Heartland Bernese Mountain Dog Club Code of Conduct
This code establishes a standard of conduct to be followed by all members of the Heartland Bernese Mountain Dog Club. We recognize the difficulty of covering all situations and, for this reason, any failure to comply with the intent of the code shall be handled in the same manner as a specific violation. Members agree to accept the most current code upon membership renewal. Any member violating this Code may be subject to reprimand.
● No member shall knowingly sell or place, trade, or give any Berner of any age to pet dealers, auction houses, for-profit mixed breeders, or other commercial sources; nor shall any be given as prizes, auctioned, or exploited to the detriment of the breed.
● No Berner should be sold with defects of health or temperament that would interfere with its normal function as a suitable pet or companion. All known defects shall be disclosed to the new owner in writing.
● All dogs shall be transferred, sold, or placed in good condition, free of communicable diseases, with health guaranteed for a reasonable length of time. This should include a written health record that includes an inoculation schedule from a DVM. Dogs should have some type of permanent identification, such as a microchip or tattoo, before leaving the breeder/seller.
● Berner puppies shall not be released until eight (8) weeks of age. Puppies sold as pets should be sold with AKC Limited Registration. Spay/neuter agreements are strongly recommended for all dogs sold as pets.
● A written agreement shall be used between the buyer and seller for all transactions. The agreement should include a request that the seller be contacted in the event, at any time, the owner is unable to keep the dog. When contacted, it will be the obligation of the seller to make every effort to assist the (original) buyer in placement of the dog.
● No member shall sell or aid in selling to a person who they have reason to believe cannot or will not provide proper care and environment for the dog. Members shall not abandon or put dogs in shelters, pounds, or rescue.
● All breedings shall be done with the intention of advancing and protecting the breed. All dogs used for breeding shall be in good health and free from communicable disease. Dogs known to be sterile, cryptorchid, or monorchid shall not be offered at stud. Stud dog and bitch owners shall notify the other breeder of any physical problems and/or any known inherited genetic defects or any other condition in their dogs.
● All members shall provide proper care, nutrition, and a suitable environment for their dogs, including meeting or exceeding applicable ordinances and/or legal requirements. Dogs shall not be kept in circumstances or numbers where their needs cannot be adequately met. Dogs will be provided with routine veterinary care as required for the well-being of the dog.
● It is important to remember that all members represent Berners and the Club when attending Club events or other dog-related activities, discussing Club business, and/or debating Club policy. Members should treat each other with respect, civility, and good sportsmanship at all times and in all communication. The HBMDC understands the role social media plays in our lives, but it is important to understand that social media is public. What is posted or shared on sites is not only a direct reflection on the poster, but on the clubs and organizations that poster represents. All Club policies, including those relating to discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, apply to the use of social media. No member shall intentionally or maliciously malign another member by making false or misleading statements about that member, his or her dogs, or breeding practices. No member shall harass or threaten another member for any reason.