Breeder Guidelines (Breeders’ Best Practices)

• Breeders should learn about genetic defects of the breed, and be honest about which occur in their own line.

• The breeder must be cautious to not produce hybrid dogs. Breeding decisions should be made after examination of pedigrees that are known to go back to a single sire that is assumed to be an offspring of mixed breeds.

• Adherence to breed standards as well as hunting instincts should be very closely considered in any breeding.

• Test when there is testing available, such as OFA, CERF, K locus (tan point).

• Breeders are encouraged to post results of testing on a public database.

• Know which dogs in a given pedigree are carriers or affected with genetic defects.

• For serious health defects, do not breed close relatives, as they are more likely to carry similar genes.

• Know the age of onset of potential genetic defects.

• Disclose any genetic defects to a buyer, and provide test results and any medical records to the buyer.

• Be prepared to take back a genetically defective puppy, and replace it with a healthy puppy.

• Those who inbreed and linebreed must learn basic genetic principles, and be prepared to remove inferior offspring from the breeding program.

• Affected and carrier dogs should be sold with breeding restrictions/AKC Limited Registration.

• Dogs expressing genetic disease or anomalies should not be used for breeding.

• Dogs that test positive as carriers of genetic disease or anomalies should be used for breeding by exception only. All puppies should be tested for specific diseases of concern, and those that are carriers should be sold with breeding restrictions/AKC Limited Registration.

• Follow up on dogs that are sold. Many genetic diseases show in the adult dogs long after the puppies go to the buyers.