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EWA Code of Ethics

1. Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics has been established in accordance with the objectives of the European Wolfdog and Wolfalike Association, hereafter referred to as EWA, to protect, preserve and promote the interests of Wolfdogs and Wolfalikes, and to provide guidelines for responsible ownership and ethical breeding practices.

Membership of the EWA obliges the member to comply with the Code of Ethics, the breeding regulations and the statutes at all times.

The Code of Ethics may be subject to changes if, for example, new research results or studies are published.

1.1 Principles

Members must consider the well-being of all Wolfdogs and Wolfalikes when presenting their dogs in public or private settings, or when participating in breeding and the sale of Wolfdogs and Wolfalikes. Activities that could harm the interests of the dogs or the EWA must be avoided.
Members must always act in the best interest of the EWA, its members, and all Wolfdogs and Wolfalikes. Members are not permitted to use any form of communication that could be considered disparaging, defamatory, or harmful to other members, their dogs, or the EWA.
The EWA distances itself from racist, sexist, and other discriminatory statements. Violations of the Code of Ethics or the Breeding Regulations may result in expulsion from the EWA.
Members are always striving to educate the public about Wolfdogs and Wolfalikes, with the welfare of the dogs and the dissemination of comprehensive and truthful information as the primary focus.
The EWA sees itself as a community that learns from and with one another, with a focus on exchange and respectful communication.

1.2 Obligations to the EWA

All members with registered dogs, as well as breeders with offspring, must immediately inform the EWA’s Breeding Committee about any changes to a dog’s health status if it is relevant to breeding. This includes puppies that died before, during, or after birth.
Any deviations from the rules or standards set out in the Breeding Regulations, particularly unintentional deviations, must be promptly reported to the Breeding Committee.
Furthermore, the EWA must be informed about the death of a dog, as well as the circumstances under which it occurred. This applies to dogs living with the member as well as their descendants, as soon as the member receives information about their death.

1.3 Housing and Care

All members must comply with the laws regarding dog housing that apply in their country and region. No member may keep more dogs than they can adequately care for. The legally required standards represent the absolute minimum.
To ensure ideal development and living conditions, each member strives to keep their dogs in a species-appropriate and health-promoting manner.

1.4 Dog Registration

Every member can register their dog with the EWA, provided the dog falls into the category of Wolfdog or Wolfalike. It is irrelevant whether the dog is intended for breeding or not.
A registered dog receives a public profile on the EWA website and a unique registration number. Prior registration is a prerequisite for applying for breeding approval.

2. Breeding Regulations

Breeders must adhere to the legally required minimum standards of their respective country, but are encouraged to create the best possible environment for a scientifically supported, safe, and beneficial rearing of the mother dog and the puppies.
This includes the choice, location, and equipment of the whelping box, as well as the family environment after birth, and the housing and handling of the dam during pregnancy. A fundamental requirement is a pre-arranged veterinary care plan and preparation for any potential, foreseeable contingencies before, during, and after birth.

2.1 Kennel Registration

To register a kennel, the following requirements must be met:

Each litter must be born under a kennel name, which the breeder registered before the mating takes place.
The kennel name must be unique within the existing Wolfdog and Wolfalike clubs and must be approved by the Breeding Committee. An exception is possible if the breeder opts for a mentor litter.

2.2 Breeding Approval Process

Breeding approval is applied for via the website. Prior dog registration is mandatory for breeding approval. Until the breeding approval is granted, the dog is listed as „in progress.“
Tests that are not yet available at the time of application can be submitted later. However, breeding approval can only be granted after all necessary documents have been submitted and reviewed.
The Breeding Committee reserves the right to request additional tests if relevant.

Once all documents are confirmed as complete, the review process typically takes three to six weeks. After the breeding approval is granted, the dog is listed as „approved“ and may be used for breeding within the EWA guidelines. The Breeding Committee reserves the right to impose special conditions on the approval in certain cases.

At this point, the approved dog may be recommended as a partner by the Breeding Committee, and EWA’s social media network can be used for marketing purposes.

2.2.1 Breeding Approval for a Dog

Members can apply for breeding approval for registered dogs.

The following documents must be submitted in PDF format to the Breeding Committee:

a) A DNA profile of the dog via Embark Veterinary, Inc. (PDF and raw data)

b) A hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED) screening.

