Ireland

Breeding conditions

• Bitch may not be mated under one year of age, or over eight years of age.
• No more than four litters in her lifetime - a lower ceiling than the Dutch five.
• Not more than three litters born to a bitch in any three year period.
• No more than two litters born to a bitch by caesarean section - the only caesarean limit found in this exercise.
• No dog to mate under seven months or over twelve years of age - the only upper age limit on a stud found in this exercise.
• Deviation from these requires IKC approval.

Dogs registered elsewhere

• Outside the FCI system; results do not travel automatically in either direction.

Read this first

• No health tests and no breed-specific restrictions at all. The code obliges breeders not to knowingly breed or sell a dog with health problems, without setting a testing protocol.
• Breeders wanting IKC registration must agree to the Code of Ethics.
• The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 governs anyone keeping six or more breeding-capable bitches over six months old - statute, and housing and welfare rather than health screening.