwise acquired determined by SKK and a copy of the the dog from the seller on the proviso registration certificate and veterinary for using dogs for breeding, testing, examination shall be appended. The competition or exhibition. veterinary examination certificate may 2:9 Shall always provide true and complete not be older than seven (7) days prior details of their dogs and breeding activities. to delivery. 2:8 Shall always draw up and adhere to an SKK/CS holds the right to grant ex- agreement when signing over a dog as emption from this code of ethics in certain a foster home dog. The contents of the cases, where particular reason exists agreement shall have been established

Before mating, do not forget to find out the registration requirements for your particular breed.

The SKK website, www.skk.se provides the applicable registration rules and links to the breed-specific breeding strategies (RAS) for your breed.

POSTADRESS 163 85 Spånga BESÖKSADRESS Rinkebysvängen 70 TELEFON 08-795 30 00 TELEFAX 08-795 30 40