Code Of Ethics

The West Highland White Terrier Club of America recognizes its responsibility to preserve and protect the West Highland White Terrier. It further recognizes that the quality and reputation of the breed rests squarely in the hands of its breeders. Therefore, as guidance both to the public and its member breeders, the West Highland White Terrier Club of America sets forth below certain standards of conduct to be followed by its members. Membership in the West Highland White Terrier Club of America assumes acceptance of and adherence to this code.

1.  Members will at all times act in the interest of the breed and in the interest of the well being of individual dogs and in a manner in keeping with the aims and interest of the West Highland White Terrier Club of America.
2. Members will keep their dogs in an environment and under a regime that as far as is possible ensures the well being of the dog.
3. No member will knowingly sell a West Highland White Terrier of any age to any pet shop, catalogue house, laboratory, or any wholesale dealer in dogs, or to any person who sells to pet shops, catalogue houses, laboratories, or wholesale dealers (a dealer being a person who regularly buys stock for sale at profit). No member will in any way knowingly aid or abet the sale of any West Highland White Terrier through a pet shop or catalogue house. Members will not knowingly offer stud service to wholesale dealers or to any person involved with pet shops, catalogue houses, or laboratories.
4. All members will be familiar with the American Kennel Club rules governing record keeping, registration and sale and transfer of dogs and will abide by these rules. Any warranties or other agreements pertaining to the sale of a Westie will be put in writing, with a copy to the buyer.
5. A member selling an adult dog or puppy which he/she knows to be an inferior specimen of the breed not suitable for competition in conformation classes, or to have a physical condition which indicates that the breeding of the animal would be detrimental to the breed, shall so inform the buyer in writing. The sale shall be made with agreements in writing, signed by both buyer and seller, that the dog is not be bred, is to be spayed or neutered and that AKC registration papers will be delivered to buyer upon receipt by seller of proof of spaying or neutering.
6. All breedings will be planned with the aim of improving the breed, with consideration given to type, temperament, health, and soundness. All members will be familiar with the Standard of the breed and will discourage matings between clearly inferior specimens of the breed; stud service will be refused to clearly inferior specimens of the breed. No dog exhibiting a hereditary health defect, unsound temperament or poor health will be bred, except as a test breeding to determine the genetic composition of the mate. Any puppies resulting from test breedings for serious hereditary defects will be placed as in Paragraph 5, unless the puppy is placed for the purpose of test breeding only.
7. If a dog or bitch produces offspring with a serious defect or genetically transmitted disease, the owner must disclose the information to the prospective breeder or stud owner when negotiating a breeding with another owner.
8. No member-breeder will breed a bitch unless he/she has the time and facilities to devote proper care and attention to the physical and emotional development of the puppies and to the well being of the dam. No puppy will be placed in a new home before the pup is weaned, tested clear of internal parasites, and had its first vaccination. No member should provide stud service unless he/she is satisfied that the owner of the bitch has such time and facilities necessary for proper development of the pups.
9. A bitch should be mated no more than two out of three successive seasons (assuming that litters result) and never without due regard for the health and well being of the bitch.
10. Advertising by members will be as factual as possible. Misleading exaggerations or unfounded implications of superiority will not be used.
11. Members will refrain from knowingly making unfair or untrue statements about the dogs or practices of others.