PCA Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor Guidelines
The Puli Club of America, Inc. in accordance with the objectives of its Constitution, expects its members to use these guidelines in establishing a standard of conduct for themselves as owners, breeders, sellers and exhibitors of Pulik. Every person who owns a Puli has an inherent responsibility to protect our breed.
A. A PULI OWNER WILL PROVIDE ALL DOGS WITHIN THEIR KEEPING WITH:
- Appropriate food, water, health care and shelter.
- Emotional requirements of attention, affection and appropriate training.
B. A PULI BREEDER WILL:
- Be well-informed about the Standard of our breed.
- Be aware that the purpose of breeding is to maintain or improve the quality of the breed in accordance with the standard.
- Use all available means such as knowledge of ancestors, and CHIC testing to determine that breeding stock is free of inheritable disease. PCA required CHIC testing includes:
- OFA or Penn Hip for hips
- OFA for patella
- OFA Degenerative Myelopathy (DNA test)
- CERF (Canine Eye Registry) to be updated every 3 years
Additional tests that can be performed but are not required includes:
- OFA for elbows
- OFA for cardiac
- OFA for thyroid
- BAER (hearing) test
- Obtain radiologically normal OFA/Penn Hip evaluation on all breeding stock before breeding.
- Use only stock which is itself sound in body and temperament.
- Breed only when in a position to properly care for the bitch and litter, recognizing that offspring might need housing for a considerable length of time.
- Not breed a bitch at her first season, before the age of 2, nor breed her more than 2 out of 3 consecutive heat periods, taking the health of the bitch into consideration at all times.
- Enter into all breeding arrangements with written contracts.
- Keep accurate and thorough breeding records in full accordance with AKC requirements.
- Prevent all breedings that are not carefully planned and provide adequate kenneling to prevent accidental or unplanned matings.
- Insist that a visiting bitch be in the stud owner’s care and/or supervision before, through and until completion of estrus, so that accidental mating to another stud not occur.
- Not substitute one stud for another without the knowledge and agreement of all parties.
- Pay careful attention to physical and emotional needs of puppies produced.
- Keep all puppies in the litter until they are a minimum of eight (8) weeks of age.
- Be aware at all times that producing puppies is a commitment and they remain responsible for puppies they produce throughout the lifetime of those dogs.
- Breeders are required to provide assistance to dogs of their breeding in need of re-homing, including taking the dogs back and fostering them until they can relocate them to a new home.
C. PERSON SELLING A PULI WILL:
- Maintain a reasonable price within one’s locale, which price should also be compatible with national prices.
- Intelligently and honestly classify stock as show prospect, breeding prospect or pet.
- Provide AKC papers with limited registration if the dog is a potential detriment to the breed.
- Ascertain that the prospective owner has the knowledge, ability and facilities to properly care for a Puli.
- Give the buyer an honest appraisal of coat management, physical, mental and nutritional needs peculiar to the breed.
- Provide a pedigree of at least 3 generations, typed or written legibly.
- Supply records to the buyer regarding immunization, feeding and instructions for future care.
- Release only puppies which are in good health and guarantee the health of the puppy for a reasonable length of time.
- Only release puppies after 8 weeks of age which is in keeping with most animal welfare laws.
- Provide written contractual proof of sale and guarantees. If registration papers are not yet available, a bill of sale, giving names and registration numbers of sire and dam and date of birth are required.
- Avoid false and misleading advertising, including internet and websites.
- Not sell or provide stock to pet shops or commercial kennels.
- Not donate dogs, puppies or adults, for contests, raffles, or fund raising events.
D. A PERSON SHOWING A PULI WILL:
- Show and encourage the showing of high quality stock.
- Exhibit only the most creditable ring deportment and accept the services of only those professional handlers whose behavior is exemplary.
- Help the novice exhibitor and breeder. Use kind, constructive and honest criticism.
- Display good sportsmanship and conduct themselves, whether at home, traveling, at shows, or in hotels, in such a manner as to reflect credit upon the Puli Club of America, themselves and the Puli as a breed.
- Exhibit dogs that are clean, in good physical condition and under control.
Updated March, 2012