PTCA Breeders Code of Ethics

 PTCA Breeders Code of Ethics

 Breeding and Litter Planning

The term "Breeder" in this document refers to any PTCA 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 the PTCA prior to breeding.

2. Conscientiously plan each litter. Carefully select the stud dog and bitch based on pedigrees, conformation (according to the PTCA Breed Standard), working ability, soundness, and temperament. Both sire and dam should have normal BAER and CERF tests within one year of breeding, and a negative brucellosis test within 10 days to six months of breeding.

3. Use only dogs and bitches free from known inheritable defects to avoid introducing detrimental factors. Report any new defects to the PTCA Breeders Committee.

4. BAER and annual CERF (CAER) testing of all breeding stock, as well as PLL, SCA, and DM testing, are recommended.

5. If a dog or bitch you breed or own is found to have or carry a serious genetic defect, notify those who have bred to such terrier or have offspring or relatives of such terrier. Discuss genetic and physical problems openly with prospective buyers and minimize the spread of defects within the breed.

6. Adhere to the PTCA’s current policy on inbreeding. A terrier will be rejected for registration if the inbreeding coefficient exceeds 16%. If unsure, send the proposed pedigree to the club office for review.

7. Breed only healthy, mature bitches. Bitches should not be bred before the second heat and not after the age of eight years without prior veterinary approval.

8. Do not breed any bitch to more than one stud dog during a single heat period. If a second breeding occurs unintentionally, the resulting litter must be sold as pets only with a spay/neuter contract and no pedigree provided unless DNA testing determines correct parentage. Provide DNA testing results to the PTCA before any offspring can be registered.

 Stud Services

For this section, stud services refer to the use of your stud dog to outside bitches (bitches 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 are not responsible for planning the litter or the resulting offspring. However, you have a responsibility to ensure the prospective litter meets PTCA health and conformation standards.

1. All stud dogs must be registered in the PTCA registry prior to breeding.

2. Breed stud dogs only to outside adult bitches who are PTCA registered or meet the registration standards to the best of your knowledge. Bitches not registered should meet the breed standard conformationally, have a completed PTCA veterinarian exam, be free of genetic defects, have a minimum of three generations of pedigree, and not be registered with any all-breed kennel club.

3. Require a current (within six months) brucellosis test for all bitches prior to mating and provide the same for the stud dog to the bitch owner.

4. Disclose any known genetic conditions previously produced by the sire or in the terrier’s ancestry to the bitch owner.

5. Provide a signed and dated PTCA Stud Certificate to the bitch owner. An original copy for each puppy in the litter at the time of whelping and a stud service contract outlining the conditions and guarantees of the stud service are strongly recommended.

Health and General Care

1. Maintain all terriers 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 Patterdale Terriers. Do not kennel Patterdale Terriers on wire flooring.

3. Ensure maximum health protection through regular inoculations, worming, and periodic veterinary exams. BAER, CERF, PLL, SCA, and DM tests are strongly recommended. Follow PTCA testing guidelines and submit results to the PTCA Health Registry.

4. Maintain mental health and well-being through regular human contact and exercise.

 Sales

1. Carefully screen all potential buyers and educate them on the unique nature of the Patterdale Terrier. Sell only to proper homes where buyers provide satisfactory environments and proper care, attention, and exercise for the terrier.

2. Accurately represent the qualities of your terriers to purchasers; do not use misleading statements in selling or advertising. Do not falsify pedigrees. Disclose any known genetic conditions previously produced by the sire or dam or in the terrier’s ancestry to prospective buyers.

3. Puppies must be at least eight weeks of age before leaving the breeder’s possession.

4. Use clear and concise written contracts or agreements, signed and dated, to document the sale or transfer of ownership of all terriers. Include policies regarding unregisterable or displaced terriers and clauses for the return or rehoming of terriers if owners cannot keep them. Contracts must state that the terrier will never be registered with any kennel club.

5. Provide PTCA registration paperwork with all puppies at the time of transaction, unless a sales contract states otherwise. Registration requirements include a minimum four-generation pedigree and a signed stud certificate.

6. If a puppy is considered non-registerable or non-breeding quality, provide a written, signed, and dated contract or agreement stating the same to the buyer. Require spay/neuter where appropriate and provide no registerable pedigree or stud certificate until proof of spay/neuter is received.

7. Provide buyers with written health and general care information at the time of sale, including a veterinary health certificate, worming and inoculation records, a supply of the puppy’s current food, and general feed and care instructions.

8. Provide buyers with a PTCA Puppy Packet. (Puppy packets are available free of charge from the PTCA office.)

9. Spay or neuter any mature dog/bitch with a known genetic defect before selling or placing for adoption.

10. Be responsible for terriers sold for their lifetime. Assist purchasers in rehoming terriers if they cannot keep them. If owners cannot place the terrier, or a displaced terrier you bred is found in a shelter or through rescue, be prepared to take the terrier back or make arrangements for its foster care and placement. Breeders violating this requirement may be prohibited from advertising in PTCA publications and subject to further penalties.

11. Do not sell or consign puppies or adults to pet shops, brokers, or puppy mills, nor supply terriers for raffles, prizes, or similar projects. Do not sell PTCA puppies at trial or show sites.

 Co-ownerships

Adhere to the PTCA’s policy on co-ownerships and ensure proper contracts are in place:

1. Leasing is not recognized by the PTCA.

2. If a terrier is co-owned, it must be registered to both owners. The registration application is to be completed and submitted by the person who has physical possession of the terrier.

3. Provide the pedigree and stud certificate to the buyer at the time of sale unless specified otherwise in the sales contract.

4. File a co-ownership agreement with the PTCA office for all co-owned terriers. If no such agreement exists, the offspring of the co-owned bitch will carry no prefix. The agreement should be signed and dated at the time of sale and clearly outline all co-ownership requirements.

5. Reflect a single kennel name in co-ownership agreements for any resulting litter. If changes are made, file a new co-ownership agreement with the PTCA office before breeding. If no prefix is used, either owner may sign the pedigree or stud certificate. If a prefix is designated, the prefix owner is considered the breeder and must sign the pedigree.

6. The co-ownership agreement should specify the end of the co-ownership. When all requirements are met, sign the registration certificate over to the owner keeping the terrier.

I have reviewed and fully understand the PTCA Code of Ethics and hereby acknowledge and agree to comply with it as a PTCA breeder. I understand that my kennel may be subject to an on-site visit by a PTCA official at any time.

Signed: __________________________________________ Date: ____________________