Rules

RULES OF THE HUNGARIAN VIZSLA CLUB

Current rules:

HVC RULES 2016

As agreed by the members at the 2018 AGM. Awaiting ratification by the Kennel Club

1. NAME

The Club shall be called THE HUNGARIAN VIZSLA CLUB (hereinafter called The Club)

2. OBJECTS

The objects of The Club shall be to further interest in the Breed in all respects at Shows, Field Trials and other events wherever possible and to maintain the highest possible standards in respect of the breeding and future health and well being of the Hungarian Vizsla

3. ORDINARY MEMBERS AND LIFE MEMBERS

The Club shall consist of an unlimited number of Members and Honorary Life Members. The Club will make a list of members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by the Members of The Club or The Kennel Club. Candidates for membership of The Club shall be accepted upon payment of the annual subscription, and agreement to abide by the rules of The Club, a copy of which should be provided by The Club at the time of joining.   Applications must be approved by a two thirds majority of the Committee.

Annual subscription shall be agreed by members of The Club at an annual general meeting and shall be reviewed annually.   No member whose subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any privileges of membership and, if unpaid by 1^st February, such membership shall be deemed to have lapsed and a new application for membership will be required. Any members joining on or after the 1^st October shall be entitled to the following year’s membership.

The voting rights of members shall be one vote each and in the case of joint membership each partner shall be entitled to one vote.   There will be no proxy votes.  A member may resign on giving notice in writing to the Secretary of The Club but shall not be entitled to receive back any money which may have been paid to The Club or on account of The Club during his/her membership, or to have any claim against The Club and must reapply for membership in the ordinary way as if he/she had not been a member.

Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j (4) and/or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j (8) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of The Club for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification.

On the recommendation of the committee and after prior discussion by the committee members may be considered for the distinction of Honorary Life membership at the annual general meeting.

4. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

The management of The Club shall be in the hands of three officers, the President, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer, all of whom shall be ex-officio voting members of the committee, and a committee of fifteen from whom they themselves shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman (to officiate at meetings), at the first committee meeting after the AGM. The President shall retire quinquennially but be eligible for re-election.   The Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer and the committee members shall retire annually but be eligible for re-election.  Nomination forms and request for agenda items shall be circulated eight weeks prior to the annual general meeting, the minutes of the previous annual general meeting to be included with the mailing.   Agenda items and nominations, which must be proposed and seconded by fully paid up members in writing, together with the written consent of the person being nominated, to be received by the Secretary six weeks before the annual general meeting.   Members nominated for office must have served on the committee or as an officer for at least one year immediately prior to the year of their nomination.   Members nominated to serve on the committee must have been fully paid up members for at least one year immediately prior to their nomination.

The agenda and voting slips shall be circulated to members four weeks prior to the annual general meeting.  Elections shall be by postal ballot.   Completed voting slips shall be posted to an independent scrutiniser two weeks prior to the annual general meeting. The committee may co-opt to fill any vacancy that may arise among the committee.   Such co-opted member will serve and act without voting powers until the next annual general meeting at which an election will be held.

No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club registered society.

5. MANAGEMENT

For the transaction of business at a committee meeting a quorum shall be five elected members of the committee including any one officer and, except in an emergency, at least fourteen days notice of a meeting shall be given to all officers and committee members stating a time and place.   Any officer or member of the committee who, without reasonable cause, fails to attend two consecutive meetings or fails to forward their apologies in writing to the Secretary prior to the meeting may be suspended for the remainder of the year and from nomination in the following year.

The Minutes of all meetings of the committee shall be prepared by the Secretary, agreed by the committee and signed by the Chairman. They shall be circulated as required before the next Meeting.   There shall be no proxy votes at a committee meeting.   The committee shall have the power to call meetings, to arbitrate in matters of dispute with The Club, to deal at its absolute discretion with the funds and property of The Club and to settle any question or matter not at present provided for in the rules.   Any decision taken under this rule shall remain until the following Annual General Meeting.

The committee may cause sub-committees to be formed to be responsible to it as it may require.   Minutes will be taken at all sub-committee meetings and forwarded to the next full committee meeting.

