Do not breed just for the sake of breeding.  Dogs ACT does not condone or support puppy farming.

Breeders Directory

Breeding pure bred dogs should not be your only reason for joining Dogs ACT or any of the State Canine Controls

Breeding dogs should not be your only reason for owning a pure bred dog or any other dog or animal.

Instead it should be – “one of the many benefits resulting from owning, showing, trialling or participating with your dogs”.

• ANKC Guidelines for Australian Dog Breeders
• Breeder definitions.

The purpose of Dogs ACT membership with Dogs Australia (formerly ANKC) is –

• To promote excellence in breeding, showing, trialling, obedience and other canine related dog sport activities.
• The ownership of temperamentally and physically sound pure bred dogs by responsible individuals across Australia.
• To promote and encourage responsible dog ownership.

The Australian National Kennel Council Ltd and its Member Bodies believe that breeding programs should only be undertaken responsibly and for the purpose of improving the breed.

We do not recognise or encourage breeding between different breeds.

We are opposed to the production of dogs by those people who breed without regard for the quality of the animals that they produce and without accepting responsibility for placing the dogs only in homes where the owners understand, and are prepared to undertake a commitment to, responsible ownership.

We share the publics concern about overpopulation of; and we strongly support measures to educate people who breed pets, about responsible breeding practices, and also the potential pet-buying public about the responsibilities of pet ownership.

We endorse strong enforcement of the laws governing commercial breeders and traffickers in dogs and, where necessary, the strengthening of the laws themselves.

As a member of Dogs ACT who wants to become registered breeder –

• You must have been a financial member of Dogs ACT or with an Australian State Canine Controlling body for period of not less than twelve months leading up to the submission of this application.
• You must be a Resident of the ACT and will be required to prove your residency at the time of submission of this application.
• You must successfully complete an Open Book exam as set by Dogs ACT.

The purpose for this is it gives you twelve months –

• To learn more about your breed,
• To learn about your state legislation in relation to keeping of animals,
• To learn Dogs ACT / ANKC rules and regulations; and Dogs ACT Code of Ethics in relation to responsible dog ownership including keeping, welfare, breeding, selling and disposing of dogs.

Other considerations –

• You ensure that the dogs/bitches are Australian National Kennel Council main registered animals (including dogs from overseas in which case they must have been registered in their Country of birth and a recognised Certificate of Export issued).
• Your dogs have been transferred to your financial Membership number.
• You must be aware of any hereditary diseases/conditions that must be carefully monitored in your breed. In the case of German Shepherds & Rottweilers – Hip and Elbow scores on the parents are necessary. There are other breeds which compulsory DNA testing or Hip & Elbows score is compulsory, you must know if your breed is one of these
• Ensure that you are able to comply with all the Rules and Regulations and Code of Ethics pertaining to the breeding and registration of dogs.

In accordance with its powers under the Constitution,

• Dogs ACT may accept applications for membership, registration, transfer or lease of dogs, notification of litters, breeder’s prefixes or other services provided by the Association.
• No application need necessarily be accepted, and the Dogs ACT Council may refuse any applications as it sees fit.

Responsible Breeders

Be aware that there are serious considerations, which bear thinking about beyond the natural mechanics of reproduction. They are the moral and practical obligations – to yourself and family, to your dogs, to your neighbour; and to the eventual recipients of your pups.

You owe it to yourself and those around you to be fully conversant with the amount of time the properly raised litter of pups will require. Puppies need to be fed little and often during the first three months of life. The dam of your litter will require close observation as her whelping time draws near to be sure that all is going normally and after whelping to see that she is carrying out her maternal duties normally. The new puppies will require close observation on a constant basis to ensure that none are accidentally crushed by their dam, or able to move away from her and lose body heat. The first ten days are crucial for the survival of a normal litter.

From three to four weeks the weaning of the pups will require attention at minimum intervals of three hourly, and as they become less dependent on their dam they become more dependent on their breeder for food, cleanliness and warmth or cooling, whichever is appropriate.

It is therefore not satisfactory to take on the venture of breeding dogs unless full time care of the animals will be available. If you cannot be spared from other commitments to tend the litter and you cannot have on hand a responsible person who can do so, it is better to wait until the time will be available.

Constant supervision will ensure that there is no reason for a litter of puppies to become noisy or create other nuisance to the surroundings.

As the puppies grow and the excess are offered for sale you will need to be available to show your puppies with pride, in clean, sweet smelling surroundings and to answer queries from would be purchasers. To do this you will need to make yourself conversant with proper care requirements for your particular breed, or have access to someone who can answer any questions you are unable to answer. It is simply not enough to call an end to responsibilities with the departure of the puppy with its new owner.

You must be timely and meticulous with paper work. Litter registration should be lodged with your canine controlling body, along with fees, as soon as practicable after the birth of the puppies Don’t forget each pup must have a name. Each pup must be microchipped before registration. Eligibility for registration lapses after 18 months.

No puppy should leave your establishment without its new owner being handed a duly completed registration form, full instructions on the rearing and care of the puppy, certificate of vaccination and further information in the event that one day this puppy may be bred from. For instance, the necessity to register a stud prefix well before mating takes place and the need to be well acquainted with information on responsible breeding practices.

Will you be in the position to replace the puppy or to refund the purchase price if the dog develops a serious hereditary defect in the first year of life? Are you prepared to educate yourself sufficiently to be aware and conversant with major research on any such defects which afflict your chosen breed?

Facilities – Cost factors – Time and labour – Veterinary attention – After sale availability “Think again on these subjects”.

Assess your own position to attend to them. Only if you are absolutely certain that you can provide all the required finance, time and obligatory services should you embark on the journey to breeding pure bred dogs. If you are certain that you have what it takes to be a responsible dog owner and breeder of the future, then enjoy your pastime.