Code of Ethics

Leonberger Club of Canada

CODE of ETHICS

  1. GENERAL

This Code of Ethics constitutes the required standard of behaviour expected of members. Any member(s) found in breach of this Code could be called upon to explain their actions to the Club. (Refer to Article 1, Section 1.4.3 DISCIPLINE of the Leonberger Club of Canada Constitution and Bylaws).

LCC members shall at all times:

  1. Provide a stable environment that protects each Leonberger’s physical and emotional well being.
  2. Provide the highest possible standards of health, food, cleanliness and training for all Leonbergers under your care.
  3. Exhibit good sportsmanship, integrity, respect and honesty while participating in any club events and when representing the LCC to other clubs and/or public. 
  4. Act in a respectful and truthful manner, without malice, towards all club members at all times and in all forms of communication.
  5. Help to educate and encourage newcomers to the breed and help new owners in every reasonable way possible.
  6. No member will participate in any act(s), which may bring the name of the Club or any of its members into disrepute.
  7. Contact their breeder should the need to re-home or relinquish their dog(s) arise, including LCC member breeders with dogs not of their own breeding. In the event a dog is relinquished or needs to be re-homed, LCC member breeders will help re-home any progeny from their kennel.
  1. BREEDING
  1. All breedings should be planned with the goal of the improvement of the Leonberger breed including health, longevity and conformation.
  2. Dogs and bitches used for breeding should have a good temperament consistent with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) breed standard, be in good health, and be both physically and emotionally sound.
  3. Prior to breeding, breeders should be well educated on reproduction, genetics and the Leonberger standard. Any decision to breed should be grounded in a thorough knowledge of the pedigree of the intended breeding pair, including information pertaining to siblings, offspring and ancestors.
  4. Novice breeders are encouraged to seek the help of an experienced breeder and a qualified veterinarian prior to breeding.
  5. In consideration of the aim of the overall improvement of the breed, the breeder should use the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certified test results to ensure noted abnormalities are not duplicated in the breeding pair.
  6. The owner of the stud dog is just as responsible for any breeding as the owner of the bitch. The owner of the stud dog should refuse service to any bitch he/she sincerely feels is not worthy of breeding.
  7. Breeders accept responsibility for all dogs they own and litters they whelp for the lifetime of the dog(s).
  8. As a MINIMUM requirement, all breeding stock owned by a member or non member used in your breeding program must hold:  
  1. a certificate of evaluation from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Hip and elbow certifications must be completed after 2 years of age.  Only dogs with Excellent, Good, or Fair should be used in a breeding program. Breeders are strongly encouraged to post non-passing results to the OFA public database to ensure a full and complete record of all Leonberger’s results are made available. These results will help breeders and future owners to better identify and evaluate potential issues and overall quality of breeding lines.
  2. a certificate of evaluation from an accredited Ophthalmology institute for inherited eye disease or functional abnormalities of the eye obtained after a minimum age of one (1) year. All results passing or failing should be released to the OFA public database. Certification is valid for 12 months from the date of the eye exam. It is recommended that eyes rated normal be re certified every 2-3 years. Dogs with eye abnormalities should be re-evaluated annually.
  3. a certificate of examination from a Cardiologist or Practitioner indicating no physical signs of cardiac disease obtained after a minimum age of one (1) year. Or an advanced exam by way of an echo-cardiogram for a certificate to state no congenital heart disease. Results should be released, pass or fail, to the OFA public database.  It is suggested that certifications are redone every 2 – 3 years.
  4. an OFA certificate of results from a full blood panel for thyroid abnormalities. Certificates can be obtained at one (1) year of age, but it is recommended that in the case of females, it should be after her first heat cycle. Any dog with a TgAA result of positive should not be bred. All results, pass or fail, including equivocal, should be released to the OFA public database.
  5. proof of testing for LPN1, LPN2, LPPN3 and LEMP or be designated clear by parentage, as defined by OFA, dogs that are LPN1 and/or LEMP affected (D/D) shall not be bred. Dogs that are carriers for LPN1, LPPN3, or LEMP (D/N) can be bred to clear dogs (N/N) only.   Any dogs that are LPN2 affected (D/N or D/D) shall not be bred. All test results, clear, carrier or affected should be released to the OFA public database.

