CODE OF CONDUCT

The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to provide guidance and information to all Cairn breeders owners and is fully endorsed by all United Kingdom registered Cairn Terrier clubs.

a) Before breeding a litter, equal consideration should be given to type, temperament, health and soundness. Nervous or aggressive dogs should not be bred from.

b) All Owners, irrespective of the number of litters they breed, must comply with the following:

No bitch to be mated under one year old

No more than six litters from any one bitch.

No more than one litter per year per bitch.

Owners breeding less than five litters in one year may have a second litter from a bitch in a year providing a veterinary certificate is supplied confirming that in the vet’s opinion the bitch concerned I suitable to give birth and to care for a litter in the knowledge that is likely to be born (or has been born) within a 12 month period from the date of the dam’s previous litter.

In both cases a bitch should not be mated without special permission from The Kennel Club, if she will reach the age of eight at the time of whelping, otherwise her progeny will not be registered.

Owners need to acquaint themselves with the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 and Kennel Club requirements.

c) All breeding should be aimed at the improvement of the Breed. Members should do all in their power to discourage breeding from clearly inferior specimens, and those Members who own stud dogs should refuse stud service to such specimens. Particular care should be taken where the owner of the bitch is not a member of a Cairn breed club registered by the Kennel Club.

d) No Member should breed a litter unless he/she has the time and facilities to devote proper care and attention to the rearing of the puppies and the well being of the dam and no Member should provide stud services unless he/she is satisfied that the owner of the bitch has such time and facilities.

e) No Member should breed a litter unless he/she is reasonably sure of finding homes for the puppies. No puppies should leave the breeder before the age of eight weeks.

f) Puppies/adults cannot be exported unless the Ministry of Agriculture guidelines have been followed regarding age and health regulations for the country of import and where age is not specified, not before twelve weeks of age.

g) No Cairns should be sold to countries where they are not protected by anti-cruelty laws (If in doubt consult the Ministry of Agriculture, R.S.P.C.A or the Kennel Club)

h) No Cairns should be sold to laboratories, pet shops or dealers in dogs, or to persons known to sell stock to any of the above, nor should stud services be provided for such persons. (A dealer is defined as any person who regularly buys stock for sale at a profit. A person who buys a Cairn as an agent for a known individual is not necessarily a dealer). No Cairn should be sold or offered as a prize in a raffle or competition.

i) Prospective buyers of Cairns should be screened for suitability and should be advised of the characteristics of the Cairn Terrier as a breed with the need for grooming and exercise. Cairns should not be sold to homes where they will be on their own all day.

j) No Cairn which has a physical defect, or which shows any definite departure from the Standard, should be sold without the buyer being made fully aware of such defect or departure from the Standard and its possible consequences . Members should sell only animals which to the best of their knowledge are in good health at the time of sale

k) Each purchaser of a Cairn puppy should be provided, at the time of the sale, with pedigree, diet sheet and information about training, worming and inoculations.

l) Where appropriate The Kennel Club documents should be provided as soon as possible. It is undesirable that unregistered stock should be used for breeding. No cairn that is unregistered or is from unregistered or partly unregistered parentage should be sold without the buyer being aware that he/she will be unable to register it with The Kennel club

m) It should be impressed on buyers that they should contact the breeder in the event of any problem with the Cairn. Breeders should make ever effort to be of assistance in these circumstances.

n) Advertising by Members should be as factual as possible. Misleading exaggeration or unfounded implications of superiority should not be used. Members should refrain from making unfair or untrue statements about dogs or practises of others.