Irish Wolfhound Clubs
of NSW, SA & Qld

Member’s Code of Conduct

Version 1, February 2015

 

To ensure the health, wellbeing and ongoing development of the Irish Wolfhound Breed, The Irish Wolfhound Club of South Australia expects that all club members abide by the following code of conduct, whether they are a pet owner, show owner or breeder.

All club members will:

• Properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention when required.

• Ensure that all dogs under their control are properly and always contained by suitable fencing.

• Not allow any dogs under their care to roam at large, and when away from home, ensure hounds are always kept fully leashed or otherwise under effective control.

• Clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.

• Conduct themselves respectfully and in a sporting manner at dog shows, in accordance with ANKC guidelines.

Additionally, club members are reminded that it is the duty of all Wolfhound owners to always keep their hounds under control, to keep them well exercised and in good health, and endeavour to further promote the image of the breed and its equable temperament.

Club members who undertake the breeding of Irish Wolfhound puppies will:

• Agree not to breed from a dog or bitch where it could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.

• Not knowingly permit any pure bred, registered Irish Wolfhounds owned by them to be mated to a dog of a different breed, to a cross bred dog or to an unregistered Irish Wolfhound, or an Irish Wolfhound with an incomplete pedigree or to a hound on the Limited Register.

• Only relinquish ownership of dogs to vetted homes where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.

• Supply written details of all dietary and vaccination requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in new homes.

• Ensure that all relevant ANKC Ltd documents are provided to the new owner when relinquishing ownership of a dog and agree to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.

• Not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction ANKC Ltd registration certificates as stand-alone items (not accompanying a dog).

• Not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed, falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.

• Be prepared to take back any hound bred by them whose home may no longer be able to cope with it or assist in the re-homing of the hound.

• Never breed or keep more hounds than can be looked after personally with individual attention, either by you or a good kennel assistant.

• Observe the following breeding limits for bitches:

  • Bitches not to be mated under two years of age

  • Bitches not to produce more than three litters in their lifetime

  • Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a twelve-month period unless on the recommendation of a vet

  • Maximum age for bitches to produce a litter is seven years.

• Not conduct or permit mother/son, father/daughter or brother/sister matings from any hounds owned or part owned by them.

• Undertake heart testing by a qualified veterinary surgeon able to conduct a full heart scan on all breeding dogs and bitches owned by the member, prior to being bred. Only use stud dogs which have been heart tested except for stored frozen semen from a deceased dog (unless that dog was known to have heart disease). All results of heart testing are to be sent to The Irish Wolfhound Database to be added under health info for that hound. This will take effect on January 1st, 2020

• It is currently recommended that all breeding hounds should also undergo hip and elbow scoring with results also submitted to The Irish Wolfhound Database. This will become compulsory from 1st January 2025.

• Agree to screen all puppies for Portosystemic Shunt.

• Ensure that only puppies clear of Portosystemic Shunt are sold, and that affected hounds are desexed or euthanized.  

• Be prepared to assist the owner of the bitch in finding suitable homes for any puppies sired by their dog.

• Not allow puppies to go to their new homes until (ideally) from 10 weeks of age, but at an absolute minimum, at 9 weeks of age.

In the event of any member witnessing cruelty to a dog, it is expected that they report the offence. Should this happen at an approved event Dog Show under the rules of Dogs SA, the complaint must be lodged as per the reporting procedure in Dogs SA rules.

Breaches of any of these provisions may result in expulsion from Club Membership