NOTE: For the future, should testing be developed for other LPN gene designations, it will automatically be included as a mandatory test requirement.

  1. copies of all test results must be available for review, if not posted on OFA, to verify tests have been completed. Dogs used in a breeding program that live outside of Canada, will need to have copies of all tests required by the national club of the country of residence.
  1. Dogs and bitches must have reached the age of two (2) years before being bred for the first time.
  2. Complete a stud dog contract to be signed by both parties before the mating takes place. Stud or breeding contracts should be used to clearly set out the agreed upon conditions in regards to re-servicing, if the bitch does not get pregnant, number of puppies constituting a litter, stud fee, when it is due, if there is a separate service fee, substituting either mate for future return services and any alternate considerations in lieu of fee , ie a puppy from the resulting litter. 
  3. Bitches must not be bred before reaching the age of two (2) years. Bitches should not be bred after the age of 8. Under the guidance of your reproductive or local vet, bitches may be bred on one back-to-back heat when both breedings have produced litters. Also in the case where the female has had a small litter they may be bred again on the next heat, not to exceed two (2) litters in any twenty four (24) month period.
  1. ADVERTISING
  1. Breeders and stud dog owners shall honestly represent their Leonbergers (health certifications, titles, etc.) in any advertisements on websites, Facebook or any other form of communication.
  2. The Club will not accept any advertising or information to be printed in a Club publication or put on the LCC website or Facebook page, regarding future breedings, upcoming or existing litters, or stud services, unless proof of the health clearances required by this Code of Ethics are provided at the time of submission.
  3. Breeder members should list their dogs’ health results on the OFA site https://www.ofa.org/ and the World Wide Independent Database Foundation http://www.leonberger-database.com Breeders should have all puppies listed in the database as soon as they are registered.
  4. Advertising on online classified buy and sell sites is not recommended. It is acceptable to advertise on dog creditable dog specific sites.
  1. SALES
  1. Each puppy will be identified by means of a tattoo or microchip in accordance with the rules of the CKC. This MUST be done prior to the puppy leaving the breeder.  
  2. Breeders will not sell puppies or adult dogs through pet or commercial brokers, and should not sell through online classified buy and sell sites. Breeders will not donate puppies or adult dogs for raffles or other fundraising projects.
  3. Stud dog owners will only provide semen by contractual agreement with breeders.
  4. Breeders should screen all buyers on their desire and ultimate intent for each Leonberger. Their interest and ability to provide a safe, adequate and loving home should be determined.
  5. Breeders should provide the purchaser with a written agreement of sale in which the following items are specified:
  1. when to spay or neuter
  2.  feeding instructions
  3.  training expectations/information
  4.  return policy if the puppy is unable to stay with the family
  5.  responsibility of both buyer and seller
  6.  what items are included in the health guarantee 
  1. Provide the new owner with complete health records which state: dates of deworming, vaccinations and any other pertinent information that needs to be passed on to their vet.
  2. All puppies leaving the breeders’ possession are to be a minimum eight (8) weeks old.  
  3. Puppies should be sold on a CKC Non-Breeding Agreement, whenever possible. Exceptions to this clause may be made in cases where breeders are selling Leonbergers to foreign countries or to individuals wishing to exhibit in a foreign country such as the United States, or between fellow breeders.  In such cases, a private purchase agreement should be executed between the breeder and to include all requirements needed to have the contract or agreement cancelled or changed to allow breeding. The contract or agreement should stipulate all required testing be done to meet the requirements of the national club of residence. The breeder should ensure that the Leonberger is within standard and is a good representation of the breed. 
  4. Ensure that all relevant CKC registration papers are provided to the new owner within the CKC six (6) month time frame.

Amended and Adopted May 15, 2021