It is the intent of the membership of this Club, to undertake, support and promote breeding programs that would continue to improve or maintain the quality of the breed. As minimum requisites for assuring improvement or maintenance of the quality of progeny, careful attention must be paid to the soundness, natural ability, tractability, and conformation to breed standard of the sire and dam. In order to establish minimum criteria for demonstrating these characteristics, the method of evaluating the suitability of stud dogs and brood bitches for breeding programs is suggested.

1. Stud dogs and brood bitches should be certified as being radiographically clear of hip and elbow dysplasia by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or any university housing a school of Veterinary Medicine. Eyes should be shown to be clear of hereditary eye defects by a licensed veterinarian. Litter and stud service advertisements should include a reference to the means of certification obtained.

2. Stud dogs and brood bitches should have earned at least one of the following:

• Two (2) championship points as awarded by the America Kennel Club
• A Companion Dog (CD) degree as awarded by the American Kennel Club
• A Canine Good Citizen (CGC) degree as outlined by the American Kennel Club
• A Judges Award of Merit (JAM)
• Placement in a Derby, Qualifying or Open Stake of a Sanctioned or Licensed Field Trial
• A Labrador Retriever Club Working Certificate and/or RCLRC Working Certificate
• A Junior, Senior, or Master Hunter title as awarded by the American Kennel Club
• A Foreign Title

Adherence to the above shall be at the discretion of the breeder for each individual dog. The Rose City Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. also strongly recommends that its members adhere to the following:

• Use stud dogs and brood bitches that meet the above requirements
• Purchase puppies whose sire and dam have likewise been qualified
• Assure the general health of the sire and dam at the time of breeding
• Guarantee the general health of the puppies at the time of sale
• Truth in advertising

The inherent benefits evolving from the above course of action will result in invaluable dividends to the Stud Dog owner by (a) increasing the demand for the dog’s services (b) protecting the reputation of the stud and (c) enhancing and protecting the name of the kennel; the Buyer by: (a) protecting their investment, (b) obtaining healthy, high-quality dogs and (c) getting what they paid for; the Breeder by: (a) enhancing and protecting his/her reputation and breeding programs, (b) assuring the predictable results, (c) assuring satisfied customers and (d) increasing the value of the litters, (e) assuring continued improvement of type and quality and (f) transmitting natural ability, tractability and conformation to breed standard to future progeny from good specimen parents.

I have read and understand the Code of Ethics and agree to accept its contents as a condition of my membership in the Rose City Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.