The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of SA, in keeping with its aims of breeding the best possible Bernese Mountain Dogs, while preserving their unique beauty and character and of promoting the best possible care and training of these dogs, adopts the following:

• Members shall strive for perfection of the BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG and only breed for the specific purpose of improving the breed in accordance with the official standard set forth by the A.N.K.C. In this regard they shall:
  

  a) Maintain high standards of health and care for their dogs, only keeping such numbers that can be socialised and cared for;
  

  b) Ensure that all stock to be bred from shall be free from contagious disease. Breeding shall be carefully planned and must be carried out selectively in an attempt to reduce as much as possible hereditary defects, such as hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis of the shoulder and the elbow, entropian, ectropian, trembler (hypomylin-genesis) and elongated soft palate;
  

  c) Ensure that nervous or aggressive Bernese shall not be bred from;
  

  d)

  (i) Refrain from mating a bitch prior to her second season or prior to 22 months of age; ensure that no bitch shall be bred from in any way that is deleterious to the bitch or the breed and that the last litter shall be whelped before the bitch's 7th birthday except under exceptional circumstances and with veterinary approval.
  (ii) It is not recommended to breed from the same bitch in consecutive seasons and should only be undertaken in exceptional circumstances.
  (iii) If exceptional circumstances exist which make it necessary to breed from a bitch in consecutive seasons, do not breed from that bitch for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of birth of the puppies from that second season.

• It is recommended:
  

  a) that all breeding stock shall be x-rayed for evidence of hip dysplasia from 12 months of age and that the x-ray plates are submitted for scoring under the AVA/ BVA HD Scheme;
  

  b) that all breeding stock shall be x-rayed and scored for osteochondrosis of the elbow at the same time that they are x-rayed for hip dysplasia;
  

  c) Breeders shall treat mild cases as they would any other fault and exclude from their breeding program dogs with more severe evidence of hip dysplasia or osteochondrosis.
  

• Members shall not sell stock without a true representation to the purchases nor use misleading or untruthful statements in selling or advertising.
• No member shall sell adults or puppies to any known retail or wholesale outlet.
  
• No puppy shall go to its new home before 8 weeks of age, thus allowing for vaccination to be given at six weeks of age.
  
• A buyer shall be supplied with at least a 3-generation pedigree, with information on inoculations and other veterinary care that the dog has had and with instructions on the care, feeding, exercise and training of Bernese.
  
• A breeder shall try to keep in touch with the progress of dogs of his or her breeding.
  
• A breeder or stud dog owner must be prepared to take back any dog of his or her breeding, or be instrumental in re-homing the dog at any time throughout the dog's life.
  
• Members shall at all times exhibit good sportsmanship at all events relating to the club and to dog shows.
  
• Members shall not denigrate any other member or kennel.
  

This Code of Ethics is issued as a guidance document but members are reminded that the Kennel Club Code of Ethics as published by the South Australian Canine Association (SACA) is mandatory for anyone who is a SACA member.