NORTH AMERICAN BORDEAUX FEDERATION CODE OF ETHICS

The North American Bordeaux Federation, requests that all breeders and owners of the Dogue de Bordeaux who are members of this club, subscribe to the following Code of Ethics to promote and foster the highest standards among breeders, owners and fanciers, and to encourage sportsmanship and cooperation in an effort to improve and advance the Dogue de Bordeaux breed.

Health: I swear I will maintain high standards of health and care for my dogs, and guarantee the health of my puppies at the time of sale. I will have my dogues checked and tested for the most commonly seen ailments in the breed and will not breed any dogue that has been deemed defective or a detriment to the future of the breed.

Vaccinations: Vaccinations for my dogues/pups will be administered in accordance with local and state requirements, as well as fit the recommendations of my local area. An internal and external parasite control program will be maintained. Sick dogs will be separated from general kennel population. Bathing/grooming should be administered as required by breed, in order to maintain proper health conditions.

Socialization: A daily regimen of human interaction is necessary to ensure the development of good temperament for all dogs and puppies.

Waste Disposal: Waste will be removed in accordance with accepted local and state requirements. The kennel area must be cleaned of all feces and urine daily. Solid waste must be removed from the kennel area throughout the day everyday.

Food and Water: Clean water must be available at all times. Care will be taken to ensure that water dishes are not tipped over easily or contaminated with urine, fecal matter or any other matter that is not condusive to the proper health/maintenance of the animals in my care. Dogs should be fed at least once daily and puppies fed according to a recommended feeding schedule from a licensed veterinarian. A balanced diet is necessary for good health. Food containers must be thoroughly cleaned regularly. Attention to feeding times in a multi-dog confinement area is necessary to ensure that each dog receives adequate nourishment.

Shelter: All dogs must have access to dry, weatherproof housing. The shelter must be properly maintained in relation to climatic conditions. Extra care will be taken to ensure the comfort and safety of this breed in hot conditions, keeping in mind that this breed is extremely heat intolerant. Adequate areas will be provided where the dog can get out of the sun or heat, wind or rain, at any time of the day or night. Regular inspections of housing is necessary to ensure sanitary bedding and protection from objects harmful to pups and adult dogues.

Safety and Protection: Should the kennel owner choose to kennel dogs together, there must be attention given so that no dogs/puppies are in danger of injuring one another or other animals. Also, there must be adequate protection from stray and wild animals who could bring diease or cause physical injury, as well as ensuring protection from objects harmful to pups and adults. Adequate fencing/containment is a necessity for this breed.

Dog Fighting: I shall inexplicably discourage the promotion, support, and raising of dogs for fighting. I will not knowingly sell, give or trade dogs to any individual, association or affiliation that will be using this animal or any other animal for fighting. I shall not condone or be associated with the facing off, game testing, rolling or pitting of dogs.

Records: I will keep accurate personal, as well as AKC and UKC records at minimum, and will retain copies of those records for a minimum of five years. These records will include: health and vaccination records, stud service contracts, pedigrees, all litters produced, microchip/tattoo numbers on pups produced, and information on all
dogs/puppies sold, and who they were sold to. All dogs will be easily identified within my kennel operation. I will maintain complete and accurate registration documents on all dogs. I will give AKC and UKC papers on each dog sold, unless the purchase contract specifically states this dogue has been sold without papers.
I will report any person who falsifies a registration, or knowingly misrepresents a pedigree to the proper registration outlet.

Breeding: I shall plan each breeding with the paramount intention of improving the breed. With each pet puppy I sell, I will require of the new owner, by contract, that the dogue will be spayed or neutered by a certain date with proof mailed to me for my records.

I will select a stud dog and a brood bitch with an eye to conformation, temperament, and working instinct/ability, with a careful study of the breed standard and the principles of genetics. I
will not breed any male or female until they are both physically and mentally mature. Minimal club recommdation of a mature breeding dogue is: A female 18 months of age or older who has had at least 2 heats, and a male who is at least 12 months old or older.

