Canadian Mastiff Club Code of Ethics

Effective January 1, 1998

The following Code of Ethics applies to all Canadian Mastiff Club members and Mastiffs owned or co-owned by them.

1.       The betterment of the Breed shall be uppermost in the minds of all members.

2.       No one will contemplate breeding even one litter of Mastiffs, unless:

a.       The Breeder is prepared to keep and maintain every puppy in a proper environment and provide for all its needs until properly placed.

b.       The Breeder is sure any Mastiff used for breeding is physically sound, of sound temperament, adheres to the Breed Standard, and has been certified clear for the following health tests:

c.       Hip and elbow x-rays must receive a passing grade by a recognized orthopedic registry. Cerf testing is highly recommended. Any Mastiff known to be affected with PRA can not be bred. Executive approval would be required in advance for special circumstances.

d.       The CMC encourages Club members to do further testing on their Mastiffs prior to breeding such as Thyroid, Cardiac, Patella, vWD, PRA-DNA and Cystinuria.  

3.       A Mastiff Bitch will not be bred prior to her reaching 22 months of age, nor will she be bred more than once per year unless she does not whelp a litter, the litter was stillborn, consisted of a single pup, or as part of a veterinarian’s recommendation for the treatment of pyometra. No Mastiff bitch shall be allowed to be bred after her 7^th birthday.  Executive approval would be required in advance for special circumstances.

4.       The owner of a Stud dog has as much, if not more responsibility to the Breed as the owner of the Bitch.  The Stud dog owner shall refuse service to any Bitch that he or she feels is not a suitable mate, or whose hips and elbows are not certified free from dysplasia or who is known to be affected by PRA.  Executive approval would be required in advance for special circumstances.

5.       Breeders are encouraged to make use of the Canadian Kennel Club Non-Breeding Contract and spay/ neuter policies, when registering their puppies with the Buyer. In the event of discovery of any serious defect, or an indiscriminate breeding, the CKC Non-Breeding Contract will ensure that if a breeding takes place, any progeny will be ineligible for registration.  Mastiffs sold under these contracts can be subject to re-evaluation at a mutually agreed upon age, at which time the contract may be rescinded.

6.       Anyone selling a Mastiff shall:

a.       Screen puppy buyers very carefully.  Proper socialization and humane treatment should be of paramount importance.  A puppy should only be sold to a buyer who is interested in the betterment of the breed or whose interests would not be inconsistent therewith.

b.       Not sell a Mastiff to a pet shop or for resale.

c.       Provide a five generation pedigree for each puppy sold.

d.       Furnish a signed registration or transfer with each Mastiff sold unless a written agreement is made with the buyer that such papers will be forwarded.

e.       Furnish Buyer with a record of inoculations, a record of worm check, and complete instructions for the care of each Mastiff sold. 

f.         Advise the Buyer of each puppy to have a veterinarians check within 5 working days of the sale.  If the puppy is found to be unfit because of breeding or early kennel care, the purchase price should be refunded or the puppy replaced, once the puppy is returned.

g.       Not sell a Mastiff for the purpose of attack training, fighting, or for anything else that would be detrimental to the dog, the Breed and it’s reputation.

h.       Not sell a puppy/adult who is sick, or has any serious health disorders without special instructions and a veterinarians report stating the disorder.

7.       All members of the CMC shall endeavor to prevent the abuse of any Mastiff and shall report any situation that is deemed abusive or harmful to the CMC or a Humane Society.  Any CMC member having knowledge of a Mastiff in need of rescue shall report the situation to CMC Rescue and if possible, inform the holder of the animal of the existence of CMC Rescue.

8.       CMC Members will  show good sportsmanship at all times, and in all matters relating to Mastiffs.  CMC Members will maintain the highest degree of honesty and integrity, and will not knowingly make a misstatement of fact in any serious discussion of their Mastiffs, or the Mastiffs of any Canadian Mastiff Club member, that they may have with persons not qualified to judge the facts for themselves.

9.      No member shall derive their sole or primary income from the sale and/or breeding of Mastiffs.