Code of Ethics

The International Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog Registry, in keeping with it's aims of encouraging the development of finer Alapaha, has adopted the following Code Of Ethics to promote and foster the highest standards among breeders and owners, and to encourage cooperation in the improvement, advancement, protection and the preservation of our breed. All members of the IABBR shall abide by this Code of Ethics. Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the registry or the Breed. Breaching of IABBR COE will result in a fine of up to £500 and/or complete banishment from the IABBR.

MEMBER RELATIONS

1. Members shall be aware at all times that the Club exists to protect the breed and that these aims are to be uppermost in the minds of members in all their activities in the breed.
2. Members will at all times, whether at home, traveling, at shows or at motels, display good sportsmanship and conduct themselves in such a manner as to reflect credit upon the club and the breed.
3.Members shall refrain from unnecessary and nonconstructive criticism of another members dog/s and from personal attacks upon a fellow member on ANY internet forum governed or not governed by the IABBR.
4. Novices are encouraged to seek the advice and assistance of more experienced owners and breeders, and the more experienced shall graciously assist the novice with his problems, and share for the good of the breed, the benefits of his knowledge.
5. In all questions of ethics, covered or not covered by this Code, the individual member shall act solely in the best interests of the breed, and the membership as a whole shall willingly aid any fellow member in upholding these interests.
6. Members shall bear in mind that a Code of Ethics is more than a set of rules; it is a commitment to a high standard of practice in owning and breeding and that adherence to the spirit of the Code is as important as adherence to its law.

TREATMENT

1. All IABBR Registered Alapahas owned by, or in the care of members shall be given a proper, healthy environment, nutrition and care at all times and no member shall have more dogs than can be safely and adequately housed and cared for. No member's dog may be treated in an inhumane manner
subjected to cruel or unusual punishment or abuse. Nor may it be subjected to any conditions likely to eventuate in unnecessary danger to the dog's life.
2. Members shall be diligent in the handling of their dogs in public places and shall do so in a manner to minimize the risk of trauma or danger to any human being or animal.
3.Members recognize their responsibility to protect the name and reputation of the breed and shall not allow their dogs to roam at large unsupervised, nor to become a public nuisance, nor to become a public trust.
4. Members agree to train their dogs in basic obedience at a minimum.
5. No Alapaha shall be euthanized unless it is for a compelling reason and in the best interest of the dog. Owner convenience shall not be considered a compelling reason.

DUAL REGISTRATION

1. No Alapaha should be Dual registered unless for individual show purposes only. The IABBR stand appossed to any registry or club that will allow and/or encourage the proliforation of crossbred litters. Crossbred litters are routinely bred and registered as purebred Alapahas by third party registries. Our breeders are expected to uphold the IABBR's postion in regard to third party registries that recquire "registration" to enter their shows.
2. Dual registration must be reported to the IABBR registrar at time of dual registration.
3. Dual registered dog must attend third party registry show within 6 months of registration date.
4. Dual registered dog must attend at least one (1) event of organisation per year
5. Any advertisements, publications or promotion of IABBR registered dog/s or breeder or kennels is forbidden by any third party registry and will result in complete banishment of owner and dog from the IABBR stud book register.
6. If any of the above mentioned regulations are breached, dual registered dog will have all of their dogs IABBR papers revoked or will be completely unable to register with the IABBR at any later date. Owner will no longer be in good standing with the IABBR.

ADVERTISEMENT

1. All advertisement of stud services, litters and adult dogs, written or oral, shall be factual and as forthrightly honest as possible in both substance and implication.
2. Advertising and promotion, written or oral, shall be confined to the aspects of the breeder's stock and shall not degrade the stock of others.
3. The breeder shall be cautious in discussing show prospects of any animal lest it imply a guarantee of show success that cannot or will not be insured.
4. The breeder shall be equally cautious in encouraging buyers as to breeding prospects, inasmuch as the breeding of an Alapaha is not to be undertaken lightly by any owner.
5. All IABBR registered stud dogs, puppies and adult dogs being advertised must include the sentence ''IABBR Registered''. To uphold the integrity of the original breed clubs mission, adverts must never include ANY third party registering entity. We ask all our breeders and members to refrain from promoting 3rd party registries that are not directly affiliated with the breed or the IABBR. These registries do not hold our breed in high regard (Please see Dual Registration - above.)
6. Advertising and promotion, written or oral, shall be confined to the aspects of the breeders stock and shall not degrade the stock of any other IABBR member. Those found in breach of this section will be reprimanded.