    • The dog must be at least 15 months old at the time of the X-ray.
    • The X-rays must be evaluated by a GRSK-certified veterinarian or examiner.
    • The HD result must not be worse than B2, the ED result must be 0. 
    • Equivalent results from other systems (e.g., BVA, OFA) are accepted.

c) A clear eye examination according to ECVO standards, not older than 12 months.

d) Proof of a correct and complete scissor bite.

e) For males: Proof of two correctly positioned testicles.

Additional tests for relevant genetic diseases, including but not limited to:

• For all dogs with German Shepherd, White Swiss Shepherd (shepherd types), Saarloos Wolfdog, and Czechoslovakian Wolfdog in their pedigree or Embark results: Testing for Pituitary Dwarfism (DW) or proof by submitting the parents‘ test results.

• For all dogs with Northern Inuit in their pedigree: Testing for Ocular Skeletal Dysplasia (OSD3) or proof by submitting the parents’ or relevant ancestors‘ test results.

• For all dogs with Saarloos Wolfdog in their pedigree or Embark results: Testing for PCYT2 Deficiency (PD) or proof by submitting the parents‘ or relevant ancestors‘ test results.

• For dogs with a total of 50% or more shepherd types in their Embark results or known cases within the first or second degree relatives: X-ray for Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae (LTV), proving the dog has LTV Type 0.

• For dogs with a total of 50% or more Siberian Husky/Samoyed in their Embark results or known cases within first or second degree relatives: A gonioscopy, not older than three years, showing the dog is either free of Goniodysplasia (Grade 0) or has mild Goniodysplasia (Grade 1). 

Additionally, the dog must participate in a meeting with a board member, a member selected by the board, or an EWA hike/meetup for an initial visual check, a rough character assessment of the dog, and an in-person introduction.

All submitted documents and examinations are visible to Plus Members on the website. Personal data will be redacted for privacy reasons.

After the first litter, the planned partners for future pairings must not have more than three common ancestors in the previous litter within a three-generation pedigree.

The number of litters is limited based on the completeness of the pedigree over three generations:

Number of litters

100% complete

at least 75% complete

up to 75% complete

Females

3

2

1

Males

3

2

1

 

Before any mating, except the first, a breeding dog must provide a genital swab with test results to rule out sexually transmitted diseases.

2.2.2 Additional Rules for Females

A female must be at least 24 months old at the time of her first mating. Regardless of this, a female may only be mated in her third heat at the earliest.

Her first litter must occur no later than within her fifth year of life.
Her last litter must occur within her eighth year of life.

After the first litter, an 18-month breeding pause is mandatory.

A breeding female with unrestricted breeding approval may have three litters. Even in co-ownership, females must not leave their usual environment and caretaker for pregnancy, birth, or rearing.

2.2.3 Additional Rules for Males

The minimum age for males is 36 months at the time of the first mating.

A breeding male may sire three litters. After the first litter is confirmed, an 18-month breeding pause is mandatory.

If a male has mated with two different females without confirmed pregnancy, fertility must be verified before the next mating attempt.

2.3 Breeding Planning

Before any litter can take place, the planned pairing must be approved by the Breeding Committee.
For such approval, the following requirements must be met:

• Both dogs must have a valid EWA breeding approval at the time of mating.
• The Embark COR of both dogs must not exceed 30%, and the eCOI must not exceed 15%.
  Additionally, the dogs must not be first or second degree relatives.

• The AVK over five generations must be at least 75%.
• Both dogs must have an ECVO eye examination no older than 12 months at the time of mating.

• At least one of the dogs must have a result of HD A or equivalent.

• No more than one of the dogs can be a carrier of a genetically testable disease.

• Both dogs must be proven free from sexually transmitted diseases. Proof is not required for the first mating.

Approval can be applied for via email or a form through the website.
All health tests, that are not already present due to registration or breeding approval, have to be attached there.
Furthermore, the breeder has to explain what goals they aim for with this combination, especially if this combination deviates from the Breeding Regulations in any way.

Dual Matings (mating to more than one sire at the same time) are permitted if they are reasoned, but have additional requirements:

• Pre-contracts have to explicitly state that this is a dual mating, so that the buyer can choose to apply for both or only one of the sires and withdraw from the contract without facing repercussions.
• Due to the pressure of time, paternity has to be confirmed via a Laboklin test.

Within a kennel, no more than one bitch must be pregnant at the same time.

Exceptions are possible in agreement with the Breeding Committee if the kennel meets the necessary spatial requirements and the rearing and socialization of each litter can be guaranteed by a competent person.

