The Irish Wolfhound Club of Canada (IWCC/CCLI) Code of Ethics applies to all members. A section to specify breeder ethics was added in 2017 and approved at the IWCC 2017 AGM. Its purpose is to provide standards and requirements relating to the proper maintenance, breeding, selling, and overall protection of our beloved Irish Wolfhounds. This understanding reflects our general priorities for hound welfare and responsible, researched breeding practices. As appropriate, breach of these provisions may result in suspension or expulsion from the Club, or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action.

All current Club members as well as new applicants must sign and agree to the 2017 COE to be accepted for membership in the IWCC.

IWCC Code of Ethics (PDF 2 MB)

 Code Of Ethics For Members

• IWCC members will strive to always protect the Irish Wolfhound from abuse, neglect, suffering and cruelty, and be prepared to report any such actions.
• IWCC members will refrain from making false, malicious, slanderous or unfair statements about fellow members or breeders of the IWCC.
• IWCC members will provide their hounds with housing, the best food suited to their needs, fresh clean water, proper daily exercise fitting to this hunting breed, and proper veterinary care. A well-fenced yard is strongly recommended.
• IWCC members are strongly encouraged to keep an open relationship and stay in communication with their breeder during the life of their hound.
• IWCC members will do their best to help mentor new or other members of the IWCC with any queries or questions.
• IWCC members will demonstrate good sportsmanship like behaviour at all times, both inside and outside the ring.
• IWCC members will be in control of their hounds at all times, out in public, on or off leash, and at home. They will provide safe and secure fencing, a good size yard, or have access to off leash areas.
• IWCC members will behave in such a manner that does not bring unnecessary discredit to the breed or the IWCC.

Code of Ethics for Breeders

• All IWCC Breeders will/must heed and abide by the regulations set forth by the CKC and IWCC.
• IWCC Breeders (which include the owners of both the sire and dam) should be very familiar with the standard prior to breeding, with the aim being improvement of the breed. They should know the pedigrees of the sire and dam, always keeping in mind the importance of type, temperament, soundness, health issues and longevity.
• All bitches/dogs and litters will/must be registered with the CKC if born in Canada. Foreign dog owners should comply with the regulations of the National Breed and Kennel Club of their country regarding litter and puppy registrations.
• IWCC Breeders should advise prospective puppy owners of all characteristics of the breed, encouraging the owner to be in communication especially with regard to any potential health issue that may occur.
• IWCC Breeders should be very discriminating in their choice of homes, taking into consideration location, accommodation, sanitation, exercise, fencing, veterinary care, diet and most of all, the emotional and physical well being of the puppy/dog they are placing.
• No puppies/dogs of any age should be sold/raffled/donated to pet shops, labs, brokers, security firms. No puppies/dogs of any age should be sold to areas overseas that do not have similar standards of animal protection to Canada.
• IWCC Breeders will undertake all the recommended health testing for our breed as prescribed by OFA and the IWCC, which includes heart, hips, elbows and eye certifications. Copies of all test results should be provided to the purchaser(s) if requested.
• IWCC Breeders must liver shunt test all their puppies at the recommended age of 9 weeks or older before they go to their new homes.
• Puppies should not leave the IWCC Breeders until at least 10 weeks of age. It is an established fact that bitches really begin to “teach” their puppies from 6-10 weeks and beyond, the valuable skills of life that puppies will need as they grow and mature. The inter-action between siblings during this time will help them develop social skills that they may never learn if taken away too early from their dam and siblings.
• Puppies must be sold with the requisite registration papers (which often includes the CKC non-breeding agreement or co-ownership forms), a copy of the pedigree, plus written selling agreement (selling agreement should include the conditions for breeding of the dog, return to the breeder, or re-homing/sale of said dog in future). The IWCC Breeders will provide written dietary and exercise recommendations, and a pre-determined health attestation/check list/certificate and vaccination papers in provinces where it is law. Puppies should be free from parasites, including but not restricted to worms, fleas and ticks.
• IWCC Breeders are strongly encouraged to educate new owners about the pros and cons of neutering or spaying, and be able to discuss alternative methods. This would also include advising not to spay or neuter before the recommended age of 2 years.
• No bitches will be bred before 2 yrs. or after 6 yrs., nor bred on consecutive seasons, except in extraordinary circumstances.
• IWCC Breeders will be familiar with the positives and negatives of line breeding, inbreeding and outcrossing within the breed and in their own particular lines. Inbreeding is not a common practice and is used judiciously by some breeders on occasion. Inbreeding refers to close relations being bred, i.e., Father to Daughter, Mother to Son, Brother to Sister. This should not be common practice.
• IWCC Breeders will not breed a hound with a known health defect or knowingly sell an Irish Wolfhound who is not in a healthy condition or has any known contagious disease without full written disclosure within the sales contract.
• IWCC Breeders will not sell bitches in whelp, nor sell to “non-responsible” breeders. (A responsible breeder adheres to the COE of IWCC Breeders).
• IWCC Breeders must be ready, willing and able to take back any puppy or adult dog of their breeding. No dog of their breeding can be bred, sold or given away without the written permission of the breeder, and this should be noted in the written agreement of purchase/sale.