If the conduct of any member, in the opinion of the committee, is injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interest of the Club, the committee may, at a meeting the notice convening which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the member, determine that a Special General Meeting shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel the member.  Notice of a Special General Meeting must be sent to the accused, giving particulars of complaint and advising of the place date and hour of the meeting in order that he/she may attend and offer an explanation.   If at the meeting a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, he/she shall thereupon cease to be a member of The Club except that he/she may, within two calendar months from the date of such meeting, appeal to The Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as The Kennel Club may impose.

6. GENERAL MEETINGS AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

An Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 30^th April in each year for the following purposes:

1. To adopt the minutes of the previous year’s annual general meeting
2. To receive the reports of the committee and the balance sheet
3. To announce the results of the postal ballot naming officers and members of the committee
4. To discuss any item placed on the agenda. At least twenty-eight days notice of the date, time and place of an annual general meeting shall be given in Our Dogs.
5. A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Honorary Secretary at the request of the committee, or, if twenty members send a signed request stating the subject to be discussed.   No business other than the matter on the Agenda can be discussed at a special general meeting.   Notice of a Special General Meeting must be given not less than twenty-one days before the event.
6. At an annual general meeting only the business appearing on the agenda will be permitted, any other business may be dealt with at the discretion of the chairman of the meeting.

7. CLUB ACCOUNTS

The fiscal year of The Club shall be from 1^st January to 31^st December.   A banking account shall be maintained in the name of The Club into which all revenue of The Club shall be paid and from which withdrawals shall be made on the signatures of two or more unrelated persons from the following, the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer and the Committee Chairman.   The accounts shall be maintained by the Honorary Treasurer.   Audited accounts shall be submitted to The Kennel Club annually.

The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, the Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to The Kennel Club either by the Secretary or by direct debit, for the continuance of registration, and that by the 31^st July other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities, will be forwarded to The Kennel Club.

The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform The Kennel Club of any change of Secretary which may occur during the course of the year. All expenses incurred by the Secretary, Treasurer or any other member of The Club authorised by the Committee shall be reimbursed from funds of The Club.

 

8. CUPS, TROPHIES AND SPECIAL AWARDS

A cup steward shall be appointed by the committee from among its members who shall be responsible for keeping records of awards and signatures of recipients.   All cups and trophies donated to The Club shall be deemed the sole property of The Club and it is only under this condition that they shall be accepted.  Cups, Trophies and Special awards, unless specifically stated otherwise, shall be available only to fully paid up members of The Club.

9. BREEDERS CODE OF BEST PRACTICE

Members will consider the welfare of their dogs and the benefit to the Breed above any personal gain or profit. Members will only breed from Vizslas that are of sound temperament, physically sound and free of known hereditary diseases, which show natural ability and conform to the Breed Standard as published by the Kennel Club. Members are required to participate in any breed specific DNA collection programmes for dogs owned or co-owned by them that are part of a bona fide veterinary research programme.

Members using their dogs at stud:

1. Will not allow their dog to serve bitches of less than 2 years old, or bitches that will whelp after their 8^th birthday
2. Will not allow their dog to be used at stud until it is 18 months of age
3. PRIOR TO BREEDING:
   • Will hip score their stud dog, obtaining and assessing the results. (Scores that are high by breed standards or disproportionate in score from hip to hip should be discounted from breeding.)
   • DOGS BORN FROM 1ST JANUARY, 2018 (Strongly recommended for all dogs born before this date).
     1. Will ensure their stud dogs are tested for Glaucoma and those with scores of 2 and above are discounted from breeding.*
     2. Will ensure their stud dogs undertake a gonlodygensis test (predisposition for glaucoma) every three years. (i.e. 12 months, 4 years and 7 years).
     3. Will elbow score their stud dog (any dog with a score higher that 0 please see the BVA recommendations** at the end of this document).
   • Will ensure that bitches to be covered meet the Breed Standard and this Code of Best Practice.
4. Will not allow their stud dog to be used more than three times in its first year of use, until the health and quality of its progeny is proven.

Members will not allow their bitches.

