ANKC Policy

on

Inter variety Breeding of Belgian Shepherd Dogs

(Approved March 2006)

To commence on 1 January 2007

The existing Policy on Inter variety Breeding of Belgian Shepherd Dogs to remain in operation until 31 December 2006, which only allows the inter variety mating between Groenendaels and Tervuerens.

The new Policy as printed below to come into affect 1 January 2007.

Therefore any progeny produced from an inter variety mating of Belgian Shepherd Dogs on or after the 1 January 2007, can only be registered if the mating has been approved by the ANKC at least six [6] months prior to the mating.

GENERAL INFORMATION

There are four [4] varieties recognised around the world today: the Malinois, Tervueren, Groenendael and Laekenois, each of which varies in coat colour, texture and/or length.

In the Belgian Canine Control Stud Book Belgian Shepherd Dogs are registered as One breed, with four varieties and the four varieties are listed separately which is the same as the ANKC registers Belgian Shepherd Dogs (One breed, with four varieties and the four varieties are listed separately).

POLICY

Normally, inter-variety breeding is forbidden. However, by way of exception, permission can be given for certain variety combinations in special cases, when the request of the breeder is supported by serious and strong arguments. “'An improvement of a variety”' or “an indispensable broadening of the breeding material” should appear necessary.

A request has to be submitted by the breeder six months in advance of the proposed mating to the ANKC/National Breed Standard Coordinators Group (NBSCG) and has to comprise: -

• a colour photo of each of the breeding partners;
• a copy of the pedigrees;
• the results, of any gradings (“qualifications”) and titles obtained at shows by the breeding partners;
• a clearly formulation/written submission stating the purpose of the intended inter-variety breeding, as part of a breeding program.

Permission will only be given for the following three variety combinations:

1. Groenendael x Tervueren
2. Tervueren x Malinois
3. Laekenois x Malinois

The progeny of the inter-variety mating is registered in the ANKC Stud Book, each puppy according to its variety. Matings later on of such a descendent are only allowed with a breeding partner of the same variety. The progeny of the inter-variety breeding are not to be issued Export Certificates.

NOTE:

In Belgium no inter-variety matings have been recorded in the last five [5] years. This proves that permissions for inter-variety breeding should only be sought in very exceptional circumstances. Permission for an inter-variety mating is only possible when the mating can be considered as “a vital necessity for a. variety”'. In the future we expect very few applications to be approved, for inter-variety matings, always and only on special conditions and in special circumstances. However, it should always be possible to obtain permission for an inter-variety mating, where the evidence shows a real need for the mating.

In Belgium the policy towards registering puppies of a variety other than that of their parents is:

A puppy of a variety other than its parents will also be registered in the Belgian Studbook, and the variety of this puppy will be mentioned.

Example: a puppy Tervueren born from two Groenendael parents is registered as a Tervueren (not as a “red” or “fawn Groenendael”) and is delivered a “full pedigree’ just like a puppy Tervueren out of two Tervueren parents. On the full pedigree of this puppy Tervueren it is only denoted by (G) that the parents are Groenendael.

This puppy Tervueren can only mated with a partner of the same variety.

Therefore a puppy of a variety other than the parents will be registered in our ANKC Studbook, and the variety of this puppy will be recorded. This puppy can only be mated with a partner of the same variety.

Roger Bridgford
ANKC National Breed Standard Coordinators Group
12 April 2006