1. Good temperament being of prime importance in the Golden Retriever. All Breeding Stock should be of a kindly, friendly and confident disposition.

2. All breeding stock should have clear eye certificates to be maintained annually through the KC/BVA or European scheme.

3. STUD DOG OWNERS.
As stud dog owners have a great responsibility for the future of the breed, they should refuse a stud service to any bitch which does not have a current clear eye certificate and a result sheet from the KC/BVA hip scheme or any other known record of hereditary defects. Stud dog owners should provide copies of relevant eye and hip certificates.

4. BITCH OWNERS.
Before you consider breeding from your bitch, make sure that she is fit and healthy. Have her eyes and hips checked through the relevant KC/BVA and European schemes. Insist on obtaining copies of the stud dogs eye and hip certificates. Breeders should constantly be striving to lower hip scores. The present breed average is approaching the 20 mark.
Do not mate your bitch before she is fully mature – preferably not before two years old and not beyond seven years of age. Do not have too many litters from one bitch, in normal circumstances this should not exceed three litters. The current common myth that it is essential to a bitches health that she should have at least one litter is pure fallacy.
Remember you are responsible for rearing the puppies until they are at least seven weeks old and also for finding loving caring permanent homes. Give diet sheets (and a copy of this code), worming records, pedigrees and a KC registration certificate to all puppy buyers and be prepared to give an after sales service. You should be prepared to refund the price of a puppy if necessary and finally be prepared to assist with the rehousing of a puppy if circumstances dictate.

5. Keep the best possible standards of health and care for your dogs and do not keep more than you can properly care for and maintain. Accept that dogs, like people, grow old and may need special care and attention and therefore be prepared to love and care for a dog for life.

6. Refuse to sell to unethical buyers and dealers where you have any reason to suspect the dog would not be properly cared for.

7. Sell only puppies and adults of sound health and temperament which have been regularly checked by a vet.