Club members:
- Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
- Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon performing an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operation to the Kennel Club.
- Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
- Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
- Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
- Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.
- Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
- Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
- Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
- Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
- Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
- Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.
- Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as stand alone items (not accompanying a dog).
- Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.
- Only dogs ands bitches of good quality and type should be used for breeding, and breeding purely for commercial reasons or without serious purpose should be discouraged.
- A bitch should not produce more than four litters during her lifetime, nor be bred from over eight years of age.
- Stud dog owners have a great responsibility towards the breed and should enquire before accepting bookings, the reason for the mating, ensuring that it in the breed’s interest.
- Puppies should be at least 12 weeks of age and in good health before sale, and already been thoroughly wormed. A receipt of sale detailing any special agreements, which should be signed by both parties, handed over to the purchaser.
Membership of the Maltese Club is recommended and should be encouraged.
Puppy insurance is recommended and should be encouraged
Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.
Here’s some helpful guidance and advice on compulsory microchipping
Advice for breeders If you are a breeder in the UK, you must ensure that all puppies are microchipped and recorded on a government compliant database by the time they are eight weeks old and before they go to the new owner. It’s essential that you, rather than the puppy buyer, are the first recorded keeper on the database.
Advice for buyers Puppy buyers should not buy a dog from a breeder unless it has been microchipped and recorded on a database. When buying a puppy, you will be provided with microchipping documents which will allow you to transfer keepership on the database (though your breeder may do this for you). If you do not receive microchipping documents then you should not buy the puppy.
See menu Maltese Dog – Tips For Buyers Advice on buying a new puppy for more information on Micro -Chipping and Regulations.