The Irish Wolfhound Club of America
Standard For Ethical Conduct
Approved 1/13/96 		IWCA Logo

The following standard of conduct should govern the members of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America in all actions concerned with breeding, selling, exhibiting, owning and protecting this breed. It is difficult to cover all situations and for this reason members should follow THE INTENT of this standard even when specific areas are not covered.

The protection of any breed is in the hands of its owners.

Adherence to the Breed Standard insures that dogs will continue to be bred who conform to this standard through type and mental qualities.

This Standard for Ethical Conduct is designed to guide and educate those people who desire to protect their dogs from those who would damage the breed through lack of understanding or interest.

Responsible Ownership

The owner should put the welfare of each of his dogs above personal gain, profit and/or personal convenience.  

It should be remembered that each creature in our care is an individual with needs, hopes and desires, which we as its human advocates are responsible for providing. They are, above all, our pets and friends.

General Conduct of Members

Members will:

   1. Provide the best possible standards of health care for the physical and emotional well-being of their dog(s). This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate food, shelter, sanitation, immunizations, regular health checks, medical care as needed, and attention, exercise and affection always.

   2. Control their dogs at all times, both on and off your premises, in the form of fencing, leashes, or the appropriate training to effect this control. Avoid discredit to yourself and the dogs by curbing your dog where required and cleaning up after your dog in public places.

   3. Identify their dog(s) by using collars with tags, tattooing, or microchip implants.

   4. Make every effort to educate any new owner or interested person, and to be both instructive and constructive in their comments.

   5. Demonstrate good sportsmanship both inside and outside the show ring at all times.

   6. Always behave in a manner that will be conducive to the advancement of our breed and our Club.

   7. Conform to all the items regarding placement and sales listed under this Standard of Conduct if it becomes necessary to sell, give away or otherwise place a dog.

   8. In all questions of ethics not covered by the Standard of Conduct, act in the best interest of the breed and treat others as they would wish to be treated.

   9. If any of their dogs need to be euthanized, have this be done in the most humane manner by a veterinarian. It will not be done at a dog pound, humane society or experimental lab. Nor will their dogs be left alive at any of these places.


No member will:

1. Fail to protect the dogs in their ownership by providing the attention and care outlined in this Standard for Ethical Conduct.

2. Knowingly falsify pedigree or breeding information.

3. Sell puppies to pet stores either on consignment or outright.

4. Supply puppies for raffles or other such enterprises, including donations for fund raisers, shelters, etc.

5. Sell to unethical breeders or persons whose intention to resell the dog is known or suspected.

6. Maliciously degrade another member's Irish Wolfhounds or kennel.

7. Import or export litters of Irish Wolfhounds, or sell entire litters within the United States, either to a private party or for commercial resale.

8. Buy or sell bitches in whelp.

9. Use their membership in the IWCA in advertising or other promotional activities.

Breeding

The purpose of breeding the Irish Wolfhound is to bring their natural qualities, as outlined by the Breed Standard, to perfection. In order to do this, one must:

1. Have a clear understanding and complete comprehension of the standard.

2. Have a basic knowledge of genetics.

3. Be informed about the pedigrees of both dog and bitch - understanding faults and strengths on both sides. There exists a constant danger that disreputable or ignorant breeders may, by improper practices, produce physically and mentally unsound specimens of the breed. In addition, a member who undertakes to breed or bitch or use their stud dog must:

a. Never breed for the pet market but only to preserve the breed and improve on one's breeding program.

b. Breed only those animals free from hereditary defects.

c. Breed only those animals which have attained the minimum height as specified by the breed standard.

d. Be prepared to provide the proper care for both the bitch and the litter and retain the puppies for as long as is necessary to find the proper homes.

e. When using one's stud dog, the owner must be prepared to take responsibility for placement of the puppies, referring prospective purchasers to the bitch owner and helping with screening of homes, if necessary. In other words. treating those puppies as if they were owned by themselves.
 

Both bitch and dog owners should:
      a. Ascertain that some homes are available prior to the breeding.
      b. Have a contract covering placement of puppies, screening of buyers, fee, return service
          and any other specifics.
      c. Not split the litter in lieu of a stud fee for the primary purpose of resale, as this is
          considered unethical.

 

In general:
      a. The only justifiable reason to breed is to preserve the breed and improve one's dogs. One
           should never breed for personal profit or commercial exploitation of the breed.
      b. While it is expected that breeders will sell their most promising puppies to other serious
           students or guardians of the breed, breeders should sell on a non-breeding contract and
           encourage spaying and neutering of all others.
      c. Breed only those bitches between the ages of 24 months and 6 years which are in excellent
          health.
      d. Breed an individual bitch no more than two out of three consecutive seasons, and this only
          under exceptional circumstances , and not produce more than three litters in her lifetime.
      e. Breeders will act responsibly towards all puppies produced by their bitch for the lifetime of
          the puppies.

Care and Sale of a Litter

  • Be prepared to give up 3 months of your life to care for the bitch and puppies. This bitch needs supervision and care while in the whelping and nursing phase and the puppies need constant care and socialization from birth until they leave at 10-12 weeks.
  • All puppies shall be provided with proper veterinary care and a clean and safe home environment. They should have dewclaws removed, be parasite free, have a good diet and the necessary immunizations.
  • Any puppy which is deformed or irreversibly ill shall be humanely destroyed.
  • Bearing in mind that all puppies and dogs should only be sold to loving homes, the litter may be graded as to quality but do not term them show quality as it is difficult to ascertain this prior to 10-12 weeks. Grading them as "promising", "better than average" or "pet quality" is preferable.
  • Any pet puppies should be sold on a non-breeding contract.
  • Only the most promising puppies should be sold without the non-breeding contract, and then only to homes after the breeder has carefully investigated the new owners' qualifications for becoming future breeders.
  • Prospective buyers should be screened on their desire and ultimate intent for each Wolfhound. Their interest and ability to provide a safe, adequate and loving home should be determined. Fenced yards and crates should be strongly recommended.
  • Give the prospective buyer an honest appraisal of cost management, as well as the physical, mental and nutritional needs peculiar to the breed.
  • No puppy should be released to its new home prior to 10 weeks.
  • Every puppy at the time of sale should be accompanied by the following:
  •               1. Feeding instructions.
                  2. Medical records which include number and type of vaccines, dates of
                      vaccinations, date of dewormings.
                  3. A 4-generation pedigree.
                  4. An IWCA membership application.
                  5. A copy of this Standard for Ethical Conduct.
                  6. A bill of sale.
                  7. A copy of the Breed Standard
                  8. AKC registration specifying Breeding or Non-Breeding.
  • Breeding arrangements should never be established which would encourage the average buyer to undertake a breeding program. If a Breeder does not have the time, facility or desire to manage the mating, whelping and aftercare of a particular potential matron, that bitch should not be passed to another person, just to produce puppies. THIS PRACTICE IS CONSIDERED TO BORDER ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A "PUPPY MILL" AND IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED.
  • All new owners should be told to have their puppies checked by a veterinarian within 48 hours of delivery.
  • All new owners should be advised to keep the breeder informed about the development of the puppy and should be told to contact the breeder immediately concerning any health problems, physical abnormalities, and/or death of the dog.
  • The breeder should likewise keep in contact with the new owner for the life of the dog.
  • The contract of sale should include a stipulation whereby the breeder will be notified of any plan on the part of the owner to resell or otherwise dispose of the puppy. This stipulation would also require the buyer to either return the dog to the breeder or place it with new owners who have been approved by the breeder.
  • If a puppy is to be co-owned, a contract should be drawn covering all details of the co-ownership and signed by both owners.
  • Puppies under the age of 11 weeks should not be exported or imported.
  • Each breeder should be willing to replace a puppy that has been sold or to refund all or a portion of the purchase price if the puppy proves to have a structural defect. Such a problem should be confirmed by breeder and owner's veterinarians.
  • All advertising of puppies and adult dogs, written or oral, should be factual and honest in both substance and implication.

Records

Complete and accurate records shall be maintained as follows:

      For the sire and dam of the litter:

            1. AKC registered names and numbers and date of whelp.
            2. A 4-generation pedigree of both parents.
            3. Names and addresses of registered owners.
            4. Dates of actual breedings.

      For the litter:

            1. Date of whelp and AKC litter number.
            2. Number and sex of puppies whelped alive.
            3. Number and sex of puppies dead at birth. (While this is not
                 required, this is important for breeder's records.)
            4. Registered name, sex and sale date of each puppy.
            5. Name and address of owner of each puppy.
            6. When possible, follow through on cause and date of death of any dogs bred.

Showing

Members should:

      1. Show and encourage the showing of high quality dogs only.
      2. Exhibit only the most creditable ring deportment and accept the services of only those
          professional handlers whose behavior is exemplary.
      3. Help the novice exhibitor. Be kind, constructive and honest in your comments.
      4. Exhibit only those dogs in good physical and mental condition.
      5. Not exhibit under excessive weather conditions.
      6. Show veterans only if they are in top physical condition.

 

 

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