Additionally, I will not knowingly breed any bitch whose health or life could be in jeopardy by doing so. Nor will I breed a bitch who is beyond the breeds ideal breeding years (approximately 6 yrs old and under is considered ideal).

Before entering into any breeding arrangement, I will scrutinize the pedigree, conformation aspects, and working potential of both the sire and the dam, keeping in mind the ideal overall picture of the breed. I have an obligation to refuse any breeding if, in my opinion, it is not in the best interest of the breed.

As a responsible stud dog owner, I understand that should I refuse a breeding, I will fully explain my reasons to the owner of the bitch.

I subscribe to the policy that only those dogs who are believed to be free of defects should be used for breeding. Dogs who should not be bred are those possessing: unilateral or bilateral cryptorchids, evidence of vicious or shy temperaments, and any other defect addressed in the breed standard.

Being a responsible breeder, I will refrain from using a dog that, although free from the above defects, consistently produces afflicted puppies.

I will also ensure that my sales contracts state that any pup of mine is required by law to be returned to me if at any time the owner cannot or does not want to keep it. This is to help ensure that the dogues produced by club owners do not end up in shelters, rescue, sold at auctions or in the hands of puppymill breeders.

Whelping Area: The whelping area must be warm and clean and must have plenty of ample space for the animals to move about, as well as easy accessible for cleaning and inspection. For both pups and mother, the kennel owner must provide a healthy whelping area for maximum growth, survival, exercise and socialization with humans.

Confinement: Each litter must be segregated, or properly identified. Dogs must be confined in such a manner that prevents their escape, yet provides adequate room for individual mobility. Crated dogs must receive adequate exercise daily as well as adequate human socialization. Females in season must be separated from males (other than the male she is bred to) for the entire heat cycle.

Sales: I will be discriminating in the sale of my puppies, and concerned with the type of homes in which they are placed. My dogs/puppies will not be sold to dog wholesalers, retailers or pet stores.

I will provide and transfer all applicable registration papers at the time the purchase agreement is completed and/or is agreeable to both parties.
Upon the sale of a puppy, I will provide the buyer with a feeding schedule, an inoculation and parasite control record, important information pertaining to the breed and a health guarantee.

I will refrain from releasing any puppy until it is at least eight (8) weeks old, nor will I ship any puppy under eight (8) weeks old.

Advertising: I agree that all advertising of dogs/puppies should be factual and honest, both in substance and implication. I will avoid making statements that may be misinterpreted or seen as inflated or as lacking facts to substantiate it. I will avoid encouraging buyers regarding the breeding potential of any dog/puppy. The breeding of any purebred dog involves certain
responsibilities, and is not to be taken lightly.

Exhibitors/Breeder Relations: I understand that exhibiting dogs is a sport, and that I am expected to express good sportsmanship in all activities. As an exhibitor I will refrain from unnecessary criticism of other people's dogs in public. I will not act in any manner which could embarrass or misrepresent the breed or the members of this club.

As a matter of ethics, I pledge to help educate the general public as well as to assist the novice breeder.

Implementation: The NABF Code of Ethics is the responsibility of each individial breeder to uphold. Each member is required to regulate/police themselves and present an ethical basis for their breeding kennel.
The NABF will not act to police breeders, nor force them to subscribe to any specific issues. Each person is expected to be of such ethical fiber that the proposed COE's comes naturally to them as upstanding representatives of this fine breed.

Members in violation of these codes would be subject to disciplinary action only if the club members as a whole feel warranting a member
vote for disciplinary actions is in order. Such disciplinary action may consist of suspension or expulsion of club priviledges.

No member will be considered for membership of the NABF if they sit unfavorably with any association, or if they have any criminal past involving inappropriate, neglectful, abusive or unethical actions pertaining to animals of any kind.

Kennel owners must meet all local, county and state government requirements for kennel operations.

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