CHICAGOLAND DALMATIAN CLUB CODE OF ETHICS
Recommended Practices for Owner, Breeders and Handlers
I. Introduction and Purpose
The purpose of this code of ethics is to set forth principles of practice that the Chicagoland Dalmatian Club would have all of its members adhere to in order to accomplish the club’s goals and purposes as stated in the bylaws. These guidelines represent the minimum in ethical practices accepted by the Chicagoland Dalmatian Club for membership. All actions in regard to dogs, fellow members, and the general public shall consider the best interests of the breed, the Chicagoland Dalmatian Club and the American Kennel Club. Conduct shall be positively directed towards educating the public about the breed, improving one’s own knowledge about the breed, and demonstrating good sportsmanship. They also advocate honorable and sportsmanlike behavior at dog shows, performance events, public forums, social media, and with the general public.
II. Practices
In keeping with my membership in the Chicagoland Dalmatian Club and my dedication to further its stated purposes, I hereby pledge to adhere the following practices:
1. To ensure that all dogs in my care are provided nutritious food and fresh water, appropriate shelter, human companionship, exercise, socialization, and veterinary care to ensure optimum mental and physical well being.
2. To continue to educate myself in the fundamentals of owning, breeding, training and exhibiting Dalmatians.
3. To understand the Dalmatian breed standard and the basic laws of genetics. Careful consideration of the stud dog and bitch will be given regarding temperament, overall health and condition, physical traits, inheritable disorders, genetic traits, soundness and conformity to the official standard of the breed. Good practice for breeding includes obtaining OFA CHIC health testing on sire and dam prior to mating.
4. To register all my Dalmatians with the American Kennel Club. To keep complete, true and accurate records of all matings, litters and pedigrees.
5. To provide and honor written contracts for all breeding agreements including use of stud dog, lease of brood bitch, use of frozen semen, and co-ownership agreements
6. To only breed when I have the time, financial means, and resources to properly care for the dam and puppies and effectively raise, socialize, and place the puppies into appropriate homes. To always be willing to help rehome and/or accept the return of dogs produced by my brood bitch or sired by my stud dog.
7. To ensure that no female will be bred before her second season, and that no female will be bred after she has reached 8 years of age. To ensure that no male will be bred before he has reached one year of age.
8. To be extremely discriminating when considering the acceptance of bitches for breeding to my stud dog. To reference these guidelines in my stud contract and require that bitch owners agree to abide by them as well.
9. To ensure that the BAER hearing status of all breeding candidates and their progeny is considered prior to breeding. To disclose the puppy’s BAER hearing result to the buyer. The placing of a bilaterally deaf puppy is at the breeder’s discretion. A bilaterally deaf puppy must never be used for breeding, and must be spayed or neutered at the appropriate age. Considering the inherent ongoing challenges in their care, humane euthanasia of a bilaterally deaf puppy may be an
alternative to placement. Any breeder who places a bilaterally deaf puppy is responsible for conducting a thorough screening of potential candidates to ensure they have the knowledge, experience and resources to socialize, train and provide for a deaf puppy for the entire life of the dog.
10. To transfer puppies to new homes only after they have reached seven to eight weeks of age. To ensure that the buyer has both the physical facilities and financial ability to properly care for a Dalmatian. To provide puppy sales contracts that include the right of first refusal clause should the dog ever need to be rehomed. To provide the new owner with a pedigree, complete veterinarian examination and immunization record, BAER test results, educational materials, and lifelong support
to new puppy owners. To exchange multiple ways for the buyer and breeder to stay in contact.
11. To assist and encourage all buyers to register their puppies with the AKC. To consider the use of AKC limited registration for puppies that are not of breeding quality.
12. To ensure that puppies and adults produced by my brood bitch or stud dog are never sold or consigned to pet stores, wholesalers, commercial dealers, raffles, auctions, giveaways or prizes.
13. To recognize that careful documentation and follow-up of all genetic defects is the responsibility of the owners of both the sire and dam of every litter and to disseminate this information to all affected parties.
14. To ensure honesty and integrity are reflected in all advertising.
15. To not engage in malicious criticism or bullying in any manner, including on any electronic or social media posting.
16. To ensure that while engaged in the art and science of judging, that I will be influenced only by the quality of the animals to be judged.
17. To adhere to the AKC Code of Sportsmanship. *** To recognize it is our responsibility to welcome, encourage & support newcomers. To serve as a mentor to new exhibitors in our breed in ringside education, and in conformation and performance competitions.
*** https://images.akc.org/pdf/AKC_code_of_sportsmanship.pdf
Unanimously approved by the CDC Board of Directors – 9/14/2024
AKC Code of Sportsmanship
PREFACE: The sport of purebred dog competitive events dates prior to 1884, the year of
AKC’s birth. Shared values of those involved in the sport include principles of sportsmanship.
They are practiced in all sectors of our sport: conformation, performance and companion.
Many believe that these principles of sportsmanship are the prime reason why our
sport has thrived for over one hundred years. With the belief that it is useful to periodically
articulate the fundamentals of our sport, this code is presented.
• Sportsmen respect the history, traditions and integrity of the sport of purebred dogs.
• Sportsmen commit themselves to values of fair play, honesty, courtesy, and vigorous
competition, as well as winning and losing with grace.
• Sportsmen refuse to compromise their commitment and obligation to the sport of purebred
dogs by injecting personal advantage or consideration into their decisions or behavior.
• The sportsman judge judges only on the merits of the dogs and considers no other factors.
• The sportsman judge or exhibitor accepts constructive criticism.
• The sportsman exhibitor declines to enter or exhibit under a judge where it might reasonably appear that the judge’s placements could be based on something other than
the merits of the dogs.
• The sportsman exhibitor refuses to compromise the impartiality of a judge.
• The sportsman respects the AKC bylaws, rules, regulations and policies governing the sport of purebred dogs.
• Sportsmen find that vigorous competition and civility are not inconsistent and are able to appreciate the merit of their competition and the effort of competitors.
• Sportsmen welcome, encourage and support newcomers to the sport.
• Sportsmen will deal fairly with all those who trade with them.
• Sportsmen are willing to share honest and open appraisals of both the strengths and weaknesses of their breeding stock.
• Sportsmen spurn any opportunity to take personal advantage of positions offered or bestowed upon them.
• Sportsmen always consider as paramount the welfare of their dog.
• Sportsmen refuse to embarrass the sport, the American Kennel Club, or themselves while taking
part in the sport.
GSSPT2 (6/22)
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