American Karakachan Dog Association (AKDA) Breeder Code of Ethics

Preamble

The Karakachan is a livestock guardian breed shaped over many centuries in the mountains of Bulgaria for the purpose of protecting flocks from predators. As stewards of this breed in the United States, the AKDA breeders share a responsibility not only to the dogs themselves, but to the working heritage, temperament and the genetic health that define them. This Code of Ethics sets the standard of conduct expected of all AKDA breeder members. It is a statement of shared values and best practice, not a substitute for AKDA bylaws or a mechanism for punitive enforcement; members are expected to hold themselves and one another to it in good faith.

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1: Purpose and Preservation of the Breed

• I will breed with the primary objective of preserving the Karakachan's working ability, temperament, hardiness, and physical soundness as a livestock guardian dog. I will not produce dogs primarily for looks, novelty, or profit.

• I will support and refer to the breed's history and standard as maintained by the International Karakachan Dog Association (MAKK) of Bulgaria, and I will not knowingly breed toward traits that diverge from that heritage.

• I will primarily place working-bred puppies in working environments (with livestock/fowl) and evaluate temperament and guarding instinct as a core part of any breeding decision, not as an afterthought.

2: Genetic Health and Diversity

• I will use AKDA's pedigree and bloodline resources (including published foundation dog analyses) to plan matings that avoid unnecessary or uncontrolled inbreeding, and I will consider relatedness at least two to three generations out before breeding a pair.

• I recognize that moderate, deliberate line-breeding can be a legitimate tool when used on sound, excellent dogs, but I will not line-breed or inbreed out of convenience, and I will not knowingly compound generational relatedness without understanding the risk.

• I will only breed dogs that are physically and temperamentally sound, free of disqualifying faults, and of appropriate maturity (generally around two years of age) at the time of breeding.

• I will not breed a dog or bitch that has produced offspring with a temperament unsuited to livestock guardian work. A dog that has produced offspring with inherited defects that lead to poor health and/or soundness should only be bred if truly unique bloodlines (verified by the AKDA) are at risk of being lost and only if such offspring are then carefully evaluated.

• I will pursue and disclose relevant health testing (e.g., hip and elbow evaluation, thyroid function, DNA, general veterinary soundness exams) for breeding stock, and I will share known health information about my dogs and their offspring honestly with other breeders and buyers.

• I will support and contribute to the collective bloodline record-keeping that helps the whole membership make sound breeding decisions, understanding that the long-term genetic security of the breed in the USA depends on breeder’s cooperation and responsible breeding practices.

3: Breeding Practices

• I will not breed a bitch more often than her health and condition allow, and I will not knowingly breed a female past the point where pregnancy and whelping pose an undue risk to her wellbeing.

• I will not intentionally breed a dog or bitch that is monorchid, cryptorchid, or affected by a serious, disqualifying (addressed in the breed standard), or heritable defect.

• I will house, feed, socialize, and care for my breeding dogs and their litters to a high standard, in a manner appropriate to a livestock guardian breed, providing adequate space with proper fencing to safely contain them, appropriate exposure to livestock or stock-guarding contexts where practical, and early socialization to people.

• I will not sell, place, or breed a Karakachan with any party I know or reasonably suspect to be a puppy mill, commercial puppy broker, or pet-shop wholesaler.

• I will accept full lifetime responsibility for each puppy I produce. Should I encounter difficulty placing a puppy in a suitable home, that puppy will never be surrendered to a shelter or rescue organization, nor advertised through general classified platforms such as Craigslist or similar venues. Instead, as a breeder, I commit to retaining and properly caring for any unplaced puppy by providing adequate food, shelter, socialization and veterinary care for as long as necessary, whether that means weeks, months, or the puppy’s entire life. This commitment reflects my obligation to the breed and to each individual dog: puppies are never treated as disposable or as a financial liability to be offloaded through expedient means. I understand that if I cannot uphold this standard, I should not be producing litters.

4: Registration and Record-Keeping

• I will register litters with the AKDA within the required timeframe (currently twelve weeks after whelping) and ensure pups are microchipped at the time of registration.

• I will personally handle registration of each pup to its new owner. New owners will not be asked to register pups themselves, and I will notify the registrar of new owner information within fourteen days of placement.

• I will complete and submit ownership transfer paperwork within the required timeframe whenever a dog changes hands, and I will not misrepresent a dog's registration status, pedigree, or ownership history.

• I will keep accurate whelping, health, and pedigree records for my breeding dogs and litters, and I will make that information available to buyers and to the AKDA as needed.

5: Representation and Honesty

• I will represent my dogs, their health, temperament, working ability, and pedigree honestly in all advertising, conversations, and social media, and I will not misrepresent a Karakachan as suited to a role or environment for which it is not suited.

• I will not guarantee outcomes I cannot control (such as a specific temperament or working performance) but will honestly describe the tendencies and needs of the breed and of individual dogs and litters.

• I will refrain from disparaging the dogs of other members or breeding programs; disagreements over practice should be raised directly or through the AKDA's proper channels, not through public criticism.

6: Placement of Puppies and Dogs

• I will be selective about where my puppies and dogs go, prioritizing homes and operations capable of meeting a livestock guardian dog's physical, working, and behavioral needs and with appropriate fencing that will safely contain them. Pups will not be placed before eight weeks of age, preferably no sooner than ten.

• I will provide buyers with a written contract covering health guarantees (if any), registration transfer, and any return or rehoming provisions, etc., signed by both parties.

• I will make myself available as a resource to buyers for the life of the dog, including guidance on livestock guardian dog management, and I will require that buyers contact me before rehoming a dog I bred.

• I will encourage spay/neuter of pups placed as non-breeding working dogs, and I will not place breeding-quality dogs without a clear understanding of the buyer's intentions.

7: Conduct Within the Association

• I will abide by the AKDA's bylaws, policies, and fee schedules, and I will pay registration, transfer, and membership fees in a timely manner.

• I will act as a mentor to newer breeders and members where I am able, sharing knowledge of the breed's history, management, and genetics in the spirit of collective stewardship rather than competition.

• I understand that this Code is a guide to responsible conduct and not a substitute for the AKDA's bylaws; any disciplinary matters will be handled through the standing board, with due process afforded to all members.