1. To be mated before their 2^nd birthday or to whelp after their 8^th birthday
2. To whelp more than once in any 12 months.
3. To have more than three litters in her lifetime.
4. PRIOR TO MATING:

• Will hip score their bitches obtaining and assessing the results. (Scores that are high by breed standards or disproportionate in score from hip to hip should be discounted from breeding).
• DOGS BORN FROM 1ST JANUARY 2018 (Strongly recommended for all dogs born before this date).
  1. Will ensure their bitches are tested for Glaucoma and those with scores of 2 and above are discounted from breeding*.
  2. Will ensure their bitches undertake a gonlodysgenesis test (predisposition for glaucoma) every 3 years (ie 12 months 4 years and 7 years).
  3. Will elbow score their bitches, (any bitch with a score higher than 0 please see the BVA recommendations** at the end of this document).
• Will ensure that their chosen stud dog meets the Breed Standard and this code of Best Practice.

Members will register all stock with the Kennel Club. Kennel Club registration documents will be available to the purchaser at point of sale, together with a 5-generation pedigree

Members will be fair, open and honest with buyers and prospective purchasers, and will NOT misrepresent themselves or their stock, or the stud dog.

Buyers will be encouraged to present their puppy/dog to their veterinary surgeon within 3 working days of purchase. Should a veterinarian at such an examination advise that the dog is not in good health, the purchaser should authorise their veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis with the breeder.   Members will verify this opinion and, if asked, take back the dog and refund the purchase price, or agree to a mutually acceptable compromise. Beyond the 3-day warranty Members will be encouraged to take responsibility for any progeny bred by them, or supplied by them, which finds itself in need of re-homing.

Members will be expected to assist in finding a solution before recourse to any breed rescue or welfare organisation

Members also agree that they will comply with the General Code of Ethics contained in Appendix A

10. WINDING UP

The property of The Club shall be vested in the committee, and in the event of The Club ceasing to exist, a General Meeting shall be called to decide upon the disposal of any assets.

The donors of the cups and trophies shall be consulted and each cup or trophy shall be disposed of in accordance with wishes of the donor.

The Kennel Club shall be notified as soon as a decision is made to wind up The Club and within six months of such date they shall be supplied with the final statement of the account and a record showing the disposal of property belonging to The Club.

11. KENNEL CLUB AUTHORITY

The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules and regulations of The Club and in all cases relative to Canine and Club matters.

The Club shall not join any federation of Societies or Clubs except as approved by The Kennel Club.

12. DATA PROTECTION

Information from membership records and entry forms may be held on computer media for the preparation of membership records and show catalogues, and shall only be disclosed to such bodies to which The Club has a legal obligation to do so

 

 

April 2018

 

Notes: 

* There will be a small number of dogs that are grade 1 at first test that progress to grade 2, these cases will be assessed individually.

 

** Breeding advice of BVA.

For current recommendations see:

https://www.bva.co.uk/Canine-Health-Schemes/

Elbow scoring

It is strongly recommended that breeders wishing to reduce the risk of elbow dysplasia should select their breeding stock (both dogs and bitches) only from animals with an overall grade of 0.   Dogs with elbow grades of 2 or 3 have marked osteoarthritis likely to be due to Elbow Dysplasia, with or without a visible primary lesion.   There is a significant chance of ED being passed on to the offspring.

Dogs with elbow grades of 1 show mild or early osteoarthritis which is also likely to be due to ED. They should only be used for breeding with caution, taking into consideration the ED grades of as many relatives as possible, as well as the results of other health tests and characteristics.

 

Hip Scoring

It must be appreciated that selection of dogs for breeding based on hip scores is not an exact science, since environmental as well as genetic factors are involved in determining the nature of the hip joints. However, the best chance of producing offspring with good hips is to use only parents with low scores, considering the median as the ideal cut -off rather than the mean.   The BVA’s advice is now revised to make selection of breeding stock easier and 5 and 15 year medians are published along with the rolling 5 year medians.

 

APPENDIX A

All members undertake to abide by the following and:

1. Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required
2. Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon performing an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, may report such operation to the Kennel Club
3. Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled.   Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes
4. Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act
5. Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally
6. Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any harmful to the dog or to the breed
7. Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties
8. Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home
9. Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited
10. Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change
11. Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home
12. Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available
13. Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind.   Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as standalone items (not accompanying a dog)
14. Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog
15. Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate