Australian Boerboel Society

BREEDER CODE OF ETHICS

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BREEDING/LITTER PLANNING.

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The term “Breeder,” for purposes of this document, is defined as any ABS member who plans and produces one or more litters of puppies. As the breeder, you are solely responsible for everything associated with the breeding and any resulting offspring.

(1) - Both sire and dam must be registered with a recognized Boerboel Association prior to breeding.

(2) - Conscientiously plan each litter. It is recommended that you carefully select a stud dog and bitch to be mated based on pedigrees, the parents’ conformation (according to the ABS Breed Standard), working ability, soundness, and temperament. It is mandatory that all breeding dogs be tested for HD/ED, DNA health profile and Temperament tested.

(3) - It is recommended that only dogs and bitches that are free from known inheritable defects be used for breeding in order to avoid the further introduction of detrimental factors. Any new defects encountered should be reported to the ABS Breed Council.

(4) - Temperament and health testing of all breeding offspring is recommended but not mandatory.

(5) - In the event a dog or bitch of your breeding, or which you own, is found to have or carry a serious genetic defect, it is your ethical responsibility to notify those who have bred to these same lines, or have offspring or relatives of such lines. It is recommended that breeders openly and honestly discuss the genetic and physical problems that they have encountered with prospective buyers. Breeders should do everything possible to minimize the spread of defects to the breed as a whole.

(6) - Breeders must adhere to the ABS current policy of submitting to the ABS Breed Council prior to a breeding taking place. A Boerboel will be rejected for registration if the breeding has not been submitted and approved.

(7) - Breed only healthy, mature bitches. It is recommended that bitches not be bred before 18 months of age. It is also recommended that bitches over the age of eight (8) years not be bred. It is recommended not to breed your bitch consecutively or 'back to back'.
(8) - Do not breed any bitch to more than one stud dog during a single heat period. Should a second breeding to an additional stud dog occur unintentionally, the resulting litter must be DNA parentage tested . The owner of the bitch must provide the results of the DNA testing to ABS before any offspring can be registered. As well as a copy to each to the owners.

STUD SERVICES

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For purposes of this section, stud services refers to the use of your stud dog to outside bitches (i.e., bitches that you do not own). As the owner of the stud dog, you are responsible for everything associated with your stud dog. When breeding to outside bitches, you are not considered the breeder, and you are therefore not responsible for planning the litter, or for the resulting offspring. However, you do have a responsibility to the breed to help ensure that the prospective litter will meet ABS health and conformation standards.

(1) - All stud dogs must be registered with a recognized Boerboel registry prior to use for breeding and be a minimum of 18 months, but preferably 24 months of age.

(2) - Breed stud dogs only to those outside adult bitches who are registered, or meet the standards for registration to the best of your knowledge. Any bitch that is not ABS registered should generally meet the breed standard conformation, should have completed ABS health testing criteria, be free of genetic defects of any kind and have a minimum of three generations of pedigree.

(3) - It is recommended that a current vet check test be requested on all bitches prior to mating to check they are clear for Vaginal Hyperplasia and/or Prolapse.

(4) - Disclose to the owner of the bitch any information about genetic conditions previously produced by the sire, or known genetic conditions in the Boerboels ancestry.

(5) - A signed and dated ABS Breed Council approval certificate must be provided before a breeding can take place. It is recommended that a copy be provided for each puppy in the litter at the time of whelping. A contract, outlining the conditions and guarantees of each litter produced, is also strongly recommended.

HEALTH & GENERAL CARE

(1) - Maintain all Boerboels in clean and sanitary conditions and free from infectious diseases.

(2) - Provide housing and run areas of adequate size with safety features specific to the character and exercise requirements of a Boerboel.

(3) - Provide maximum health protection through regular vaccinations and/or Titer tests, worming, nutrition and periodic veterinarian exams.

(4) - Maintain mental health and well-being through human contact and exercise on a regular basis.

(5) - Ensure all pups and dog are micro-chipped and registered in accordance with your state/territory.