BREEDING

1. Anyone breeding a bitch or stud bears great responsibility to the future of the breed; therefore a breeder shall plan each breeding with the paramount intention of advancing and protecting the breed, we urge all our breeders to health test their dogs under the guidance of a veterinary specialist, and only when in a position to give proper care to both bitch and offspring.
2. Breeding's with an Inbreeding coefficient of greater than 20% can only be undertaken by a seasoned breeder whom has been given prior exemption in writing from the IABBR Executive Board. Exemptions will only be granted for experienced, seasoned breeders whom can prove relevant purpose for a litter with an IC greater than 20%. Any breeding with an IC of 20% that has not received prior exemption from the IABBR in writing will result in a litter that would not be eligible for registration by the IABBR and papers may be revoked of the breeding pair. .
3. Recognizing the extended growth pattern of a large bulldog breed, the breeder shall not breed a bitch before her second heat.
4. A breeder carefully selects stud and bitch with an eye to conformation, health and temperament and only after careful study of the breed standard, the individuals and their near relatives, the pedigrees and the basic principals of genetics.
5. All animals to be bred shall have sound, typical structure, conformation and type, and shall be of sound temperament and free from crippling or disabling hereditary defects.
6. A breeder shall refrain from using an individual who, although free from such hereditary defects, consistently produces afflicted offspring from different mates.
7. Any breeder breeding from lines in which any serious or disabling hereditary defects occur has an ethical obligation to disclose that to all buyers.
8. No bitch should be bred more than two (2) out of three (3) heats and no older than 8 years old nor before the age of 15 months.
9. IABBR Registered Alapahas may not be bred before an appropriate mature breeding age. Thus, no IABBR Registration will be issued for a Stud used before the age of 10 months; and 15 months for a Bitch.
10. Breeders shall ensure that each puppy buyer receives an IABBR Certified Pedigree application. Breeders must register any litter within 120 days from brith, and shall also encourage their puppy owners to participate in the IABBR sponsored events.
11. Puppies must not leave the litter until a minimum of 8 weeks old.
12. If verifiable proof is shown that a breeder is having dishonest interaction with buyers or other members they can have disciplinary action taken against them, ranging anywhere from fines to having breeding privileges revoked.
13. No IABBR registered Alapaha shall be bred to any other breed of any kind nor shall they be bred to any dog outside of the IABBR. Exemptions are made to dogs bred to ABBA registered dogs on request from the registrar. Absolutely any breach of this section will result in the complete banishment of the dog's owner and said dogs full or Merit IABBR registration will be revoked without warning.
14. The IABBR will not except the registration application of So-called Alapahas registered with any other 3rd Party Registries that require no proven Alapaha heritage. IABBR Alapahas can be registered with a third party registry (Dual Registered) in order to show and promote the breed but in order to protect the breed from any possible form of mongrelization no Alapaha will be eligible for registration with the IABBR unless they are registered by the IABBR first.
15. All genetic defects found in litters (i.e. crank tails, wry jaw, crippled, deafness, blindness, entropion, ectropion, cowardice or skittishness and etc.) shall be reported to the IABBR registrar with the said puppy or dog to be registered as "Pet" quality Non-breedable (Spayed or Neutered)
16. Alapahas born with one kink in the tail, with a long tail, reaching the hocks will have full registration and breeding rights, but will be considered as having a flaw in the show ring. Crank tails are defined as having more than one kink and will be registered as pet quality with no breeding rights.
17. Any breeder found to be falsifying any aspect of their breeding program, from pedigree's to breedings, will have all breeding privileges revoked without warning.

STUD SERVICE

1. Anyone using their dog at stud bears great responsibility to the future of the breed; therefore a stud owner shall use the dog discriminatively and with the paramount intention of advancing and protecting the breed.
2. No member shall offer stud an animal who does not meet the requirements set forth above for bitches in sections 4-7. 3.If the stud has not been bred before or has not produced a live litter or has had breeding problems in the past, such information shall be provided to the bitch owner before the bitch is accepted for breeding.
4. Prior to accepting any bitch for service, it is the obligation of the stud owner to advise novice breeders of the responsibilities, problems, obligations and expenses involved in breeding a litter.
5. It shall be the responsibility of the stud owner to ascertain that any bitch brought to any stud shall meet the requirements of the Code. The stud owner shall further ascertain to the best of his/her ability that any produce of the breeding shall be raised and sold in a manner in keeping with the ethical standards of this Code.
6. The owner of the stud is under no obligation to provide stud service for a bitch who when brought to the stud dog is not as represented by her owner or presents serious hereditary defects or is not in good health.
7. The owner of a male shall not accept a bitch for service if the bitch cannot be maintained in a safe and healthy manner.
8. Bitches shall be bred only to the stud specified by her owner unless an acceptable substitute is agreed upon by both parties.
9. Insofar as is possible, at least 2 services shall be effected, and it is the obligation of the stud owner to offer a free return service under the same conditions if no litter results. A litter is defined for the purposes of this Code as a minimum of 2 live pups at 36 hours.
10. Owners of stud and bitch shall sign a written agreement, clearly stating the conditions and terms of service.

