| CODE OF ETHICS | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Members must consider the welfare of their hounds as paramount, above any personal gain or profit and must ensure that their hounds are properly housed, fed, watered, exercised and cared for. |
| 2. | All breeding should be aimed at the IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED. Before breeding a litter equal weight should be given to type, temperament, health and soundness. Members should do all in their power to discourage breeding from obvious inferior specimens. |
| 3. | Members offering Bloodhounds at stud should ensure that they are in good health and as far as possible free from hereditary defects. Dog hounds should be of good type, temperament and soundness. Stud services should be refused to clearly inferior specimens. |
| 4. | Bitches should not be bred from until they are mature, usually two years of age, nor should they be bred from too frequently. |
| 5. | No member should breed a litter of Bloodhounds unless he/she has the facilities and time to devote proper care and attention to the rearing of the puppies and the well-being of the dam. They should also be prepared to take back or help with the re-homing of their stock should it become necessary. |
| 6. | Prospective buyers should be screened for suitability and should be advised of the breed characteristics and faults. They should be shown a full-grown adult and made to realise what they are taking on. |
| 7. | At the time of sale members should provide a signed three generation pedigree together with a Kennel Club Registration Certificate and Transfer (if available), diet sheet and fact sheet regarding worming, vaccination, training, etc. All puppies should be fully covered by insurance for a month from purchase and should be wormed before sale. A receipt of purchase should be supplied. |
| 8. | Where a Bloodhound puppy deviates seriously from the standard or has an obvious defect, the buyer must be made aware of this fact and the Kennel Club Registration Certificate should be amended to disallow breeding from the animal, or it should be neutered by the breeder at a later date. |
| 9. | No Bloodhound should knowingly be sold to a pet shop or dealer and great care should be taken when exporting to ensure the hound goes directly to its new home. |
| 10. | Members should conduct themselves at all times in such a manner as to reflect credit on the Bloodhound and should demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times at competitive events. |