Stokeshire Code of Ethics

Housing and Exercise: Providing suitable housing and running areas tailored to breed needs.

Responsible Breeding: Thorough research and adherence to breed standards, aiming to improve the breed.

Health Testing and Disclosure: Conducting health tests and disclosing results to potential buyers.

Identification and Maturity: Ensuring identifiable breeding dogs and breeding only when mature.

Puppy Health and Buyer Education: Ensuring puppy health and educating buyers about breed needs.

Transparency and Contracts: Utilizing contracts detailing breeding terms, stud usage, and health guarantees.

Advertising and Ethical Practices: Commitment to factual, responsible advertising and ethical breeding care.

For Breeding and Care:

Conscientious Breeding: Thoughtful planning considering parents' health, temperament, and hereditary diseases.

Care Standards: Providing proper care, veterinary attention, food, exercise, and living conditions.

Kennel Standards: Kennel care ensuring comfort, cleanliness, and adequate exercise.

Female and Litter Care: Ensuring a safe, clean, and stress-free environment for nursing and whelping.

Female Breeding Standards: Ensuring the female's health, maturity, and appropriate breeding frequency.

Puppy Health and Socialization: Veterinary checks, deworming, vaccinations, and age-appropriate socialization.

Compliance: Adherence to federal, state, and local laws, and regulations.

For Placing Dogs with New Owners:

Placement Responsibility: Keeping puppies until suitable homes are found and screening potential owners.

Information Disclosure: Disclosing health issues, maintaining accurate records, and providing necessary documentation.

Lifetime Support: Offering guidance and support to new owners, taking back dogs if needed, and promoting responsible ownership.

As responsible breeders, we ensure the integrity of our breeding program by selectively granting breeding rights solely to vetted Good Dog and State Licensed Breeders. This meticulous vetting process underscores our commitment to maintaining ethical standards and upholding the well-being of our beloved dogs.

All new Stokeshire Owners agree to:

Have their dog examined by a licensed veterinarian shortly after bringing the dog home (preferably within two to three business days).

Ensure that their dog is always cared for both physically and emotionally, including by providing proper shelter, food, water, exercise, grooming, human contact, stimulation and., protection from bodily harm.

Take care when socializing young puppies to minimize the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as parvovirus or kennel cough. Encourage puppies to play with healthy, vaccinated adult dogs such as those owned by family members and friends at your home or theirs, and with healthy vaccinated puppies in well-run puppy classes. Avoid public spaces with dogs of unknown health status (e.g. pet stores, dog parks) until the puppy is fully vaccinated.

Not sell or trade the dog to any pet shop, wholesaler or, broker for any reason whatsoever.

Ensure their dogs have permanent identification (by microchip, tattoo, or otherwise).

Have their dog receive a veterinary exam at least once per year.

Seek immediate veterinary care in the event of sickness or injury.

Unless otherwise agreed upon, have their dog(s) spayed/neutered at an appropriate age for the breed and based on consultation with their veterinarian.

Keep Stokeshire informed about any physical or behavioral health problems that arise in any dog obtained from them, especially health problems that are known to be heritable or that have unknown causes.

Regardless of the reason or circumstances, notify the breeder if they are ever unable to keep their dog so that the breeder can either take the dog back or help in rehoming them. If the breeder is unable or unwilling to either take the dog back or help in rehoming them, the new dog owner must notify Good Dog to assist in rehoming.

Notify Stokeshire of any change of address and/or phone number for their records.

Send us lots of pictures and share in the Stokeshire Community.

New Dog Owners

All new dog owners agree to:

Have their dog examined by a licensed veterinarian shortly after bringing the dog home (preferably within two to three business days).

Ensure that their dog is always cared for both physically and emotionally, including by providing proper shelter, food, water, exercise, grooming, human contact, stimulation and protection from bodily harm.

Take care when socializing young puppies to minimize the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as parvovirus or kennel cough. Encourage puppies to play with healthy, vaccinated adult dogs such as those owned by family members and friends at your home or theirs, and with healthy vaccinated puppies in well-run puppy classes. Avoid public spaces with dogs of unknown health status (e.g. pet stores, dog parks) until the puppy is fully vaccinated.

Not sell or trade the dog to any pet shop, wholesaler or broker for any reason whatsoever.

Ensure their dogs have permanent identification (by microchip, tattoo, or otherwise).

Have their dog receive a veterinary exam at least once per year.

Seek immediate veterinary care in the event of sickness or injury.

Unless otherwise agreed with their breeder, have their dog spayed/neutered at an appropriate age for the breed and based on consultation with their veterinarian.

If from a breeder:

Keep the breeder informed about any physical or behavioral health problems that arise in any dog obtained from them, especially health problems that are known to be heritable or that have unknown causes.

Regardless of the reason or circumstances, notify the breeder if they are ever unable to keep their dog so that the breeder can either take the dog back or help in rehoming them. If the breeder is unable or unwilling to either take the dog back or help in rehoming them, the new dog owner must notify Good Dog to assist in rehoming.

Notify the breeder of any change of address and/or phone number for their records.

Keep in touch with their breeder and send them lots of pictures. This one is optional but highly encouraged!