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Appendix 1

GRIFFON BRUXELLOIS  BREEDERS ASSOCIATION
GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS
All members of the GBBA undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics


Club members 

  1. Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
  2. Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon performing an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operation to the  Royal Kennel Club.
  3. Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes. 
  4. Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
  5. Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
  6. Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.
  7. Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
  8. Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
  9. Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
  10. Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
  11. Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
  12. Will ensure that all relevant Royal Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.
  13. Will 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  Royal Kennel Club registration certificates as stand alone items (not accompanying a dog)
  14. Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.
  15. All breeding should be primarily for the purpose of improving the standard of the breed.
  16. Litters should be carefully planned using healthy bitches and stud dogs of sound temperament and conformation.  No bitch should bear puppies before 15 months of age and thereafter not more than twice in each succeeding 18 months.
  17. Thoughtful consideration and discretion will be given to the use of each stud dog, breeding him only to quality bitches free from known hereditary defects and breed disqualifications. No stud services should be provided to underage bitches and the RKC registration certificate for the bitch ( not a photocopy) must be seen before the mating takes place. Genetic diversity is essential so careful consideration must be given to the number of times a stud dog is used, the Inbreeding Coefficient ( COI) and avoiding popular sires.
  18. No puppy should be sold unless it has been inoculated, wormed and fully weaned and NOT before the age of ten weeks. No puppies should be exported before they are fully inoculated according to the regulations in force in the particular country concerned. Special care must be taken to ensure the correct environment into which puppies and stock are exported.
  19. Puppies must be microchipped and registered to the breeder at a U.K. microchip database. The breeder must initiate the validation code to the new owner at point of sale.

    

  1. Recommend that all breeding stock to be patella tested between 12 and 18 months and a copy of the results passed to the Health Co-Ordinator for the records and analysis.
  2. Best practice is that all breeding stock to be BOAS tested before breeding and then every two years at least until breeding dogs reach six years of age. The RFG passed to the Health Co-Ordinator for the records and analysis. Results to inform breeding should be as recommended by RKC/BVA schemes.
  3. Best practice is that all breeding stock to be tested via the BVA/RKC/ISDS Eye Scheme within the 12 months prior to breeding.A copy of the results should be passed to the Health Co- Ordinator for the records and analysis. Results to inform breeding should be as recommended by the RKC/BVA schemes.
  4. Copies of any other test results should also be sent to the Health Co-ordinator.  Any test should be declared/shown to users or new owners.
  5. From time to time it will become necessary to investigate conditions or problems which may be thought to be hereditary.  It is essential that the full co-operation of  all  members be given  in any such investigation. 
  6. Members will, when breeding dogs, adopt as a minimum standard the principles, requirements and recommendations as embodied in the RKC Health Standard as the guide for responsible breeding and reference for puppy buyers.
  7. No member of the GBBA shall use social media to make unjustified derogatory  comments, direct or implied, about:
    a) Another member
    b) The Association
    c) An official of the Association

Such conduct may be considered incompatible with continued membership and may lead to the expulsion of that member.

Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Royal  Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.

Updated - May 2026