Code of Ethics of the Leonberger Club of Great Britain
All members of the LCGB undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics.
A) I agree to co-operate and participate with the Leonberger Club of GB, and will at all times maintain a high standard of health care for the Leonberger. I will not deliberately libel or slander another person or make vicious comments on other's stock."
B) The Kennel Club Code:
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.
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.
KC April 2011
C) If you wish to Breed with your Leonberger:
A Breeder shall only breed from those Leonbergers believed to be as free as possible from known serious hereditary defect and which are not suffering from any acute problems. It is strongly recommended that all breeding stock be examined under the KC/BVA Schemes relating to the breed. At all times the improvement of breeding stock must be the primary consideration.
15) Bitches will not be mated prior to 22 months, nor bred from more frequently that once per annum and not mated after their 7th Birthday.
16) Dogs & Bitches should be micro chipped or tattooed before any of the tests in 17, 18, 21 & 22 take place and these numbers record on all paperwork relating to these tests
17) I will ensure that, under the K.C/B.V.A. scheme, the hip score of either the sire or dam shall not exceed the total of 25 or shall not be higher that 15 on one side. The scores will be known before mating takes place.
18) All dogs must have their elbows x-rayed and scored before they are mated. Dogs/Bitches not to be bred from an elbow score of more than 1 and even then, preferable to a score of 0.
19) A stud dog owner will satisfy him or herself as to the suitability of the bitch's breeding and the conditions under which the litter would be reared and they will acknowledge their own responsibility for the resultant litter.
20) All stud dogs should be tested under the K.C/B.V.A. schemes before being used at stud. It is hoped that all health certificates that have not been published in the BRS to be forwarded to the Club for all litters if requested.
21) (i) Before mating takes place, Breeders will ensure that both the sire and dam have current valid eye certificates, (tested within the last 18 months) , certifying that they are both clear of hereditary cataracts under the BVA/KC. scheme. In addition, they will furthermore ensure that both sire and dam have also been screened for Goniodysgenesis under the BVA/KC scheme within the last 3 years prior to mating, and that both have been certified as being clinically unaffected by changes to the iridocorneal angle (ICA) and have no/minimal pectinate ligament dysplasia (PLD).
21 (ii) If a foreign dog is used at stud it must meet the breeding requirements of the country where it resides and this must include hip scoring and eye testing. If a dog is imported it must then meet all of our Code of Ethics requirements before being bred with.
22) In accordance with the recommendations of the International Leonberger Union on handling polyneuropathy in relation to breeding it is strongly recommended that all Leonbergers which are to be used for breeding are tested for LPN1, LPN2 & LPPN3 genes before any mating takes place. For LPN1 and LPPN3 all matings between Leonbergers should be (N/N) to (N/N) clear to clear, or (N/N) to (D/N) clear to carrier, and that all other combinations are strongly discouraged. For LPN2 all matings should be (N/N) to (N/N) clear to clear ONLY, and that all other combinations are strongly discouraged. In accordance with the recommendations of the International Leonberger Union on handling leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP) in relation to breeding, it is strongly recommended that all Leonbergers which are to be used for breeding are screened for LEMP before any mating takes place. All matings between Leonbergers should be N/N to N/N, (clear to clear), or N/N to D/N, (clear to carrier), and that all other combinations are rejected.
23) If Kennel Club restrictions are placed on puppies the new owners must be made aware of these at the time of sale. They and the breeder must sign an agreement, which includes a clause as to how these may be lifted in the future and if this is possibly going to happen.
24) I will only breed from those Dogs and Bitches believed to be mentally stable and not suffering from acute nervous or aggressive problems. I will breed from healthy, mature Dogs and Bitches conscientiously planning each litter.
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.
Whilst Part C of the Code of Ethics is issued in an advisory capacity, it is hoped that members will abide by it.
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