Ethics

West Highland White Terrier Club

of Wales

CODE OF ETHICS

The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to provide guidance and information to all West Highland White Terrier breeders/ owners.

1. Before breeding a litter, equal consideration should be given to type, temperament, health and soundness. Nervous or aggressive dogs should not be bred from.

2. Those breeders breeding five or more litters per year will need to be licensed under the new Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare )Act 1999 .However a local authority may still classify a breeder as being commercial-and therefore require a licence- even if the person breeds fewer than the five litters per year. If in the local authorities opinion that person is deemed as breeding for commercial gain. The new Act includes such information as listed below which may affect the registration of your puppies.

Licensed or unlicensed Breeders (Club Rule)

(i) A bitch cannot be mated under 12 months of age.

(ii) A bitch cannot whelp twice in a 12 month period.

(iii) A bitch cannot whelp after her eighth birthday( except when approved by the Kennel Club )

(iv) A bitch cannot whelp more than six litters.

(v) All breeding bitches should be positively identified (microchip, tattoo or genetic profile )

3. All breeding should be aimed at the improvement of the breed. Members should do all in their power to discourage breeding from clearly inferior specimens and those members who own stud dogs should refuse stud services to such specimens. Particular care should be taken where the owners of the bitch is not a member of a West Highland White Terrier Club registered by the Kennel Club.

4. No member should breed a litter unless he/she has the time and facilities to devote proper care and attention to the rearing of the puppies and the well being of the dam, and no member should provide stud services unless he/ she is satisfied that the owner of the bitch has such time and facilities.

5. No member should breed a litter unless he/she is reasonably sure of finding homes for the puppies. No puppies should leave the breeder before the age of 8 weeks.

6. Puppies/adults cannot be exported unless the Ministry of Agriculture guidelines have been followed regarding the age and health regulations for the country of import and where age is not specified, not before 12 weeks of age.

7. No West Highland White Terrier should be sold to countries where they are not protected by anti-cruelty laws.(If in doubt consult the Ministry of Agriculture, RSPCA or the Kennel Club. .

8. No West Highland White Terrier should be sold to laboratories, pet shops or dealers in dogs or to persons known to sell stock to any of the above, nor should any stud services be provided for such persons. (A dealer is defined as any person who regularly buys stock for sale at a profit. A person who buys a West Highland White Terrier as an agent for a known individual is not necessarily a dealer). No West Highland White Terrier should be sold or offered as a prize in a raffle or competition.

9. Prospective buyers of West Highland White Terriers should be screened for suitability and should be advised of the characteristics of the West Highland White Terrier as a breed with the need for grooming and exercise. West Highland White Terriers should not be sold to homes where they will be on their own all day.

10. No West Highland White Terrier which has a physical defect, or which shows definite departure from the Standard should be sold without the buyer being made fully aware of such defect or departure from the Standard and its possible consequences. Members should sell only animals which, to the best of their knowledge, are in good health at the time of sale.

11. Each purchaser of a West Highland White Terrier should be provided, at the time of sale, with a pedigree,dietsheet and information about training, worming and inoculations.

12. Where appropriate, The Kennel Club documents should be provided as soon as possible. It is undesirable that unregistered stock should be used for breeding. No West Highland White Terrier that is unregistered or is from unregistered or partly unregistered parentage should be sold without the buyer being aware that he will be unable to register it with the Kennel Club.

13. It should be impressed on buyers , that they should contact the breeder in the event of any problem with the West Highland White Terrier. Breeders should make every effort to be of assistance in these circumstances.

14. Advertising by members should be as factual as possible. Misleading exaggerations or unfounded implications of superiority should not be used. Members should refrain from making unfair or untrue statements about the dogs or practices of others.

15. Officers or Committee members of the West Highland White Terrier Club of Wales are always ready to help with any queries or problems.

16. Members are reminded that serious infringement of this code could be dealt with under rule 10.1 of the Club's rule book.

THE CODE OF ETHICS THAT ALL CLUB MEMBERS SHOULD ABIDE BY.

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