BPCA Standard of Ethical Conduct for Breeders

As a member of the Berger Picard Club of America, I recognize that I am often faced with decisions about courses of action that can impact the health and well being of my own dogs and the preservation of the Berger Picard breed as a whole.

As a breeder I will:

• Continue to broaden my search for knowledge and information about the Berger Picard’s reproduction, genetic and breed history and use that knowledge to build and better the next generation produced.

• Truthfully and realistically represent the Berger Picard being bred, sold and /or placed in terms of temperament, quality, health and genetic history.

• Obtain a Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) number by performing all of the recommended health tests listed on the CHIC website before breeding a Berger Picard.

• Use health testing as a guideline to choose complimentary mates that do not exhibit the same heritable defects or genetic diseases.

• Not knowingly repeat a breeding of any pair of individuals who, although free from a hereditary defects themselves, have produced multiple afflicted offspring with hereditary defects that affect the quality of life of their offspring.

• Refrain from breeding Berger Picards until they are twenty-four (24) months old.

• Share all health results, positive and negative, with the public.

• Strive to produce dogs in accordance with the breed standard.

Care and Sale of Litter:

• Refuse to knowingly sell to commercial wholesalers, retail brokers, or research laboratories. • Place each puppy or dog, to the best of my knowledge, healthy and free of communicable diseases and parasites and they will have had age appropriate vaccinations deemed necessary between my veterinarian and I.

• Supply the new owner with a four (4) generation pedigree, AKC registration certificate, immunization and veterinary records, feeding instructions, further suggested immunizations, health,grooming and training needs as well as information on the Berger Picard Club of America and an associate membership application.

• Place all puppies/adults with a contract (agreement between new owner and breeder) signed by both.

• Use spay/neuter contracts (signed and held by both parties) along with limited registrations when placing non-breeding Berger Picard puppies or adults with known hereditary defects detrimental to the breed with full disclosure of defect.

• Remember that my responsibility as the owner of the sire or the dam does not end with the placement of the puppy.

As a breeder I will strive to have contact with the new owner(s) of the Berger Picard puppy throughout the life of the dog.

• Permanently identify all Berger Picard litters that I produce with either a microchip or tattoo.

• Accept the return of a Berger Picard that I breed at any stage in its life.

The long-term interest and well being of the Berger Picard should be the goal and of paramount importance to every Berger Picard breeder. Thereby, as a breeder of Berger Picards, I have read the preceding document and pledge to uphold it and I understand the consequences of not abiding by this standard could possibly cause my membership privileges to be rescinded for a minimum of twelve (12) months. Membership privileges will be reinstated after twelve (12) months if compliance has been met.

Signed: ___________________________________ Date :_______________

Printed Name: _________________________________________________