Great Swiss Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain Code of Ethics May 2009

The Great Swiss Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain, in keeping with its aims of breeding the best possible dogs while preserving their unique beauty and character and of promoting the best possible care and training of these dogs, adopts the following:

The Great Swiss Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain, in keeping with its aims of breeding the best possible dogs while preserving their unique beauty and character and of promoting the best possible care and training of these dogs, adopts the following:

1. Members shall strive for perfection of the Great Swiss Mountain Dog and only breed for the specific purpose of improving the breed in accordance with the official standard set forth by the FCI and Kennel Club. In this regard they will:

(a) Maintain a high standard of health and care for their dogs, only keeping such numbers that can be socialised and cared for. Housing, feeding, water and exercising all dogs under their care and arrange for veterinary attention if and when required.
(b) Ensure that all stock to be bred from shall be free from contagious disease. Will not breed with a male or female which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed. Breeding shall be carefully planned and must be carried out selectively in an attempt to reduce as much as possible hereditary defects such as Hip Dysplacia, Osteochondrosis of the shoulder and elbow, ectropian/entropian, trembler (hypomyelinigenesis), Epilepsy and elongated soft palate. Only healthy puppies will be raised. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed standard shall be placed in pet homes.

Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon who performs 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 operations to the Kennel Club.

Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.

(c) Ensure that nervous or aggressive Great Swiss shall not be bred from.
(d) Refrain from whelping a bitch until she is 22 months - 2 years of age, ensure that no bitch shall be bred from in any way that is deleterious to the bitch or the breed and that the last litter shall be whelped before the bitch’s 7th birthday except in exceptional circumstances and with veterinary approval and to be considered and agreed by the corum (corum = 2/3 of Committee) of the Committee. Only 3 -4 litters maximum in a bitch’s lifetime (extenuating circumstance will be considered) and no back to back matings (except for extenuating circumstances) to be considered and agree by the corum of the Committee. The breed being so early in it’s introduction to the UK at the present time.
(e) Ensure that stud dogs are over 15 months of age before being used at stud and not used excessively. The use of a stud dog shall be refused on any bitch considered to have poor health, temperament or quality.
(f) Ensure that puppies are only bred from Kennel Club registered Great Swiss Mountain Dog parents.

2. (a) It is recommended that all breeding stock shall be x-rayed for evidence of
Hip Dysplacia from 14 months of age and the X-ray plates are submitted to
the KC/BVA scoring scheme. Breeders shall treat mild cases as they would
any other fault and exclude from their breeding programme, dogs with
more severe evidence of hip dysplacia. The same applies for Elbow
Dysplacia, only breeding from ED Free or 1 scored only.
(b) It is recommended that all breeding stock shall be X-rayed to screen for
OCD of the shoulder at the same time as they are x-rayed for
Hips and elbows and the plates be submitted abroad to Zurich in
Switzerland or another approved board for scoring. Only OCD Free is
acceptable for breeding.
(c) It is also recommended to Eye test under the KC/BVA scheme for PRA,
Detatched Retina and Distichiasis. Eyes to be tested yearly to 7 years. It
is also recommended to Heart test.

3. Members will not sell stock without true representation to the purchaser and
not use misleading or untruthful statements in selling or advertising. All official
Papers i.e. BVA score sheets etc will be shown to all Purchasers.

4 No member shall sell adults or puppies to any known retailor, wholesale outlet or
laboratory, nor to any country not covered by club constitution paragraph 23. Puppies shall not be sold for export nor exported unless the recipient is personally known to the breeder or is approved by a local veterinary surgeon or local Greater Swiss Mountain Dog club. Nor 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 the dog).

5. No member will allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to
neighbours or those carrying out official duties. Will ensure that their dogs
wear ID and Microchip tags on their collar and will be kept on leads or under
proper control at all times at home or away from home. Will clean up after their
dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.

6. No puppy shall go to its new home before 8 weeks of age, 7.5 weeks minimum age.

7. A buyer shall be supplied with: a 5 generation pedigree, KC Registration with
breeding restrictions, insurance, contract, diet sheet, all other information
pertaining to the breed, innoculations, worming, flea and tick treatments, food, all
in a comprehensive puppy pack. Puppies will be microchipped at 7 weeks old; Eye
Tested by a Specialist also at 7 weeks old; Puppy Aptitude Tested at 7 weeks old
by qualified Assessors and Vetchecked by the vet before leaving the
breeder(s). And any other information concerning responsible ownership.

8. A breeder shall guarantee the health of his or her stock subject to a veterinary examination within 48 hours of the sale or transfer and shall insure puppies for a minimum of 4 weeks against illness, loss or sudden death.

9. A breeder shall keep in touch with the progress of the dogs of his or her breeding. Especially the first days and weeks in their new homes.

10. A breeder or stud dog owner will take back any dog of his or her breeding, and will assess this dog for a period of no less than 1 month, before re-homing. No problems will ever be passed on.

11. A breeder will donate £15 per puppy from each litter to the GSMDCGB Welfare Society.

12. Members shall, at all times, exhibit good sportsmanship at all events relating to the club and to dog shows.

13. Members shall not denigrate any other member or kennel within the GSMDCGB. 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.

Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from the club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.