Blue Ridge Bernese Mountain Dog Club (BRBMDC) Code of Conduct
 
The Blue Ridge Bernese Mountain Dog Club (BRBMDC) is a regional club within the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA). Our purpose is to encourage and promote quality in breeding to meet the standard of breed as approved by The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America and to protect and advance the interests of this breed by providing education to all interested in the breed and fellowship and support to dog owners to ensure the best possible care and training of these dogs.
 
Breeders:
  1. Breeders will use the breed standard created by the BMDCA and adopted by the AKC to devote breeding efforts to the improvement of the breed.
  2. Breeders will adhere to AKC rules for litter and individual registrations.
  3. Breeders will ensure high standards of health care for dogs and will refrain from breeding dogs that are not physically or temperamentally sound. They will not breed females before eighteen months of age, and males before the age of twelve months. They will not breed a female more than two of three seasons, preferably with a one-year rest between litters.
  4. Breeders will obtain hip and elbow dysplasia evaluation from Orthopedic Foundation of Animals (OFA) or other BMDCA-recognized orthopedic registry prior to breeding.
  5. Breeders will provide the following documentation to new owners:
  • This Code of Conduct
  • An AKC application or registration papers for the individual dog
  • A health and veterinary care history
  • Documentation of the individual’s and/or sire and dam’s health certifications or evaluations
  • A four-generation pedigree
  • Recommendations for general care and training
  1. Breeders will endeavor to place dogs into healthy environments and follow the lifetime progress of the dogs, be available for advice, and to accept placement responsibility at any time.
  2. Breeders will not sell adults or puppies to any known retail or wholesale pet outlet or broker and breeders will be honest and forthcoming about the health and needs of a BMD.
 
Members:
  1. Members will support and participate in programs sponsored by BRBMDC to the best of their ability, including, but not limited to, events that promote the breed standard and reflect the breed’s heritage.
  2. Members will adhere to all AKC rules, regulations and requirements pertaining to the sport of dogs, the Constitution, Bylaws and Code of Conduct for the BRBMDC.
  3. Members will at all times exhibit good sportsmanship and conduct themselves appropriately as a representative of the BRBMDC at all Club events and dog shows.
  4. Members will be truthful, constructive and respectful to all other members.
  5. Members will endeavor to promote public awareness of responsible pet ownership, and particularly the special needs of the BMD.
  6. Members will keep only as many dogs as they can provide a high standard of health care, good nutrition, attention, affection and appropriate training, exercise and supervision—while maintaining first and foremost each dog’s welfare and needs.
  7. Members are encouraged to submit and update data to the Berner-Garde database.
  8. Members will work together and support each other to carry out the programs of this Club, while acknowledging our duties to act in the best interests of this breed.