The purpose of this Code is to offer guidance and information on good practice to all WHWT breeders and/or owners. Membership of the West Highland White Terrier Club of England assumes acceptance of this code. The Committee reserves the right to refuse membership to, or to recommend to a General Meeting of the Club the expulsion from membership of anyone, who knowingly and/or persistently acts in breach of this code to the detriment of the breed, of an individual dog, or in such a manner as to bring The West Highland White Terrier Club of England into disrepute   (vide rule 6.4)

1) It is expected that members will at all times act in interest of the breed and in interest of well-being of individual dogs and in a manner  in keeping with aims and interests of the West Highland White Terrier Club of England

2) It is expected that members will keep their own dogs in an environment and under a regime that as far as possible ensures the well being of the dog. Willful neglect or cruelty to any dog may result in exclusion or expulsion from membership subject to the provisions of rule 6.4 o the Rules and Regulations of the Club

3)Before breeding a litter, equal consideration should be given to type, temperament, health and soundness. Dogs from lines known to carry a serious inherited disease should not knowingly be bred from All breeding should be aimed at improvement of the breed . Members should do all in their power to discourage breeding from clearly unsound or other wise inferior stock. Stud service should be refused for bitches from such stock.

4)Normally, no bitch should be required to have more than 6 litters ,due regards should be given to the number of puppies whelped.No bitch should be mated at more than 2 out of 3 successive seasons (assuming that litters result) and never without due regard for the well being of the bitch. No bitch should be mated before her second season and normally not before the age of 14 month, nor after the age of seven years without veterinary advice

5) No member should breed a litter unless she/he has the time and the facilities to devote proper care and attention to the rearing of the puppies and to the well being of the dam and no member should provide stud service unless she/he is satisfied that the owner of the bitch has such time and facilities.

6) No member should breed a litter unless she /he is reasonably sure of of securing suitable homes for the puppies. No puppy should leave the breeder before the age of 8 weeks

7) Puppies/ adults may not be exported unless the Ministry of Agriculture guidelines have been followed regarding age and health regulations of the country of import and , if the age is not specified ,never before the age of 12 weeks.

8) No dogs should be sold to countries where they are not protected by anticruelty laws (if in doubt consult the MAFF ,RSPCA or KC)

9) Before selling dogs abroad members should check as far as possible the credentials of the prospective purchaser through for instance membership of recognized WHWT clubs in the appropriate country or through that country’s equivalent of the Kennel Club

10) Members shall not sell dogs to laboratories, pet shops or dealers in dogs or to persons known to sell stock to any of the above ; nor should stud service be available to such a person (a dealer is defined as a person who regularly buys stock for sale at a profit. A person who buys a dog as an agent for a known individual is not necessarily a dealer)

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