Breeding Practices and Policies of the Columbia Poodle Club

We recognize the Poodle Club of America (PCA) as our governing National Breed Club providing guidelines and requirements for us to thrive as a regional club serving the Northwest. We support and ascribe to the Poodle Club of America Best Practices.

Since we are affiliated with the American Kennel Club (AKC), we also recognize and support their standards and requirements for accreditation as reflected in our club’s By-laws. In addition, we support the American Kennel Club HEART Program requirements for an ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of purebred dogs. The AKC bred with HEART breeder makes an on-going commitment to the health and well-being of purebred dogs by committing to these requirements:

  • Health: Certifying that their breeding stock is health tested in accordance with the recommendations of their breed’s National Breed Club.

  • Education: Promising they will pursue AKC provided or AKC approved continuing breeder education so that they stay current on the best breeding practices, including advances in canine health.

  • Accountability: Agreeing to comply with the AKC Care and Conditions Policy, including inspections by the AKC, and promising to share with the AKC health testing and continuing education documentation.

  • Responsibility: Accepting responsibility for the health and well-being of the puppies they produce and for complying with all laws regarding the ownership and maintenance of dogs.

  • Tradition: Upholding the AKC’s tradition of breeding purebred dogs that are happy and healthy.

We support Health Testing in Poodles as written by the Poodle Club of America Foundation, Inc. (please see the attached document).

We require Poodle breeders who are members in our club to conduct health testing on all Poodles used for producing puppies. As a minimum, breeding Poodles will have their Canine Health Information Center certificate (CHIC). Requirements for the CHIC of each variety of Poodle are noted with an asterisk (*) on the attached “Health Testing for Poodles” PCA Foundation document. In addition, Poodle breeders will implement additional tests for determining genetic diseases that are suspect in the pedigree, such as Neonatal Encephalopathy (NE) and vonWillebrand’s Disease (vWD), Sebaceous Adenitis (SA), heart and other conditions. Breeders are expected to stay current with new developments in the testing of dogs, and to utilize these tests as deemed prudent for maintaining happy and healthy dogs.

Poodle breeders will document their test results on the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) web site, or they will provide copies of test results certificates to the Columbia Poodle Club (CPC) secretary. Providing test results on all breeding stock used by members who breed Poodles is a requirement for continued membership in the CPC. Members who breed Poodles without having completed required test results will be subject to the disciplinary process as outlined in the club’s By-laws.

Advertising services sponsored by the club, such as the litter box on the CPC web page, are only available to club members who can demonstrate that both the sire and the dam have their CHIC. The breeder is responsible for producing the CHIC on the OFA web site, or on hard copy certificates. AKC registration numbers on all documents must be clear, visible, and verifiable. The club’s secretary will receive the CHIC results by the breeder CPC member before posting any ad for puppies.

Any member may bring to the club’s Board any issues as to unacceptable behavior on the part of another CPC member as stated in the club’s By-laws and in this policy document.

These policies take effect May 26, 2015. This information will be mailed out all members, and then posted on our club’s web page for future reference.

Passed by the Club in a business meeting on May 26