Code of Ethics

Introduction

The Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America was formed to preserve, protect and improve the breed as well as to bring together like-minded individuals. The practices and behaviors set forth below are recommendations in support of these goals.

Responsibilities for Club Members

Members should:

  1. Provide permanent identification for their Lagotto by means of a microchip or tattoo;
  2. Provide the care needed to develop and maintain a healthy, well-adjusted dog;
  3. Never sell to pet shops, commercial brokers, commercial dealers, raffles, or similar projects;
  4. Never relinquish a Lagotto to a shelter without first contacting the breeder and Lagotto Romagnolo rescue;
  5. Always display exemplary conduct, sportsmanship, civility, honesty, and responsibility for their dogs and themselves, adhering to AKC’s Code of Sportsmanship at all times.

Responsibilities for Breeders

The gold standard for breeders is to strive for quality Lagotto Romagnolo breeding programs for the betterment of the breed.

Members should:

  1. Only breed Lagotto that have, or are eligible for, AKC full registration;
  2. Utilize health testing to reduce to the extent possible the likelihood of producing puppies with health issues;
  3. Submit health testing results on breeding stock to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC);
  4. Maintain accurate records of health testing, breeding and placement for all their dogs;
  5. Utilize written agreements for stud services and puppy placements;
  6. Not release puppies to new homes until at least 8 weeks of age;
  7. Always place pet puppies with AKC limited registration;
  8. Provide puppy purchasers with the puppy’s complete medical records, health testing results on parents, and information on care, feeding and grooming;
  9. Not broker Lagotto adults or puppies by selling Lagotto that are not a direct part of their breeding program;
  10. Follow the Breeding Standards set forth in the Policy and Procedures Manual as established by the Health Committee and approved by the Board.

(Approved by the membership October 10, 2022)

Breeding Standards

(Addendum to Policy and Procedures Manual)

In addition to the language set forth in the Code of Ethics, Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America members who breed Lagotto should breed to the following standards:

I. Conduct:

  1. The Breeder should make every effort to prove their dogs by showing them in conformation events, dog sports, and/or working events while upholding the AKC’s Code of Sportsmanship.
  2. Breeding programs should exist for the betterment of the breed. Each member should plan their breeding program to maintain and intensify the virtues of type, quality, temperament, and to eliminate faults. All breeding shall be done selectively towards this goal and not purely for financial gain.
  3. The Breeder should not intentionally allow a Lagotto to be bred to any other breed of dog.
  4. The Breeder should comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

II: Care:

  1. The Breeder should provide the proper care and a clean, safe environment for all dogs on the premises. Which includes indoor spaces with protection from extreme temperatures and outdoor access when temperatures are acceptable.
  2. The Breeder should provide preventative veterinary care for dogs and veterinary care when sick or injured.
  3. The Breeder should provide appropriate daily food intake and access to fresh water.
  4. The Breeder should provide regular interaction, exercise, socialization, and environmental enrichment.

III. Breeding Standards:

  1. Because it is in the best interest of the breed to only breed individual dogs that have had a chance to reach maturity, be evaluated in both conformation and/or
    working ability, Lagotto should not be bred before 18 months of age and without completing the requirements to qualify for a Canine Health Information Center
    (CHIC) number with normal/acceptable test results, along with the other required health tests as listed below.
  2. All Lagotto under consideration for breeding should be tested for known diseases and conditions common to the breed.
  3. Proof of this testing should be made available to puppy buyers and be recorded in the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) public database.
  4. Affected Lagotto should not be bred. Carrier dogs should only be bred to partners who are clear of the gene mutation.
  5. Dysplastic Lagotto should not be bred.
  6. OFA-CHIC Health Testing with “Normal”, Carrier/Clear or Passing” results as outlined below. Guidelines may be changed if the Health Committee discovers scientific evidence to indicate a change is needed.

i. Hip Dysplasia (One of the following)

    1. OFA Evaluation – Rating of Fair, Good or Excellent after 24 months of age; fair results should be bred to breeding partner with OFA good or
      excellent hips (or)
    2. University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) Evaluation – Acceptable scores at or below Median breed DI at evaluation.

ii. Eye examination by a boarded American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, ACVO Ophthalmologist each year and results registered with the OFA.
iii. Patellar Luxation – OFA Evaluation after 12 months of age with Normal/Grade 1 results and registered with the OFA. Grade 1 Patellar Luxation should be bred to a breeding partner with normal results.
iv. Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy – DNA based test results from an approved lab with results registered with the OFA.
v. Lagotto Storage Disease – DNA based test results from an approved lab with results registered with the OFA.
vi. DNA Repository (Optional) – Participation in the OFA/Chic DNA Repository.
vii. Recommended – Basic Cardiac (can be performed by a regular Veterinary Practitioner) and Incorrect Coat (part of most DNA tests for Lagotto).

G. Foreign dogs used by a Breeder should have their country’s equivalent health testing with “Normal/Passing” results and meet the age requirements for evaluation/breeding. Dogs with foreign health screening results may qualify for CHIC upon submission of individual tests to the OFA for review.
H. Breeder should not breed a female beyond the appropriate age and not allow a female to rear more than the appropriate number of litters in her lifetime as is advised by a licensed veterinarian and outlined in AKC rules/regulations.

IV. Selling of Puppies:

A. The Buyers should be carefully screened for puppies/dogs that are sold or placed.
B. The Breeder should use a contract stating the terms and conditions of the sale of the puppy/dog.

i. The contract between Breeder and Buyer should articulate the circumstances that a puppy/dog can be returned to the Breeder for health reasons and what (if any) refunds should be applied.

V. Exceptions:

There may be situations where a planned breeding may not fall within the above specifications. In this instance, Breeders may request that the LRCA Health Committee provide an exception.