Code of Ethics
The Golden Retriever Club of Manitoba (GRCM) endorses the following Code of Ethics for its members. It is the purpose of the GRCM to encourage its members to perfect through selection, breeding and training the type of dog most suitable in all respects for work as a companion sporting dog, and to do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the Golden Retrievers in every endeavor.
RESPONSIBILITIES AS A DOG OWNER:
Members should ensure that their dogs are kept safe and under control at all times. Members should properly train their dogs so that they are an asset to their community and not a nuisance. Dogs must be maintained with their safety and good health in mind at all times, including adequate and appropriate attention and socialization, grooming, feeding, veterinary attention, housing, routine care, exercise and training.
RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MEMBER OF THE GRCM:
Members' responsibilities include educating the public about the breed, keeping in mind that they and their dogs represent the breed, the GRCM and the sport of purebred dogs in general.
Members are urged to accept the written breed standard as approved by the Canadian Kennel Club (or the other applicable governing body of the country in which they reside or exhibit) as the standard description of physical and temperamental qualities by which the Golden Retriever is to be judged.
Members are required to maintain good sportsmanship at all events and competitions, abiding by the applicable rules and regulations set forth by the governing bodies for such events and competitions. Members' conduct should always be in accord with the purposes and intent of the GRCM Constitution and By-Laws.
RESPONSIBILITIES AS A BREEDER:
GRCM members who breed Golden Retrievers are encouraged to maintain the purpose of the breed and are expected to demonstrate honesty and fairness in dealing with other owners and breeders, purchasers of dogs and the general public. Owners of breeding animals shall provide appropriate documentation to all concerned regarding the health of dogs involved in a breeding or sale, which must include but not limited to clearances for hips, eyes, heart and elbows (see requirements below). If any of the above noted clearances have not been attained this animal must not be bred.
Breeders should understand and acknowledge that they may need to take back, or assist in finding a new home for, any dog they produce at any time in its life, if requested to do so.
Members who breed should sell puppies, permit stud service, and or lease any stud dogs or brood bitches only to individuals who give satisfactory evidence that they will give proper care and attention to the animals concerned, and who may be expected generally to act within the intent of the statements of this Code of Ethics. Members are encouraged to use clear, concise written contracts to document the sale of animals, use of stud dogs and lease arrangements, including the use, when appropriate, of non-breeding agreements. Members must not sell dogs at auction, or to brokers or commercial dealers.
Breeding stock should be selected with the objectives of the GRCM in mind, recognizing that the Golden Retriever breed was developed as a useful gun dog, to encourage the perfection by careful and selective breeding of Golden Retrievers that possess the temperament, appearance, structure, soundness, natural ability and personality that are characterized in the standard of the breed, and to do all possible to advance and promote the perfection of these qualities.
GRCM members are expected to follow CKC requirements for record keeping, identification of animals, and registration procedures. Animals selected for breeding must:
(i) Be of temperament typical of the Golden Retriever breed; friendly, reliable and trustworthy. Hostility or aggressiveness toward other dogs or people, undue timidity or nervousness in normal situations is not in keeping with the character of the Golden Retriever. Temperament is of utmost importance to the breed and must never be neglected:
(ii) Be in good health, including freedom from communicable disease:
(iii) Must possess the following clearance reports, PRIOR TO BREEDING, in order to verify status concerning possible hip dysplasia, hereditary eye or cardiovascular disease, and elbo dysplasia:
. Hips - clearance from Orthopedic Foundation for Animals;
PennHip; Ontario Veterinary College; Saskatoon
Western Veterinary College; BVA/KA Hip Score (Great Britain).
. Eyes -
clearance within 18 months from a Diplomat of the Canadian/American College of
Veterinary Ophthalmology
(ACVO) or from a BVCA/KA approved ophthalmologist (Great Britain).
. Heart -
clearance report from a Diplomat of the Canadian/American College of Veterinary
Medicine, Cardiology
Specialist is preferred. In consideration of the shortage of available
Cardiology specialists a written report
from an Internist or Veterinarian will suffice.
. Elbows -
Due to the recent recognition of the issue of elbow dysplasia in Golden
Retrievers, all dogs born after
June 1, 2001, must have an elbow clearance from Orthopedic Foundation for
Animals; Ontario Veterinary
College or Saskatoon Western Veterinary College.
(iv) Assuming all health and examination reports are
favorable, the age of the breeding pair is of consideration:
.
Golden Retrievers 18 months of age is acceptable although 24 months is
preferable.
.
Bitches should not whelp past the age of eight (8) years of age.
. Back
to back breedings should be limited to one during the bitch's breeding years.
(v) Breeders must agree to sell all puppies not sold for breeding purposes with a CKC Non-breeding agreement. The exception to this is puppies sold to the U.S.A. or puppies sold on co-ownerships with the breeder.
Any member who does not follow the GRCM Code of Ethics will face disciplinary action from the executive which may include expulsion from the club.