WSSCSW Members Code of Conduct

No puppy which has any physical defect or which shows any definite departure from the breed standard should be sold without the buyer being made fully aware of such defect or departure and it’s possible consequences.

Many important considerations and decisions have to be made before anyone should contemplate breeding a litter of puppies. The health and safety of both the dam and its progeny must be of prime importance.

Equal consideration should be given to type, soundness and temperament, and members should resist from breeding with animals that do not possess any or all of these requirements. It is most essential that only sound health stock should be bred from.

Members must also ask themselves if they can devote both the time and care that is necessary in looking after the dam and her litter, before, during and after the whelping. Considerable expense will also be incurred by the breeding of just one litter, including stud fee, extra food and vitamin supplements for the bitch, milk and calcium supplements, inoculations, worming liquid or tablets, Kennel Club registrations and insurance of the progeny.

No bitch should be required to have more than four litters and no bitch should be bred from at successive seasons unless a period of more than twelve months has elapsed between each season or a period of 12 months has elapsed between each litter. No bitch should be mated before the age of two years ( preferably three) nor after the age of eight years, unless permission has be given by The Kennel Club.

It is obvious, that there are, as in many breeds, certain health problems within Welsh Springer Spaniels, and members must always be aware of these, and do everything in their power to eradicate or in the least, avoid them. Officers and Committee members of the club are always ready and willing to do their best to help members with any query or problem. From time to time it may become necessary for the Club Committee supported by professional advice, to seek the assistance and co-operation of breeders in eradicating hereditary complaints/illnesses from the breed. It is expected that in such an event breeders will co-operate fully with the Committee by providing such support and /or information as may be requested. However, we must also remember to proportion these to their own degree of importance, and to continue to press for animals that look and resemble Welsh Springer Spaniels, never lose sight of the fact that you should still breed for type. All breeding should be aimed at the importance of the breed, members should do everything in their power to discourage breeding from clearly inferior specimens and those members who own stud dogs are advised to refuse stud services to such specimens.

No member should breed a litter unless he/she is sure of finding good homes for the puppies. No puppies should leave the breeder before the age of seven weeks, preferably eight.

Members should have taken every precaution to make the prospective purchasers aware of their responsibilities of ownership, with due regard to the need for the correct feeding, regular exercise, inoculations, worming procedures, and they must also be made aware that pups need constant care and attention, and that if this is not provided then the young dog can become very destructive in the home through sheer neglect and boredom.

Puppies should not be sold to homes where they will be left on their own all day. Each purchaser should be provided at the time of sale with a pedigree, KC registration certificate, died sheet, information about training, worming and inoculations. No puppy that is of unregistered or partly unregistered parentage should be sold with the buyer being made aware that he/she will be unable to register it on the Kennel Club register. No puppy which has any physical defect or which shows any definite departure from the breed standard should be sold without the buyer being made fully aware of such defect or departure and its possible consequences.

Breeders should also be prepared for the dog that perhaps did not prove as healthy as was first thought, with the buyer wanting to return such an animal. We, as breeders, must share the responsibility for this occurrence, albeit an infrequent one, and allow such an animal to return home. It will never have a happy life with someone who is more than a little disappointed. Far better to perhaps find a more suitable owner, who has been made aware of the circumstances, or alternatively, let the dog share your own home for the rest of its natural life.

No puppies should be exported before they are fully inoculated or before the age of three months unless they are travelling in the personal care of the purchaser or his known representative. Puppies should never be sold to countries where they are not protected by anti-cruelty laws (if in doubt consult DEFRA, RSPCA or Kennel Club.)

Advertising by members should be as factual as possible. Misleading exaggeration or unfounded implication of superiority should not be used. Members should also refrain from making unfair or untrue statements about the dogs or practices of others.

Would members note.

The Kennel Club will not accept an application to register a litter when :-

1. The dam has already whelped six litters.

2. The dam has already reached the age of 8 years at the date of whelping.

3. The dam was under one year old at the time of mating.

4. The offspring are the result of any mating between father and daughter, mother and son, or brother and sister, save in exceptional circumstances or for scientifically proven welfare reasons.

Relief from restrictions set out maybe considered by the General Committee normally providing an application is made prior to the mating and the dam has previously whelped at least one other registered litter.

Any application must be supported by a vet as to the suitability of the bitch.