SALES

1. A breeder shall be discriminating in the sale of all dogs and concerned with the type of home in which they are placed. No member shall engage in wholesaling litters, or in individual sales or consignments of pups or adults to pet shops, dealers, catalog houses or other commercial establishments. Nor shall they be donated or given as prizes in contests, raffles or fund raising events, no matter how charitable.
2. A breeder shall be available to buyers for whatever advice, reasonable aid or assistance they may need for the life of the dog. IABBR members shall help and support their fellow members in fulfilling this obligation.
3. Any member selling or placing an Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog is expected to assist any buyer in finding a suitable new home for their dog at any time that the buyer wishes to relinquish it. If the buyer is unable or unwilling to find such a home, the member shall assume physical and/or financial responsibility for that animal. The same responsibility shall be assumed for any animal sold or placed which comes into the possession of any rescue network or shelter at any point in the dog's life. This applies to all co-breeders of the dog.
4. A breeder, for the protection of both breeder and buyer, shall provide adequate written contractual proof of sales and guarantees. No promise shall be made orally which is not put into writing.
5. It is recommended that a breeder supply a Copy of the Code of Ethics to all buyers and explain to them its provisions.
6. No I.A.B.B.R Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog should be registered by a 3rd party registry at time of sale. Dual registering litters is punishable by complete banishment from the I.A.B.B.R.
7. Any animal sold under the designation "pet/companion" shall be sold with restricted registration papers and on a mandatory spay/neuter contract. A breeder may supply full registration papers upon proof of sterilization or upon the breeders reassessment of the animal as being of "show/breeding" quality.
8. It is the responsibility of a breeder to grade all litters as to quality. A breeder shall not offer a buyer the choice of purchasing the same pup for one price with full registration and another price with limited registration. A breeder may choose to change a registration from limited to full at a later date. The buyer may be offered this option which may be contingent upon a change of contract and terms but not contingent upon payment of an additional price.
9. It is the ethical obligation of a member breeder to guarantee dogs produced and sold to be as represented. Any replacement or refund arrangement agreed to by breeder and buyer and just to the interests of both parties shall be considered satisfactory. It is understood, however, that any dog which dies or must be destroyed before the age of 18 months due to physical or temperamental conditions which are hereditary, shall be replaced one for one, within a year of death. or If that is not possible, the full purchase price shall be refunded.
10.Upon releasing any Alapaha pup or adult, the breeder shall follow these guidelines:
  a. He shall supply a pedigree of no less than 3 generations.
  b. He shall provide written information of the care of the animal.
  c. He shall supply records which detail all dates and types of medical care given the animal including vaccinations,
  d. He shall release only animals which are to the best of his knowledge in good health.
  e. Animals being released shall have had all the necessary worming/Flea treatment for their age.
  f. All puppies leaving the breeder shall be at least 8 weeks old. Those to be shipped shall be 9 weeks.
  g. The breeder shall request that buyers take the animal to a veterinarian of their choice upon receipt and if the animal is unhealthy, allow buyers 72 hours to return the animal at their expense for a full refund or replacement puppy.
  h. If the animal has not been seen by the buyer or the buyer's agent before shipping, the breeder shall allow the buyer 48 hours to return the animal at the buyers expense if not satisfied that the animal is as represented by the breeder. A full refund shall be made.
11. ALL puppies registered by an IABBR breeder, bred down from two IABBR registered Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldogs must not have IABBR registration application forms withheld for any reason. If a breeder is found to be charging a fee for paperwork or are found to withhold IABBR puppy registration application forms for any reason they will be banned from the IABBR.

IMPLEMENTATION

Not adhering to any section of this Code of Ethics, may be considered prejudicial to the best interest of the Registry or Breed. Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct and breach of the IABBR Code of Ethics.