Breeder Referral Program Criteria

When a potential puppy owner contacts the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of the Greater Twin Cities (BMDCGTC), included in the "Puppy Packet" will be a list of participants in the club's Breeder Referral Program. The requirements and preferred practices are listed below.

Requirements:

• For purposes of the Breeder Referral Program (BRP), a breeder may be a stud owner or a dam owner.
• If breeder is in Minnesota or within 50 miles of any Minnesota border and in the US, must be a full club member in good standing, and have no unresolved grievances with any regional club, Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) or American Kennel Club (AKC).
• If breeder is located outside of the above area must be a full member in good standing of a recognized regional club or a member of BMDCA in good standing, and have no unresolved grievances with any regional club, BMDCA, or AKC. Breeder must reside in the United States.
• BRP members will provide BMDCGTC a copy of their puppy owner contract.
• Each litter must be approved by the Breeder Referral Committee before a PPO is referred to that breeder
• BRP members must only produce litters of Bernese Mountain Dog puppies that are eligible for registration with the AKC.
• BRP members assist in rehoming any dog he/she has bred or owned in the event that the current owner is unable or unwilling to keep the dog, regardless of age or health.
• BRP members should only breed dogs that are free of hip and elbow dysplasia as evidenced by an OFA certified number. Extenuating circumstances resulting in hip or elbow injury should be confirmed after consultation with a vet and presented in writing to the BRP Committee to verify that the condition is not genetically based.

It is preferred that...

• BRP members assess whether prospective breeding candidates and their immediate relatives are affected with or carriers of hereditary disease besides hip and elbow displasia for which there is diagnostic testing. Such hereditary diseases include, but may not be limited to, eye disease, thyroid disease, heart disease, and von Willebrand disease. BRP members will encourage all puppy owners (pet or show) to use these tests and registries, and work to include all records in the Berner-Garde database.
• BRP members should enter all litters into the Berner-Garde Foundation Open Database. BRP members acknowledge that Bernese Mountain Dogs should not be used for breeding under the age of two years and should only be used after they have received normal hip, elbow and eye certifications.
• BRP members do not allow a bitch they own, co-own or lease to have more than two litters in any 18-month period and will preferably skip a heat cycle between litters.
• BRP members employ careful screening practices for potential puppy owners. BRP members should remain available for advice, when sought, for the lifetime of offspring from their dogs.
• BRP members provide to parties involved, copies of the following documents relating to both parents of a prospective litter, or to a dog to be used for breeding, before there is any exchange of money and/or services, including a deposit:
  1. A four generation pedigree
  2. Copies of reports of hip and elbow evaluations from a recognized registry
  3. Copies of eye reports from a board certified canine ophthalmologist
  4. A written contract for all transactions including puppy sales and breeding agreements.
• BRP members obtain an AKC DNA profile on all dogs used for breeding.
• BRP members exhibit breeding stock in AKC conformation events and/or performance events (obedience, agility, drafting, etc.)
• BRP members actively participate in club events, whether BMDCGTC-, other regional-, or BMDCA-sponsored events.

Administration:

• The Breeder Referral Committee (BRC) may refuse any non-BMDCGTC member entry to the BRP. The BRP membership will be reviewed annually.
• The BRC will review the criteria for membership on an annual basis and make recommendations to the BMDCGTC Board of Directors for modifications.
• Potential BRP members will complete the appropriate application form, submitting to the Breeder Referral Chair. Non-BMDCGTC members must be approved by a simple majority of the BRC.
• The packet sent to potential puppy owners by the Breeder Referral Chair will contain a list of all BRP members, with appropriate contact information, as well as any details the BRP members wish to include about breeding philosophy and practices. This information sheet will be updated on a monthly basis by a member of the BRC and transmitted to the Breeder Referral Chair.
• BRP members may modify their entry in the BRP List on a monthly basis to include the arrival or expectation of litters by contacting the Breeder Referral Chair, who will forward that information to the BRC.

Approved November 14, 2004 Please apply using the Application Form. You may type directly into the form, then print it out.