SALES

(1) - All potential buyers must be carefully screened, educating them on all aspects of the unique nature of the Boerboel. Sell only to proper homes, i.e., individuals that will give adequate evidence that they have a satisfactory environment, and will give the Boerboel the proper care, attention, and exercise required for a Boerboel. Maintain consistent contact with their owners throughout the life of their dog.

(2) - The breeder must accurately represent the qualities of their Boerboels to the purchaser; do not knowingly use misleading statements in selling or advertising. Do not knowingly falsify a pedigree. Do not threaten, slander or harass other breeders or their litters. Disclose to prospective buyers any information about genetic conditions previously produced by the sire or dam, or known genetic conditions in the Boerboels ancestry.

(3) - Puppies must be at least eight (8) weeks of age prior to leaving the breeder’s possession; this includes shipping, or any other type of delivery, or buyer pickup, under any circumstances.

(4) - Clear and concise written contracts or agreements, signed and dated, must be used to document the sale or transfer of ownership of all Boerboels and must be provided prior to, or at, the exchange of the dog. Contracts must include policy(s) regarding Boerboels found to be unregisterable or displaced. All contracts must include a clause that any time the owner cannot keep the dog, the dog is to be returned to the breeder or placed or sold with the breeder’s approval of the new owner.

(5) - The paperwork required for ABS registrations must be provided to ABS within 4 months of the birth of any litter. All owners must be issued a copy of their dogs registration/pedigree papers issued from ABS as well as a copy of the Breed Council Approval Certificate as well as all health testing results for both parents.

(6) - If a puppy is considered a pet only - the owners shall still be entitled to receive a copy of registration paperwork.

(7) - Buyers must be provided with written health and general care information at the time of the sale, including but not limited to a veterinarian health certificate, and a record of worming and vaccinations. Several days’ supply of the puppy’s current food and feed and general care instructions, are recommended.
(8) - Buyers should be provided with a Puppy Pack.(Note: Puppy Packs are available free of charge by contacting the ABS office.)

(9) - Health Guarantee - Replace or refund any dog that has any health related issues that limit or impede the dogs quality of life - for up to 2 years of age. Or otherwise stated in your breeder/buyer contract.

(10) - Spay or neuter any mature dog/bitch with a known genetic defect prior to selling or placing for adoption.

(11) - Be responsible for Boerboels sold for their lifetime. If a purchaser cannot keep a Boerboel you have sold, make every effort to assist them in finding an appropriate home. If the owners are unable to place the dog for whatever reason, or a displaced Boerboel which you have bred is located in a shelter or rescue, be prepared to take the dog back and/or make arrangements for its foster care and be responsible for placing it in an appropriate home. Breeders found to be in violation of this requirement will face disciplinary action.

(12) - Do not knowingly sell or consign puppies or adults to pet shops, brokers, or puppy mills, nor supply Boerboels for raffles, prizes, or similar projects. Furthermore, ABS breeders puppies shall not be sold via a third party or auctioneers.

(13) - Be aware of, and adhere to, the ABS policy on co-ownerships and be sure that the proper contracts are in place accordingly

 

Leasing is recognized by ABS.

If a Boerboel is co-owned, it must be registered to both owners.

A co-ownership agreement must be on file with the ABS office for all co-owned Boerboels.

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DECLARATION

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Members of Australian Boerboel Society declare the following:

• We sincerely declare that we will put the Boerboel first
• We undertake to support and promote Australian Boerboel Society, their breeders
and members
• We undertake to support and encourage the betterment and improvement of the
Boerboel worldwide
• We undertake to use the online database responsibly and ethically, for the purposes of
learning and researching the breed. We will not share information with non users/non
members. We will not use the database for the purposes of malicious or harmful
intent.
• We undertake to acknowledge and accept all Boerboels of any association.
• We undertake to record and share our knowledge of the Boerboel and to conserve and
improve the breed.
• We undertake to share and record health, temperament and critique results.
• We undertake to establish a breed improvement plan that includes temperament
testing, critiques and health testing to ensure all Boerboels that are accepted into the
ABS register are of an equal and/or higher international standard