National Code of Ethics
National Code of Ethics of Responsible Dog Ownership
Amended November 1996
Amended May 1998
Amended October 2000
Amended October 2001
Amended May 2005
Amended October 2007
Amended June 2008
Amended October 2008
Each member, upon being elected or re elected to membership of a Member Body of the ANKC shall be bound by the ANKC Code of Practice subject to each States relevant legislation.
Ethics
1. A member shall not knowingly or recklessly misrepresent the ANKC or the member’s Member Body.
2. A member shall not engage in any behaviour that is contrary to the standards accepted by the community.
3. A member shall display good sportsmanship and conduct at all times so as to reflect credit upon themselves, the ANKC and the member’s Member Body.
4. Members shall constantly strive to improve their knowledge of their chosen breed or breeds, and their knowledge of the requirements for the care, welfare and betterment of dogs.
5. Members shall ensure that all dogs under their control are properly controlled, housed, fed, watered, exercised and receive veterinary care as required.
6. A member who leaves a dog owned by them in the care of another person shall remain ultimately responsible for that dog.
7. A member shall take all appropriate lawful measures to assist a dog in distress.
8. A member shall positively enhance the reputation of dog breeders and owners by ensuring that dogs owned by the member are not a danger or nuisance to the community.
9. A member shall not participate in nor support any activity in that involves cruelty or damage to animals, excluding legal hunting activities.
10. A member shall not dispose of dogs owned or bred by the member to a pound or animal refuge.
Breeding
11. A member shall breed primarily for the purpose of improving the quality and / or working ability of the breed in accordance with the breed standard, and not specifically for the pet or commercial market.
12. A member shall not breed with a bitch unless the bitch has reached adequate maturity for that breed as determined by the member’s Member Body.
13. A member shall not breed a bitch (except under extenuating circumstances) causing it to whelp more than twice in eighteen months without the prior approval of the member’s Member Body.
14. A member shall not breed a bitch (except under extenuating circumstances) causing it to whelp more than six times without prior veterinary certification of fitness for further breeding, and without prior approval of the member’s Member Body.
15. A member shall not permit any of that member’s pure bred dogs to be mated to a dog of a different breed, to a cross bred dog, to an unregistered dog of the same breed, or to a dog not on the Main Register without the prior approval of the member’s Member Body.
16. A member shall take responsible action to reduce the incidence of hereditary diseases in accordance with the ANKC Code of Practice for Hereditary Diseases.
17. A member shall not, within Australia, sell or otherwise transfer from that member’s care any puppy under eight [8] weeks of age without the approval of the member’s Member Body.
18. A member shall not export a puppy under the age of eleven [11] weeks, or such greater age permitted under the livestock import requirements of the country to which the puppy is being exported.
19. A member shall not knowingly sell a dog to any person residing in an overseas country known to be involved in the utilisation of dogs for the meat trade without first satisfying the member’s Member Body that the purchaser is a member of an ANKC recognised canine controlling body in the overseas country. The member and purchaser must further acknowledge in writing to the member’s Member Body that the intention of the sale is for the improvement of the quality of that breed in the overseas country, and not for any other purpose.
20. A member shall ensure that persons acquiring dogs from that member understand the requirements for the care, welfare and responsible ownership of the dog, and that they have the time and facilities, e.g. adequate fences, sufficient room and proper shelter, to fulfil their responsibilities.
21. A breeder shall be expected to maintain reasonable contact with the purchasers of dogs from that breeder and to offer continued advice and reasonable assistance.
22. A member shall register all puppies bred (excluding those breeds listed in ANKC Regulation Part 6, Section 6.2 whose specific colours precludes them from being registered on any Register) by that member that are living at the date of registration. Such registration must include all puppies from the litter on the one litter registration application form and must be applied for within eighteen [18] months of the date of whelping. (6/08)
23. A member shall provide to all recipients of dogs sold or otherwise disposed of by that member, written details of:
.1 The breed characteristics;
.2 Vaccination record and / or requirements;
.3 Responsible dog ownership information; and
.4 All documentation required by the member’s Member Body.
24. A member shall not incorrectly describe nor knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of a breed.
25. A member shall ensure that all dogs sold or disposed or by that member are in the best possible state of health. Where a dog with a health issue or disability is disposed of the member must obtain from the recipient written and signed acknowledgement of the condition of the dog.
26. A member shall not:
.1 Sell or dispose of a dog to a commercial pet wholesaler or retail pet shop unless they are accredited by the Pet Industry Association of Australia Limited (PIAA).
.2 Allow a dog owned by that member to be given as a prize or donation or to be auctioned.
General
27. A member who provides or makes available a dog for use in a film, advertisement, promotion, or any media or public display must ensure that:
.1 The dog is portrayed in a manner consistent with its breed characteristics and temperament as described in the Standard for that breed; and
.2 The dog is presented in a manner that is unlikely to create a negative reaction to dogs generally or that breed in particular and that if there is any likelihood of a negative impression, this is at the same time corrected through the development of a story line that presents the dog or breed in a balanced manner.
28. A member shall not indulge in false or misleading advertising relating to the conformation, characteristics or performance of that member’s dog.
29. A member shall not misrepresent nor malign the conformation, characteristics or performance of another member’s dog.
From ANKC
Extract from the attached documents
8.10 Bullmastiffs
Effective 01.01.2008 litters resulting from the mating of Bullmastiffs where the dam is
under the age of 18 months at the time of mating, are eligible to be registered on the
Limited Register only and flagged ‘NOT TO BE UPGRADED’
Section 8 Breeding
8.16 Bullmastiff
Effective 01.01.2008 litters resulting from the mating of Bullmastiffs where the dam is
under the age of 18 months at the time of mating, are eligible to be registered on the
Limited Register only and flagged ‘NOT TO BE UPGRADED’. (10/07, 6.3.1)
8.16 For all Bullmastiff litters born after 1 January 2013 the following will apply:
1.1 Both parents of every litter must be screened for Hip Dysplasia through an official
Hip Dysplasia Control Scheme where the parents have been born after 1 June
2011.
1.2 Both parents of every litter must be screened for Elbow Dysplasia through an
official Elbow Dysplasia Control Scheme where the parents have been born after
1 June 2011.
Where either or both parents were born after the 1 July 2011, those parents/parent
will be required to comply as a prerequisite to registration of any Bullmastiff litter on
the ANKC Ltd Register main or limited to the above screening. Dogs must be
positively identified by microchip or tattoo prior to being x-rayed. Results of these
assessments must be submitted at time of litter registration. Litters which do not meet
the above requirements will not be registered.
[Clause 8.16 does not affect dogs born prior to 1 July 2011, nor semen collected and
stored prior to 1 July 2012 in Australia.] (10/12)