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O afectuoso Cão da Serra da Estrela

With the aim of seeking to help in the protection, preservation and improvement of the breed, as well as its dissemination, recognition and respect, both nationally and internationally, the Associação Portuguesa do Cão da Serra da Estrela adopted a code of ethics, not binding but advisable for its members, whose rules defend the best interests of the breed and of each Estrela Mountain Dog. Each member must assume, in all circumstances, a conduct that dignifies the race and also the APCSE. ​ Members, as Estrelas owners, are expected to abide by the following principles of ethics: 

  1. Take care of your dogs and treat them with respect and dignity, giving them affection, a balanced education and providing them with space and adequate living and well-being conditions and veterinary assistance whenever necessary, not keeping them chained or exposing them to potentially dangerous. situations.

  2. Do not let your dogs run loose outside your property, except: 1st, in isolated areas where there is no risk of them causing harm to third parties or being run over or poisoned (and, in this circumstance, they must have an identification collar with the telephone number of the tutor); 2nd, if they are livestock protection dogs and therefore have to accompany them in the pasture outside their property.

  3. In public places, always collect your dog's waste in appropriate bags and take measures to ensure that it does not pose a danger to the safety of people and animals.

  4. Always bear in mind that your Serra is a representative of the breed and that, if it behaves unacceptably in public places or in its interaction with third parties, this will be harmful to the reputation of the breed.

  5. Do not take actions contrary to the good interests of the Estrela Mountain Dog and defend the breed in all circumstances.

APCSE code of ethics 

O Cão da Serra da Estrela é gentil com crianças e idosos
Cadela Serra da Estrela e os carinhos do seu humano

Members who are breeders (and owners of breeding males) are additionally expected to:

  1. Understand that they have an enormous responsibility for the future of the breed, that any litter they breed has an impact; that the fact that they contribute to expanding an already effective surplus of the breed in Portugal (with hundreds of specimens abandoned or in need of adoption) should be compensated by a positive contribution to the preservation and improvement of the Estrela Mountain Dog; who will have to guarantee adequate conditions and care for the bitch and her puppies.

  2. Plan each litter with the aim of helping to improve the breed and never for commercial reasons.

  3. Do not breed a dog or bitch if he/she does not have adequate quality for the purpose (in terms of type, morphology, structure, health and temperament) or if this is harmful to their health.

  4. Do not breed more than five litters from one bitch.

  5. Do not breed a dog or bitch that is unhealthy or that has consistently produced offspring affected by dysfunctional problems in all the litters it has sired.

  6. Carry out screenings for hereditary diseases known in the breed (hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, dilated cardiomyopathy, entropion).

  7. If there is a history of diseases or potentially dysfunctional hereditary defects in the lines of the litter's parents, inform the puppy buyers.

  8. Sell the puppies under contract and deliver them with: health report  |  complete record of internal and external deworming, as well as any supplements and medication  |  copies of the reports on screening for hereditary diseases carried out on the parents

  9. Do not allow, without the express approval of the Portuguese Kennel Club (CPC) and the APCSE, any of your dogs to mate with another breed or sell any dog ​​for this purpose.

  10. Do not sell puppies before they are 8 weeks old and without having at least their first vaccination.

  11. Choose the future owners of the dogs you breed carefully and judiciously and do not sell or give dogs to people who are unable to provide them with a healthy and happy life.

  12. Whenever you sell/offer a puppy, provide written information and recommendations about its nutrition and health care and inform new owners about all the procedures necessary for the harmonious development of the puppy.

  13. Instruct the buyer that they have a certain number of days (to be determined by the breeder) to take the puppy to be examined by a veterinarian;

  14. If the buyer finds that the puppy has a previously undetected medical condition, the buyer should be alllowed to return the puppy and the breeder must give them another one or refund the purchase money.

  15. Advise and help the owners of the dogs bred by them in everything that concerns them, throughout their lives.

  16. Do not eliminate dogs that have functional defects and look for conscientious ownerss for them who do not let them breed.

  17. Do not encourage buyers of your puppies or other owners to breed litters, unless the specimens are of exceptional quality, with the potential to help improve the breed, and these owners have appropriate conditions and are informed of the risks of not being able to find suitable owners for their dogs. puppies they produce, due to the excess supply of puppies of the breed.

  18. Do not act as a puppy reseller or sell puppies to intermediaries (resellers, pet stores).

  19. When announcing your litters, provide factual and true information about the parents and puppies, as well as only photographs/videos of them and never of others, and stik to your own sdogs, not denigrating those of other breeders.

  20. Help find new adopters for, or, if necessary, accept the return of, dogs you bred whose owners have died or are no longer able to keep them.

  21. iIf novice breeders, seek advice from experienced, competent and ethical ones, who must be willing to share their knowledge, always with the good of the breed as their objective, and do not act as a puppy reseller nor sell puppies to intermediaries (resellers, pet stores).

  22. When announcing your litters, provide factual and true information about the parents and puppies, as well as only photographs/videos of them and never of others, and restrict to your own specimens, not denigrating those of other breeders.

  23. Help finding new adopters for, or, if necessary, accept the return of, dogs bred by you whose owners have died or are no longer able to keep them.

  24. If beginner breeders, seek advice from experienced, competent and ethical breeders, who must be willing to share their knowledge, always having the good of the breed as an absolute.solute objective.

At dog shows organized by the APCSE:    

• all registered dogs will have their microchip read before each ring entry .   

• Any dog whose aggressive behavior puts the physical integrity of people or other dogs at risk will be disqualified.

This code is more than a set of rules, it is the support and defense of high ethical values ​​by which all members should abide.

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