2.3.1 Mating

  • None of the dogs may be forced to mate by restraining, holding or pushing.
  • To determine the ideal time for mating, progesterone testing is advised.
  • It is advised to have a meetup for the dogs to get to know each other before mating.
  • For the mating itself, the male should travel to the female, if possible.

2.3.2 Pregnancy and Birth

Pregnant females must not be sold or bought.

Particular attention must be paid to adequate nutrition and veterinary care throughout the pregnancy.
Physical and mental stress must be reduced to an appropriate level.

A suitable home environment for the birth should already be established before the birth.

After a cesarean section, which has been confirmed in writing by the vet as medically necessary and which can be explained by coincidental circumstances (e.g. puppy positioned backwards), a bitch may have another litter.
If this is another cesarean section, the bitch is banned from breeding.

In the event of a medical necessity that is very likely to occur again in a later litter (e.g. weakness in labour), the bitch is excluded from breeding.

Planned caesarean sections are only permitted if there is a medical indication of complications during the pregnancy.
This must be proven by a veterinary certificate.

2.4 Puppies

The rearing of Wolfdogs and Wolfalikes requires special care and expertise in order to meet both the needs of the animals and the requirements of responsible ownership.
Breeders are obliged to provide puppies with an environment that promotes their physical and psychological development from the very beginning.
This includes species-appropriate socialization that allows the puppies to come into contact with people and other animals, as well as appropriate nutrition and health care.
The aim is to prepare the puppies for a life in human care and to give them the best possible preparation for the challenges that life in a human environment brings with it.

2.4.1 Rearing and Socialization

The litter size, including stillbirths or puppies that died after birth, as well as the sex distribution must be reported to the Breeding Committee within three days of birth.
It is recommended that an Embark DNA profile is also carried out on deceased puppies and, if the cause of death is unclear, an autopsy is carried out, especially if it is not an isolated case.

Puppies must grow up with a permanent family connection in the home environment and be socialized, fed and given veterinary care appropriate to their species.

Puppies should be reared according to a structured socialization program. Puppy Culture or a comparable program is recommended.

Documentation of the rearing and development of the puppies should be posted in the EWA Breeders‘ Group at regular intervals or sent to the Breeding Committee.

2.4.2 Health and Veterinary Care

The puppies must grow up in a clean, puppy-friendly environment and be fed in an age-appropriate manner.

Appropriate veterinary care must be guaranteed.

All puppies have to be

  • vaccinated (at least leptospirosis, parvovirosis, distemper)
  • dewormed
  • microchipped (EU-Chip)
  • registered with a pet register (Germany: Tasso e.V., Switzerland: Anis/Amicus, Austria: Animaldata.com)
  • tested via Embark (including parentage confirmation)
  • tested for the respective disease if one of their parents is a carrier

prior to leaving the breeder for their new owners.

Should one of the criteria not be met, registry papers will be held back until proof of compliance. Further breeding plans of this breeder will not be approved until then.

2.4.3 Puppy Prices and Fee to EWA

The price of a puppy is equal throughout the litter.

Should a puppy stay with the breeder for longer than intended by the breeder, reasonable additional costs for keeping, caring for and training the puppy may be charged, irrespective of the puppy price.

A fee to EWA has to be paid per puppy.
The amount depends on the number of puppies and the puppy price.

2.4.4 Leaving of the Puppies

The exact age at which the puppies are leaving, besides the laws from the “Tierschutz-Hundeverordnung” (Animal Welfare Dog Ordinance), is at the discretion of the breeder.

For export, the import rules of the respective country have to be followed.

Care must be taken to ensure that the female and puppies are not subjected to unnecessary physical or psychological stress.

2.5 Co-Ownership and Mentor Litters

Co-ownership is the joint ownership of a dog between two parties, usually between the breeder and the puppy owner.
This can be of interest if the puppy is intended for further breeding.
In this case, the puppy lives with the second owner (co-owner), but breeding decisions are made in consultation with and approval by the breeder.

Mentor litters are defined as litters in which the owner of a dog from a registered breeding kennel produces a litter under the kennel name of the dog’s breeder.
In this case, the owner of the female does not have to register their own kennel, but is incorporated as part of their breeder’s kennel.

In both cases, females may not be returned to the breeder for the birth and rearing of puppies, but must remain in their usual environment.

2.6 Exceptions

Plausible deviations from the above rules can be granted in consultation with the Breeding Committee.
These are always individually assessed case-by-case decisions that are submitted to the Breeding Committee with an argumentative justification.
Permitted exceptions are documented for all members to see.